[jess]

Hi all. I'm new to posting but have appreciated all the info. available here on the boards. This has been my best resource for figuring out the whole process.

My husband Darryl and I submitted our EOI on Feb, 15, were selected on Feb 16, marked successful on the Feb 21 and received our ITA on March 7. It's all been a lot faster than we expected, and now we are collecting everything to return the application.

This is probably a silly question, but since I hadn't seen anything about it, I wanted to be sure... if the pass mark rises, it won't affect our final application, will it? I'm assuming the selection point just affects the EOI being selected from the pool and that once you've gotten past that point they won't change their minds about you because the selection point goes up. But I shouldn't assume, so any confirmation is appreciated.

Thanks again for all the great shared experience offered on this forum!

Jessica

[debnjohn]

Hello Jess,
as far as I know you need to meet the points requirement on the day your EOI was drawn - in your case 100 points.
As long as you are confirmed as having at least 100 points when your ITA is assessed, then that's OK.
One other thing, time factors on your application become 'frozen' whent the ITA is stamped as received - normaly withing 1 day of receipt by NZIS. By time factors I mean such things as age, work experience etc.
Hope that helps,
John.

[MB]

Welcome to the forum, Jessica! I think debnjohn said it all in their reply, so I won't dwell on your question.

As you may have seen, there are quite a few US-based folks on this forum. And as you have probably observed, there are sometimes threads that talk about things from the US perspective (e.g., the 'American Round-up' thread on this part of the forum, and a number of others both here and on other parts of the site such as the 'buying stuff'-themed discusion areas).

All the best with assembling everything for your ITA. For what it's worth, my tips are:
1.) check through all paperwork out loud with partner or friend, on the day(s) before you intend to send it all to NZIS. Literally out loud, with your helper standing by your shoulder so you can both say "Degree certificate, check. Current version of passport, check.", etc. And really read paperwork and details for sense, rather than just go through the motions while only seeming to check names, dates, and so on.
If you use this tip, by the way, it's probably doubly important during the final, pre-mailing assembly of items - i.e., for just before you leave to drive to the Post Office!

2.) if you possibly can, send them exactly what they ask for. The classic example of this for Brits is ensuring that Brits send their full birth certificate (not the short one most people have in their file cabinets). Although there isn't so classic a pitfall for US folks, just try to bite the bullet and take an extra day or two now to get the right paperwork that NZIS requests (e.g., an employer letter that really does state start and end dates rather than just stating "Yeah, she worked here..." :laugh )
I emphasize this because as hard as it feels to meet (avoidable) delays early in the process, it probably hurts more at the later stages when, if you are expecting to get a call to interview, you instead get an e-mail from NZIS saying "Erm, can you send us this bit of paper first..." Argh! :yes

All the best and, again, welcome!

Cheers,
Matt.

[jess]

Thanks debnjohn for confirming. I'm relieved to hear it, and I appreciate your quick response!

And thanks MB for the added advice. Will do. I get paranoid about finally closing up anything I'm sending off, and your advice about checking aloud is great.

We already have our FBI records back (took only 11 days oddly enough!!), and we were glad to hear we can now use the March form for medicals. We are visiting NZ, mainly Wellington, in late April, so we probably won't turn in our app. until May 2. I figure if we're going to go and check out the area and employers, it must be better to interview after the trip. So we'll do the drive to DC in early May (DC only 2 hours away, and I haven't always had the best luck with the post office). I figure that's ok since we got the ITA March 7, and our deadline is in June.

Thanks for your advice! As someone else already posted here, the kindness offered really restores your faith in mankind. It's such a relief to have a place to help get through this!

Thanks again,
Jessica

[MB]

Jess - sorry if you already know for sure that D.C. is where your ITA and documents will need to go, but you might want to check the blue letter that came with your ITA to make sure that's where it's supposed to go. Ours went back to London and others seem to be directed to NZ addresses.
Maybe you know that it's final home won't be D.C. but you just want them to handle it? Or, as I say, maybe you know that D.C. is its ultimate 'home'?

Sorry if I'm telling you something you've already cleared up.

Cheers,
Matt.

[MB]

Oh, one more thing: maybe you're only talking about the interview being in D.C. But you said something about the post office, hence my previous post.

Matt.

[jess]

Thanks for checking Matt. I wouldn't want it lost in the wrong place. :eek But actually my letter tells me to send it to the embassy in DC. I didn't realize others were sending to London. I'm glad we are directed to DC so I get the luxury of driving it in. I will call the embassy ahead of course, to make sure they don't mind if I do that.

Thanks for asking!

Jessica

[MB]

Great! And :oops: I see that my posts to you could be construed as being as fussy as a maiden aunt (or uncle) lecturing you on wearing your winter woolies. :laugh Sorry if they sounded like that! It's just that we know how many addresses, officers, packages, details, etc., are involved with this whole thing! :nice1

Cheers,
Matt.

[jess]

No no no, not fussy at all! I'm a bit paranoid about all this stuff. Especially because I made a huge error on our EOI, and only got through because of a very kind case worker pointing out my mistake and allowing me to correct it via email after the fact.

I should have been posting questions here from the beginning. This place is terrific, and I appreciate any and all advice!

Thanks,
Jessica

[jess]

Well Matt, turns out you were on to something! I got an email correction saying our application goes to London and that the Washington address was a mistake. Our case worker said they don't actually take app.s at the embassy in Washington.

Guess I'd better start researching the board about paying the fee in pounds sterling...

Thanks again,
Jessica

[MB]

Oh! Glad you sorted it out. It wouldn't have surprised me if DC is accepting ITAs, however, because I think that certain branches within NZ itself are now dealing with some candidates to help London's workload.

Yes, I'm afraid that the exchange rate is not great for US folks paying in pounds sterling. Maybe someone here is more acute about 'playing' the whole exchange-rate game than we are. Advice for Jess, anyone?

Cheers,
Matt.