[ers99w]

Hi! i'm about to schedule my PR interview for this week. I've lived in NZ on a 1 year work permit since last August. I've settled in quite nicely here--LOVE my job, have a few friends, and am really getting a hang of the slang/driving/processes.

I looked over the list of interview questions, and most seem to focus on people who haven't emigrated yet. Does anyone have experience with what type of questions they ask if you've ALREADY been in the country for a while, have a job, etc? What could they ask at this point?

Also, I think I want to go for my PhD in the next year or so--is this something that I should/shouldn't mention in the interview?

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

Also, I think I want to go for my PhD in the next year or so--is this something that I should/shouldn't mention in the interview?
I'd be interested in hearing what people think about this, as well - I'm the principal applicant, but really my first priority when I get to New Zealand (if they let me in!) is going back to school. But I'm not sure whether to mention this, since I don't want them to think as though I'm just trying to "sneak in the back door" as a student without any real employment prospects (I could certainly find work if I wanted to, I just really want to get my law degree first).

[RJLink]

ers99w: The fact that you intend to get a PhD in the near future is irrelevant to PR. Or is there some disqualifying "intent" element with respect to school that I'm not aware of?

Sarah: I'm not sure what you mean by sneaking in the back door as a student if you're applying for PR. You're going to be evaluated on the points--if you've got them, you've got them, right? But again, I guess I don't understand the function of the interview. If you were to reveal an intention to not work but rather go to school first, does the case officer have discretion to deny PR on that basis?

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

Sarah: I'm not sure what you mean by sneaking in the back door as a student if you're applying for PR. You're going to be evaluated on the points--if you've got them, you've got them, right? But again, I guess I don't understand the function of the interview. If you were to reveal an intention to not work but rather go to school first, does the case officer have discretion to deny PR on that basis?
That was my main question, yes. I don't really mean "sneaking in the back door," but rather, I'm supposedly being evaluated on the basis of my ability to find work, which I'm not really fulfilling if I just end up going back to school once I'm there. So I'm hesitant to reveal my intentions, which then just makes me look like I have NO plan whatsoever, so...I'm stumped.

ETA: The reason I specifically want to attend school in New Zealand is because I'm planning to go into law, which you basically have to study in the country/area where you're planning to practice. But I'm afraid that they'll just think that I'm trying to get a cheap degree or something... :uhoh

[RJLink]

Sarah,

Being a lawyer myself, I should have consulted the INZ Operational Manual before my last post! See specifically SM20.5 on the ability-to-settle-and-contribute requirement. You only automatically fulfill this if you have the job or job offer, so assuming you otherwise qualify, the interview becomes very important. According to SM20.10b.,
"That assessment will include consideration of the following factors:
i. employment prospects;
ii. familiarity with New Zealand and preparedness for settlement of the principal applicant and, where relevant, the partner and dependent children included in the application; and
iii. linkages and support in New Zealand, through networks and family."
So I suppose if you told a case officer that you intend to go to school before getting a job, he or she might say fine, we'll give you a student visa. But you probably don't want that, because international student rates are a lot higher. (That's the situation I'm in--I'm here trying to get a job so I can get PR so I can pay the cheaper tuition.) So I might leave my school plans out of the interview, if I were you, or speak of them as something a little bit more remote, after you've settled in. Or, perhaps it doesn't matter at all--I can't imagine that case officers are looking to disqualify PR applicants on the basis of their ambition to attend law school.
As always, consult a licensed immigration adviser with your concerns. (Since I'm not, I'm afraid I'll get in trouble for saying anything that might be construed as advice!)

[ers99w]

Well, it sounds like I don't have to hide the possibility that I may end up in a PhD program here, but has anyone else had an interview after already living in NZ for 8+ months? I just don't see the point, i mean, I've already settled in pretty well...