[AlastairUK]

Hey guys,

I'm still in the process of collating evidence of past employers together and some of them are being absolutely frustrating and annoying! I've emailed everyone, called some of them and I'm either not getting replies to my email or my first employer said they'd send something (2 weeks ago) and despite a couple of follow up emails, I've had nothing from them. Argh!

I've got something from everyone I worked for in the past - mainly P45s and timesheets but I'm not sure if this is enough evidence. I'm just so annoyed that my past employers are not helping me out with this, it's not as if I ever left a company on negative terms.

Alastair

[Janey]

Have you not got any old contracts etc or P60's will help too everything must be original though

[BkyMonster]

Anything that shows dates you worked to and from (and that you were basically full time) will do. We submitted just pay statements (beginning and end of employment) from some companies and that was enough.

[CityBlue]

I basically wrote a letter for my old employer to sign and send back to me if they agreed to the content.

Basically it said when I started and finished with them and my main duties etc etc

Got a speedy reply because it involved very little effort on their part

[dusk]

all good advice :)

[AlastairUK]

I think I'll try that approach. I'll send a pre-paid, self addressed envelope and then they have no excuse. Good tip. Cheers! It's still damn frustrating.

[globetrecker]

Hey guys,

I'm still in the process of collating evidence of past employers together and some of them are being absolutely frustrating and annoying! I've emailed everyone, called some of them and I'm either not getting replies to my email or my first employer said they'd send something (2 weeks ago) and despite a couple of follow up emails, I've had nothing from them. Argh!

I've got something from everyone I worked for in the past - mainly P45s and timesheets but I'm not sure if this is enough evidence. I'm just so annoyed that my past employers are not helping me out with this, it's not as if I ever left a company on negative terms.

Alastair

Alastair - I can completely relate to you! I left on great terms with all my former companies but it is still really challenging to get them to respond with any type of letter verifying my employment. To help, I even typed up a sample letter. I've gotten most of my timesheets but asking for anything more from HR has been really difficult. I guess my advice is to just start early and be persistant. Someone will help out eventually, right?

On a side note, if people in our situation can't get letters of verification of employment, what if we provide all the contact information for former employers to New Zealand immigration? Would that be a suitable plan B (to have NZ Immigration call them) if we can't get all our employment letters from companies?

[willow]

we are using an agent. she told me to initially try to get letters etc off previous employers, then if no luck try to get someone who worked with you to write a letter as long as it is on letter headed paper. for me that was asking my old ward sister to confirm i worked for the time i had claimed. the other avenue was to write to the national insurance office in newcastle and ask for a print out of my NI contributions since i began work. that came really quickly and detailed the employer, start dates and finished dates. I also used payslips P60 etc.

it is so frustrating I know! the people at the other end of the email/phone will not understand how important this information is. a couple of times i told them that without someone finding out the info for me then my chances of emigrating would be nil! it worked once they knew how important it was.

good luck

[globetrecker]

One other thing I thought I'd mention or inquire about: in what form does NZ immigration require the letters? I am having all of my employment verification letters emailed to me, and then I plan on printing them all out and including them in my binder. So they won't be originals.

Will they accept printed out versions (rather than the actual original)? All of my letters are signed and on letterhead.

[victoria24]

can you get IRS records instead?

[BkyMonster]

They like originals. If you could back up the letters with original documents it might work...

[Angelonthemove]

We had the same trouble. We typed the letters for them, and added screen dumps of all their websites to show they existed. We were told anyone you have worked with and on any headed paper so it can be from their new place of work. If they don't have headed paper access be creative but factual.

Any pay slips, contract letters, correspondence emails during the time there. It really depends on your case officer too.

One employer huge UK company said they do not do references for anyone!

Note of warning for those who have not submitted any stuff, only put the years you can get references for. My OH put 10 years but it was hell trying to get all the references, it was not worth the extra points. Wish he had put 3 years instead and made my life easier.:laugh

[globetrecker]

We had the same trouble. We typed the letters for them, and added screen dumps of all their websites to show they existed.

Thanks for your advice, this is helpful for all of us. Could you please explain what you mean by "we typed the letters for them"? Who is "them", etc.?

[Janey]

They want only originals I learntthat to my cost 90% of the places I worked no longer exsisted so getting headed paper!!!!!! trying to detail the NHS reorgisations that have gone on in the last 20 years and track former boses also proved difficult! I sent the wording to each of my contacts they agreed to the forma and printed and signed on the relevant letterhead and sent by snail mail
At the end of the day it will boil down to how picky your CO wants to be!

[uk350]

Alastair- I had the same problem when trying to get evidence from past employers.
I wrote to all of them and got nothing back, so i followed it up by visiting them in person after 2-3weeks of hearing nothing, to see how they were "getting on with my request"

All of them had done nothing, but after telling them how important it was and that i had all the paperwork i need, and like Willow mentioned, it was only waiting for the refrence off them that was holding everything up- they all did a letter for me there and then, while i waited.

If any of your past employers are local to you it might be worth a try?

[Angelonthemove]

globetreker
we actual typed the letter confirming our dates and positions, start of contract end of contract, salary. We then emailed it to our previous employers or to their new company if they had moved. They just had to put it on headed paper, print, sign and post back in the pre paid envelope or scan and email to us.Scan copies were fine for our CO.

Any headed paper will work do it does not have to be the same company you worked for

.

[sks]

Assuming that you can provide letters from past employers documenting experience in excess of what NZIS will give you points for anyway, is it worth the effort to hunt down the rest?

There's one firm that I worked for 15 years ago that I parted ways with on less than amicable terms (and my suspicions were vindicated when the owner was imprisoned a few years later). They still trade, and I did list the experience on the EOI, but I'm wondering whether it's just simpler to put in an explanatory note than to try to track down anyone who would vouch for my employment (I'd still have 20+ years of verified experience).

[Angelonthemove]

sks just go for what you have no need to make hard work for yourself for no extra points

[AlastairUK]

So I've printed out a letter, posted it with a stamped, addressed envelope and all my old boss has to do is sign it and put it in the post. Apparently this is too difficult for him as it's been almost a week and I still haven't received it. Thankfully I'm still in touch with one of my old work colleagues and I've had him send me a letter. I've emailed/rung up other employers and have had nothing from them.

I wonder if there's a conspiracy against me going to NZ?

[AlastairUK]

Woop! Two more letters, two (or three) more to go :) Still no letter from my old boss who I've sent an SAE and printed letter to.

[dusk]

well done on getting back something at least, that's progress :)

[AlastairUK]

Well, finally got everything I need back. My first boss has been very rude in not responding to my continued emails, phone calls or letters. I'm pretty disgusted by it actually because I wasn't asking for much and I explained exactly why I needed it and so why he's refused to send me a reference, despite saying he would, it's beyond me. I never left that company on bad terms, I just think it's rude and completely unhelpful. Grrr! Anyway, despite that, I got a reference from my old manager so hopefully that should count for something. I got my police check back too and all I need now is my medical and then that's it.. it's in the post. So need to get it all organised now. Things are progressing slowly, but surely!

[JandM]

Good news. :nice1 All the best.

[victoria24]

rock and roll alistair, rock and roll!