[MB]

Golly. Our passports (all USA passports) and papers came back today from NZIS. Great service: our e-mail notifying us that we had been granted PR only came on March 29th, and this morning (April 14th) everything came back stamped, etc., all the way from London to our house here in the US Northwest area. DHL was the courier.

Question: Vera is principal applicant, but I am the one who will be going over by myself for a recce trip in late May (returning to USA 9 days later).... so when I go over do I use the PR visas, or do I ask for a visitor visa, or what? Any ideas?

Cheers,
Matt.

[Anita & Marco]

Unfortunately, I cannot answer your question, but I must CONGRATULATE you :clap :clap :cheers

You obtained the visa in your passports. GREAT DAY for you!!!!and EXCITING

Regards,
Anita

[MB]

Thanks, Anita! That's very kind.
And as I've suggested before, folks -- especially new applicants on the forum -- we didn't have a job offer and 'only' got 115 points. Nor is princ. app's skill on the immediate/long-term shortage lists (yeah, it's Future Growth, but we got no actual points for this). So read this forum for tips/experiences, and go for it! :nice1

Cheers,
Matt.

[Anita & Marco]

Good to know Matt,

Since we have only 100 points, no job offer, no qualifications in one of the short term or long term shortage lists. The thing that worries us most is the medical part, however, since my hubby is a diabete. Although, we understood this should not be a problem, we think this is the highest hurdle.


Regards,
Anita

[MB]

Anita - yes, I think many of us have an early idea of what our likely stumbling block will be. But three things:

1.) I believe that I have seen diabetic folks get PR pretty easily... as you suggested yourself.

2.) It could be that this turns out to be one of those cases in which the predicted stumbling block turns out to be absolutely no problem (or a very small problem). Things turn out that way, somtimes, don't they? And you end up saying "They never even mentioned it..." or "We only had to get a letter from our home doctor..." or whatever.

3.) I'm sure you've thought about this already, but:
we had something (non-medical) that we thought would be our stumbling block. It turned out not to be, but we did have to remind ourselves a few times not to get so distratced by dwelling on the predicted problem area that we neglected other areas of our application that needed careful attention. In other words, we tried not to be victims of some self-inflicted distraction tactic that might have come about if we'd put all our energy and hopes into the predicted problem and left other areas completely unguarded! :laugh

All the very best,
Matt.

[Anita & Marco]

Matt,

Thanks for you very nice words. Yes, we need to keep the balance between all issues. Very good to see this written down again!!! :clap :clap

I am happy I found this forum, because it can bring you eye-openers, downsides, comforing words, lots of information and a good bunch of nice people!!!! (is this correct English?)

Regards,
Anita :exit

[RoadRunner]

Matt,
Awesome news! :clap :clap :clap

I'm so happy for you guys! :yes

Most people are being told that it will take about 4 weeks to get passports back once you have been granted PR. Did you ask for yours to be expedited?

Bet you two will be having one fun weekend! ;)

Cheers,
RoadRunner

[kiwidollie]

Congratulations to you MB.

You are always such a positive poster! You deserve PR - well done :clap

[xanctus]

Matt,
great news indeed...we are still waiting for all the documents to get back to us sometimes soon.
Hopefully, we will be meeting you again in Welli.

[MB]

Thanks so much, RoadRunner. No, we didn't ask for our passports to be expedited. Although the average processing time seems to be 3-4 weeks, I have an idea that a significant minorirty of people just get processed faster than that.

Kiwidollie: what a nice message. Thanks. To be honest, while it has been a nerve-wracking winter of waiting and lots of preparation, we have to thank and applaud the way the NZIS system has worked for us so far.

We see the 5 months wait as nothing more than just the time it has taken for a very busy bureaucracy to attend properly to our case: a case which, while reasonably strong, is hardly a burning priority application for them. The actual NZIS decisions and interactions (i.e., the interces of our case coming into contact with NZIS staff and processes) have been very professional, bump-free and favourable for us. We're very, very grateful for that, and for the outcome considering that less than a year ago the points hurdle would have been so huge for us.

Thanks, Xanctus! Yes, hope to meet you soon!

:nice1

Cheers,
Matt.

[Marie P]

WOW ....Great news Matt :clap

best wishes

Marie x

[MB]

Thanks, Marie...and I'm bumping this thread to the top in case anyone browsing today has an answer to our question (seee top of thread). :yes
Thanks,
Matt.

[Laurie]

Anita...

I have a question if you don't mind my asking...How did you accumulate 100 points without having a job offer or qualifications that gives you points.

Both my husband and I have over 10 years work experience in areas that are on the shortage list but I still can't get over 55 points.

What am I missing?

Just curious to see how you can accumulate 100 points without a job offer or NZQA qualifications points..

Laurie

[MB]

Laurie - rudely stepping in here when you didn't address me (sorry!), but I think what Anita said is "no qualifications in one of the short term or long term shortage lists."

That is, she and/or her partner probably have qualification(s), but not in one of the areas covered by the immediate skills shortage list or long-term shortage list. As you probably know, there is a much longer list of acceptable trades/skills... in at least one of which I imagine Anita and/or Marco are qualified.

Sorry if I'm wrong, but I think that's it. :nice1

Cheers,
Matt.

[Laurie]

Matt...

You are probably right...I was just hoping that there might be something that I was missing...

Thanks
Laurie

[MB]

Hmm. So you're struggling to get above 55 points? Post as soon as you like if there's something we can all put our heads together over and help you progress.
:yes
Cheers,
Matt.

[Anita & Marco]

Hi folks,
To make things clear. My husband is the principal applicant. He is qualified HR Consultant/Manager. The breakdown of the 100 points is:
qualifications : 50 points (level 7)
work exp. : 30 points
age : 20 points

Nothing to do with lists at all!!!

Does that help you?
Anita

[Laurie]

Thanks Anita...

That is the killer for us...qualifications..

My husband is a winemaker/vineyard manager with over 15 years of experience. Myself...Network Administrator/Help Desk Support again with over 15 years experience...

However all has been learnt on the job...so no qualifications for points. Our ages 46 & 47 doesn't give us a whole lot of points either...

Both our jobs are on the lists but can't come up with the 100 points to send in an EOI...

Again as I said I was hoping that I had missed something...

Laurie

[Anita & Marco]

Hi Laurie,
Yes, now I know what you mean. But there MUST be a possibility?!
Can't you start the other way around? First find a job and then applying for Residence, or doesn't this work?
Hopefully, you'll find a way to get where you want to.
Whenever I see/hear anything in the respect, I'll let you know.
Regards,
Anita