[globetrecker]

Does anyone have experience with immigration doing a local market check on their job offer/city? I have a job offer with an accredited employer and have applied for a work permit. I called to follow up with it and indicated that they have sent my application over to the labour dept. to do a local market check. Apparently with the downturn in the economy, they are being extra stringent on proving that no New Zealander could have done the job in a particular area/region.

Fingers crossed for all of us out there! How is everyone doing with this type of situation?

[925dancer]

I can't help with my experience as I'm not at that stage yet but I will be interested to see the outcome and others experiences.

I am in a job at the moment and will be applying for a work visa in a few months under the same criteria. My employer is confident we meet the criteria but it will be interesting to see how your market check comes out as it will maybe give me a better idea of my chances!

[juliusl]

What kind of job are you going to be offered? I was told that for skilled jobs, if they are genuine, these checks won't be a problem in most cases.

[globetrecker]

It will indeed be interesting to see how the labour market check turns out (fingers crossed). I will keep everyone posted, as I'm sure there will be a lot of interest on this as more migrants come looking for and being offered jobs with the downturn in the economy. I had a job offer in Auckland and because there were over 100 applicants, HR said they honestly couldn't prove that I was the only one who could do the job. In talking with immigration, it seemed very likely that my work permit application would be denied. I withdrew my job offer as to not waste time fighting with HR and immigration trying to prove this and accepted another job in a smaller area because there would have been less competition. We're still waiting for my work permit and the labour market check, but so far this has been the best decision for us.

Side note: My job offer is in administration (executive assistant), so that may be part of the issue. I am in a small area that isn't easy to recruit for spouses jobs, housing, etc. So, I hope it will be easier to prove that they tried to find New Zealander's to do the job, but they didn't get as strong of a response due to the area and trying to relocate people here. (This is what my HR department put on the employer supplementary form).

[925dancer]

I couldn't even get an interview as an EA/PA/Secretary! So well done for getting two job offers!

I have ended up as a property manager being as my recent secretary role was in lettings in London. My employer has successfully obtained visas for employees in the past so they are confident they can do it again and having a quick look on trademe there are a few roles available.

I would have thought they not only take into account number of applicants but also quality of applicants, that could be 98 rubbish applications without relevant experience.

Also, I will have been in the role for 3-4 months when I apply for a new visa so I'm hoping that they take that into account in my favour.

I could apply for PR but I only have 100 points at the moment and financially I just can't afford it. It took longer to find a job than I had hoped and I have taken quite a pay cut just to get a foot in the door.

Fingers crossed eh!

[globetrecker]

Bad news on the job and work permit. I just received a letter from immigration/labour check stating that my intended employer could have found a New Zealand resident or citizen to do the job of a PA AND/OR that they could have found a suitable person to hire and train for the position. My request for a work permit was being rejected. This is even with a job offer from an accredited employer!

My employer says they will be challenging this because 1) it is a small area (town of 8000) and 2) the applicants for the position were sub-par, had little experience and their idea of what a personal assistant does in this higher level position was laughable, really. So is immigration expecting employers to hire unqualified or under experienced people? What if the employer doesn't want to settle? This is so frustrating for both my future boss and myself.

The HR department will be challenging immigration's decision in the next few days. We do not want to have to go back to the United States, especially after being here and seeing the difference in the people and scenery. I just wish my OH had a University degree for the points system. He is a web developer with 15 yrs. experience, but no formal education at all. So, everything is based on my getting a job.

Fingers crossed ... and luck to all of you out there. The job market is very tough right now.

The emotional roller coaster continues ...

[925dancer]

Oh dear, this is not good news. Makes me very very worried. I don't want to go back to the UK in March!

Right, who's got a spare $3000 they want to give me so I can make my residency application now!

[Silverwing86]

I understand some changes have been announced to the Immediate Skill Shortage List.


The biannual review of the ISSL, which is administered by the Department of Labour, sees 44 occupations removed from the list. The list comprises occupations deemed to be in immediate short term shortage in the New Zealand labour market.

The removal of the occupations from the list is the result of extensive consultation with industry groups, other stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

Removal of occupations from the ISSL does not mean employers cannot recruit migrants in those occupations. An employer can demonstrate genuine attempts to recruit a suitable New Zealander, as is the process with all other occupations. If, after the labour market is tested, Immigration New Zealand is satisfied no suitable New Zealanders are available in that location then temporary work permits will still be granted.

Occupations which were identified as readily trainable and those for which New Zealanders may be available were prioritised for review, to ensure opportunities for New Zealanders.



Here is the link to this information (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/news/issl.htm).

I thought this may be relevant for this thread.

Cheers,
Silver