[yossarian]

hey there! just wanted to let you know i'm leaving new zealand mid next month. it was been really tough time for me to be honest, and carrying WTR visa didn't help much as i have deadline to beat despite the global financial crisis. i've done every possible step i could, but it was just no luck for me getting an IT job. i just thought, it's time to leave. :( and my visa thought so as well!

i don't want to stay here illegal, and it's pointless to stay any longer like getting a student visa or something.

so, thanks for all the help guys, and i could only wish that it'll be better for other WTR holders out there.

see you around :) :(

[JandM]

I'm so sorry to hear this, and wish it could be different for you. Maybe even yet there could be a turnaround...

Anyway, all the very best for whatever comes next in your life.

[dianney]

Sorry to hear your news, we hope all turns out well for you and maybe you will be able to return to NZ in the future. Best wishes Dianne and family:)

[BkyMonster]

:( so sorry to hear it didn't work out.

[newarrival]

Good luck with whatever comes next..., and maybe there still is the job you are looking for out there!

[dusk]

Aw bad news for you you. Better luck in whatever the next step is?

[hosebergine]

Such a shame you didn't find work. Good luck for the future though

[yossarian]

thanks for the good lucks. :)

i may or may not come back in the future. what happened to me just changes the way how i view new zealand as a migrant destination country. sure it is an amazing country, but it just lacks support for migrants.

in my opinion WTR is a whole crap. it is not well established and properly implemented by the immigration. i've lost count how many times i have to explain WTR to employers and agencies. if you'll notice it is not even in the list of visas when applying to jobs online! (PR, Citizen, Work, WHV, etc.) and so, especially in this recession, if you were given WTR, don't accept the invitation, and appeal to get residency straight away.

in this global financial instability, everyone suffers. kiwi or not in this land, it has been a pressure finding a job, and everyone knows that. immigration did not do anything in favor for WTR but instead blatantly informed agencies and employers to find kiwi manpower first, and residents, then work visas. this hierarchy is so lame. everyone should be given equal chance in this job hunt. we all need money, and we are all in new zealand. it's very simple. if there is no enough jobs in the market for kiwi alone, why invite migrants to move over here? i'm saying all this with all due respect to our citizen friends in the forum, but citizens don't even have deadline to beat unlike WTR holders.

immigration perfectly knows it's tough, and yet give us like a 6 or 9 months to find suitable employment?

of course you will ask me, why did i move in the first place despite the recession. well, when i came here (dec 2008), it was my first time to be in nz, and doesn't know the market firsthand. also, despite the recession starting, it is not as big and rampant as now. there are other options i also had in mind then, like getting any full time work and applying for work visa (2-year) and just abandoning my residency application. but then it has been so strict getting work visa now!

if you think about it, it's all the same. EOIs are continually applied and selected forthnightly, ITA are being processed continually. WTR holders are expiring and will soon leave NZ because their time is up only to be replaced by new WTR holders getting in the country with high expectations. i honestly don't think this system work.

please don’t get me wrong. i don’t dislike this country. i only dislike the way how it reacts during recession, which is self-centered in a way. migrants are invited here because there is a gap to fill, the gap left by myriads of kiwi leaving for australia, UK, and other countries for better opportunities. during recession, and now that we’re here, we would greatly appreciate any kind of support from the government in settling and getting through immigration process. but we don’t get any. instead, they bend the rules to our disadvantage, they decreased the list of job shortages, prioritize kiwi in all job sectors, which eventually led to migrants being kicked out, back to their own native lands where they lost their jobs long time ago, and sold a lot of their properties.

new zealand is an amazing, relax country to move into, but during recession, it is simply the worst. it happily accepts migrants when it needs, it happily pushes them out when it doesn’t need.

[svssm]

Yes! :yesA definite yes!!!!:yes:yes:This will be an eye opener for those who like to take the plunge without thinking twice!

wish you all the best for your future undertakings.

You can always apply for EOI again and come back later (say after a couple of years):cool:

[newarrival]

I feel sorry for everyone who is in a similar position like you are, yossarian, but, with all due respect, I think you are a bit unfair as well!
Everyone who is brave enough to make such a move knows about the risks beforehand, i guess- and even people with PR but without NZ- experience might have a huge problem of finding a job. It all depends on your field of work, there are still people who do find jobs even without a valid visa.
And I would think that this is much harder than if you already have a visa, even if it is some not well known type of visa like WTR.

I also think that employers or the public in general is not that well informed about any kind of visa- and, to be honest, why should the majority of them be? If someone would have asked me about the way to be allowed to come to Germany and work there, i would have had no idea about that as well.

I do understand that you feel you are treated unfair, but on the other hand I think you have to acknowledge that a government tries to look out (as best as they can) for their residents/ citizens, before they start to support immigrants. And of course, it might be difficult for the country to fill gaps later on, when the economy has picked up again- but it is a lot to ask to support "everybody" for an uncertain period of time?!

I am fully aware that this is not a very popular point of view and I really wish you good luck for your future, where ever that might be!

[Syed]

All the best...

[andrewp]

All the best. So sorry it didn't work out for you.

[bob_the_engineer]

It’s simply the most difficult time I’ve seen right now, there is plenty of work but immigration is really strict (which I think is fair enough and is probably the reason we have enough work!).

Something I didn’t understand for a long time, having come from a densely populated part of the world, is work is extremely regional, have you thought about getting out of Auckland?

I guess you have…

Whatever you do I sincerely wish you every success.

Bob

[kiwigirl]

but it is a lot to ask to support "everybody" for an uncertain period of time?!


I am sorry to disagree with this, but exactly what support are you on about, as people on a WTR or general work visa are not entitled to any kind of financial support. All they are asking for is time to find another job, and as they were able to get a job in the first instance why not give them the time they may need, whether this be 4 wks or 4 months.

[newarrival]

That might be a good idea in theory- but how could anyone monitor that?

I am sorry if it sounds harsh, but if someone is given WTR, then the reason for that is that someone at Immigration (which I do not consider as a perfect institution, not at all) thought it questionable that this person could find a suitable job/ be able to settle, if I have the right understanding.
If they do- all the better, if not, the one who made the decision would consider it a right decision, I guess.....
And of course the applicants are not entitled to any financial support, but I would imagine that a lot of them can't stay for an indefinite period of time anyway because they run out of money? Depending on the field of work they are looking at, how long could it take until the economic situation changes?

I am not sure- has anyone in that position ever tried to talk to Immigration about an extension, given the current climate and difficulties to find jobs?

I know it sounds harsh and is probably not a very popular opinion, but I also think that New Zealand is just not big enough as a country to not try and limit the number of people coming here- apparently there is already a huge problem with illegal over stayers (for whom one can feel very sorry....)

[bobo]

I am sorry if it sounds harsh, but if someone is given WTR, then the reason for that is that someone at Immigration (which I do not consider as a perfect institution, not at all) thought it questionable that this person could find a suitable job/ be able to settle, if I have the right understanding.


I think it has been an INZ policy for the past couple of years to give WTR to most people that don't have a job to come to.

[newarrival]

If I look at people's signature here in the forum it would not seem so.., but maybe I just don't get it right?!

[emaino]

I think it has been an INZ policy for the past couple of years to give WTR to most people that don't have a job to come to.

That's not true. Me and my wife received PR last year without any kind of job offer.

[seattle]

That's not true. Me and my wife received PR last year without any kind of job offer.

Same here - we got PR last November with no job offer.

[Scorpio]

Hey Yossarian,

I'm very sorry about the way things have turned out for you; it really is a tough time for many, esp those in your situation. :no

My 2 cents' worth is that employers should be made aware of the various employment schemes in the country, local or foreign, for their own benefit and otherwise. However, my hope for you is things will turn around for you soon! I read somewhere that when you have hit rock bottom, the only way is up! :yes

Good luck to you in your future endeavors!

[yossarian]

hi, thanks everyone for understanding my case, but you don't have to be sorry really. i've had good time here in nz, and despite not achieving my goal, i have no regrets coming over here.

@bob: yes, i tried to find job all over nz. i arrived in welly with no luck, and travelled up to auckland where i am now, still no luck. from online, i've been applying to anywhere in nz. got calls from christchurch, tauranga, palmerston north, etc.. but they all end up for nothing. :(

@kiwigirl: exactly. all we are requesting is more time. but they can't give it. i've tried to ask immigration about extension. i called like 3 or 4 times at different occasions talking to different officer. they all told me that i can't have my visa extended as 9 months is the maximum for WTR. i even asked them if i can extend my visa to visitor's pass (i understand i can't work and find work with that but it will allow me to wait for the result of applications i had prior to expiry of my current WTR visa) but they said it is highly unlikely that my application will be approved as it is obvious that i will be looking for job.

@newarrival: thanks for feeling sorry, but i beg to differ with some of your points. did you come to the country with PR already and not WTR? i understand all the risks even before coming to this land, the reason why i don't have regrets or whatsoever until now.

if one has PR already, he can stay for as long as he wants with whatever job he has. there is no such thing as a time limit ticking like a time bomb that you have to find suitable related job in order to get residency. actually i have a casual waiting job at the moment, but that would not take me anywhere visa wise. yes, i know some people get lucky and even with visitor's pass (and not WTR) they get job offer. i'm not saying it's less hard for them. but what i want to say is that the bottom line is, that is all pure luck. if they (visitor's pass) can't find a job here, then they could always go back to their country where everything could be back to normal more easily. they might even be able to get back to their old jobs. it was just a vacation, which is really the original intent of the visa.

with both visas (visitor's, WTR) comes risk, and it is essential that the individual understands that risk before coming over.

on the other hand, WTR holders are different. we have undergone considerable checks and application processes already. financially, it is a big investment starting from application fees for EOI, ITA, IELTS, medical checks, police checks, NZQA assessment, etc..some people even sold cars, houses, and quit their jobs. it is their whole livelihood at stake. so please understand it is just not easy to accept if the immigration turns down any visa extension request, and the reasoning that NZ is not big enough as a country to let people just come here freely is something i'm not even asking for. i am already in the country. expiring WTR holders are already here. all we are asking for is a little bit of understanding in extending our visas because of the global financial turndown, which i'm perfectly sure they know all about it. like i've said, it is all the same. expired visas are leaving the country to be replaced by incoming hopeful WTRs to struggle in the market. with the increasing unemployment rate, it is hard even for kiwis to get a job at the moment. that's a fact. now, migrants forced to find a job within a limited amount of time, competing with locals, and even discouraged my the government in such a way that they're advocating kiwi-first, this is a game impossible to win.

when i said WTR is not so widely known, i'm saying that that's the case in new zealand. why would i expect someone over here to know how to work legally in germany or even in russia if they are not german, russian, or just the fact that we are not in those countries? i'm talking about employers and agencies in new zealand who don't even know what WTR is.

my argument here is that the whole WTR scheme is a failure. it is not implemented correctly, and it has been a frustration in some angle. it was so easy for me to get the WTR (in less than a year from EOI) offer and i didn't even have to go to any nz immigration in person. it was all online, email, and courier. that just unavoidably gave me a clue that NZ needs me, but apparently, i was wrong.

[yossarian]

anyway, thanks mod for correting this post's title!
'can't figure out how to change "by best" to "my best" haha :D

[sekilau]

@newarrival: I am not sure- has anyone in that position ever tried to talk to Immigration about an extension, given the current climate and difficulties to find jobs?

I try to locate the post but I can't get a for the moment. Someone get PR and just asking possibility on coming NZ on a few days after the visa deadline to activate the PR states. result? The officer told that only minister of labour has the right to do it. So, it seems unlikely request on extending WTR will be entertained.

@newarrival: If someone would have asked me about the way to be allowed to come to Germany and work there, i would have had no idea about that as well.

I will feel surprise if the person in charge of recruiting don't know who can be legally employed and who cannot. It could be he/she miss some good candidate(i.e. less than optimal return on the wage he/she pay for) or he/she employed illegal worker. If the person in charge the recruitment process for himself/herself/ his/her employer comes from oversea (e.g. Germany), he/she should familiar with the labour law in NZ, for the sake of competence on that particular position.

@bobo: "I think it has been an INZ policy for the past couple of years to give WTR to most people that don't have a job to come to."

So far, I only heard for 1 case from this forum that, asian applicant(by considering the postal/residential addresses the applicant provided on EOI. nothing to do with ethnic) get PR from their application. And for the only case, the applicant has arranged a job here(but as i heard, that person is also leaving NZ because of the recession).

----
And I have read from this forum, which the member sharing idea for PR on getaway from suffering on recession in NZ: Come here to activate the VISA, use the RRV to leave this place and come back later on(within two years). I don't know how do NZ ppl(citizen/pr) comment one two types of people:1) those who come here, looking for job there, working for charity on volunteering base for getting local reference and experience, try to adopt into this society, more or less spend money here and pay some GST/VAT, cannot find a job and at the end leaving this country. And 2) those come here , activate the visa and go away. Yes, PR is entitled for that. It is its privilege. PR holder do nothing wrong against the regulation. This is the difference between PR and WTR.

If you were a WTR holder, when you do you want to understand and contribute this society by volunteering but the volunteer enrollment form requires you to provide minimum three references in order to get application proceed?

Every decision bears risk. Risk exist even staying in one place and keep everything unchanged (because the world is changing even someone don't). But who can foresee some country default on their loan? who can foresee some countries devalue their currencies? who can foresee a PM will speak publicly on media that job for its citizen first?




What was the old day?
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/node/29628


Accordingly, in April I announced that people granted Work to Residence permits under the SMC would henceforth be given nine months instead of six to find a job, with an additional three months to get to New Zealand before that nine months begins. In addition skilled migrants who found a job would no longer need to work for three months prior to getting residence.

[Jacqi B]

Same here - we got PR last November with no job offer.

And we got PR in May with no job offer. But we have money to take over, OH has 25 years experience in IT, we've been there (me three times, him twice), I have family there, we have friends there - both kiwis and expats, we had researched areas we might want to live in and knew a bit about prices of things.

They say that the interview is to judge whether you are likely to settle and I think that the stuff above shows a likliness to settle (not saying that you wont settle if you don't have those experiences/contacts, just that this maybe makes it more likely in the eyes of NZIS).

[seattle]

And we got PR in May with no job offer. But we have money to take over, OH has 25 years experience in IT, we've been there (me three times, him twice), I have family there, we have friends there - both kiwis and expats, we had researched areas we might want to live in and knew a bit about prices of things.

They say that the interview is to judge whether you are likely to settle and I think that the stuff above shows a likliness to settle (not saying that you wont settle if you don't have those experiences/contacts, just that this maybe makes it more likely in the eyes of NZIS).

Totally agree with this- we don't have family over there but felt all of our research, contacts made in the business world (kiwis in NZ and the US) all helped our case.

[newarrival]

To Yossarian- just to clarify one point, no, we did not have PR when we came here, we came on a student visa and with the hope that the registration process, which was necessary for my OH to work in his profession would not take more than a year (which was more or less given by the time frames of the exams he had to sit), and we only got PR after a bit over one year because we were lucky with the person we dealt with at immigration and she went out of her way to help us.
I really do understand your frustration, even if it is a slightly different situation, but my husband could not work here with more than 20 years of experience in his profession and even if there is a need for dentists and the standards are not at all different..., but there are regulations and rules you can't do anything against...., just play along!
And we could not just have gone back to Germany and take up where we left, believe me.

Again- fingers crossed for you that maybe one of the applications you made turns out to be successful in the time you are still here..., all the best!

[L00pback]

Hi yossarian,

Wish you all the best for the future. Make sure you stick around here won't you.

Take care.

Oh and at least you tried, there are so many people out there that say they would do what you did but don't have the guts that you've showed.

Alan

[Arwen]

I'll second that Alan. :nice1

So sorry to hear about the problems you have faced Yossarian. It just seems so unfair to me.

I wish you the very best of luck in whatever you choose to do next. :) You are indeed a brave man to have tried it, so many 'talk the talk' but very few have the guts to 'walk the walk'. Respect to you my friend. ;)

[Angelonthemove]

Hi Yossarian,

Good luck and only wish you had more time to fulfil your dream of NZ. Maybe it just was not meant to be. Wish we could help.

We have PR 3 (years working under our belt) and out of work for 8 months still no jobs. We are on $500 befit a week (that included housing!!) and have just HAD to sell our 4 bed house leaving us in a negative situation. Due to unhelpful OZ bank. AND yes we did have savings to cover 6 months of mortgage.

So far its cost us in the region of $100k to have come here, get PR when you add up the cost and negative house.

All I can say is that some are unaffected by the recession and have no idea what its like to be an immigrate, with what ever visa, here during these tough times.

We are trying to find a rental and its accommodation versus food when looking a places I am not joking or exaggerating.

Why are we still here...can't afford to get home and what would we get there ...nothing but a bigger job queue.

If your currently employed abroad stay put for at least 12 months or you may well have a job now here in NZ but things are turning here and many of us are now out of work and there will be more.

[bob_the_engineer]

Hi Yossarian,

Good luck and only wish you had more time to fulfil your dream of NZ. Maybe it just was not meant to be. Wish we could help.

We have PR 3 (years working under our belt) and out of work for 8 months still no jobs. We are on $500 befit a week (that included housing!!) and have just HAD to sell our 4 bed house leaving us in a negative situation. Due to unhelpful OZ bank. AND yes we did have savings to cover 6 months of mortgage.

So far its cost us in the region of $100k to have come here, get PR when you add up the cost and negative house.

All I can say is that some are unaffected by the recession and have no idea what its like to be an immigrate, with what ever visa, here during these tough times.

We are trying to find a rental and its accommodation versus food when looking a places I am not joking or exaggerating.

Why are we still here...can't afford to get home and what would we get there ...nothing but a bigger job queue.

If your currently employed abroad stay put for at least 12 months or you may well have a job now here in NZ but things are turning here and many of us are now out of work and there will be more.


Your having a hard time I can see that and I don’t want to be cruel, but I’m astonished that your claiming these benefits, and you’ve been doing it for 8 months!

On seek there are 1,716 jobs in Wellington, sure your not qualified or experienced for all of them but there must be something! I don’t see huge unemployment in Wellington.

Bob

[bobo]

That's not true. Me and my wife received PR last year without any kind of job offer.

So did I, but I did say most not all.

[RJLink]

I had an ITA for a skilled migrant visa in late 2005 and was in the middle of putting together my application when they changed the WTR period from 2 years to 6 months. I felt this was too much of a risk, since I didn't have a job offer, so I didn't go through with the application.

Wonder if they'll ever increase the 6 months to something longer, the way it used to be. Certainly not in this job environment.

[ricky1981]

Really feel for you Yossarian but I think blaming the WTR scheme is a bit unfair. After all, the whole point of WTR is that INZ are not sure you will settle and find a job in the field you planned and in your case (despite your efforts) they were right to have doubts. We got PR early this year without job offers but are both now working in the same fields that we were in the UK and had done a lot of preparation which I think came across to our CO so it is possible to get PR without having jobs lined up.

I also think that it's not the case the NZ is the only place where migrants are going to bear more of a brunt from the recession than "true" residents. I see this happening in pretty much every country and I think it would be naive to expect much different, after all politicians are going to look after voters first otherwise they won't be elected again. Imagine how you would feel if your native country was seen to be putting migrants first, you only have to look at the UK press to see how quick the media are to stir up anti-migrant sentiment when the going gets tough.

None of this is intended to knock you personally, I know you have done all you could to make a go of things and your story is a good warning for people thinking of emigrating at the moment. I hope you make it back here and can take some positives from what has been a tough experience.

All the best!

[ExitStageSouth]

So did I, but I did say most not all.

Are there any official statements or statistics available on this? If it were standard policy to offer WTR over PR without a job offer in place then I'd find it rather misleading for this not to be made clear during the application process. I'd have to think pretty hard about accepting a WTR offer as these sorts of visas put you in an awkward position in terms of your relationship with your employer.

I understand that WTR is offered if there are doubts about your ability to settle. But if these doubts are driven by external factors (such as economic decline) then the appropriate lever is to reduce the numbers brought into the process at all, not to filter a larger fraction into a visa class that shifts risk from the government to the immigrant.

[BkyMonster]

AFAIK WTR vs PR is offered on the basis of the interview, if there is one.

[macs gold]

Your having a hard time I can see that and I don’t want to be cruel, but I’m astonished that your claiming these benefits, and you’ve been doing it for 8 months!

On seek there are 1,716 jobs in Wellington, sure your not qualified or experienced for all of them but there must be something! I don’t see huge unemployment in Wellington.

Bob I find your logic faulty, as if there are more than 1,716 unemployed in Wellington then its not a given that any unemployed person will find a job (and I'm sure there are many more unemployed than that).

[Fern01]

I do feel sorry for those caught up in the recession, but its understandable that Kiwis come first in these tough times.

[KerryS]

I had an ITA for a skilled migrant visa in late 2005 and was in the middle of putting together my application when they changed the WTR period from 2 years to 6 months. I felt this was too much of a risk, since I didn't have a job offer, so I didn't go through with the application.

Wonder if they'll ever increase the 6 months to something longer, the way it used to be. Certainly not in this job environment.

WTR is 9 months, not 6, and was increased earlier this year to reflect the impact of the recession on the job market.
WTR has never been for 2 years, that is Work FOR Residence. Although NZIS do seem to use both interchangeably on their website.

[IanW99]

WTR is 9 months, not 6, and was increased earlier this year to reflect the impact of the recession on the job market.
WTR has never been for 2 years, that is Work FOR Residence. Although NZIS do seem to use both interchangeably on their website.

If you are talking about PR->WTR type then it was changed in April 2007 (from link posted previously).


Accordingly, in April [2007] I announced that people granted Work to Residence permits under the SMC would henceforth be given nine months instead of six to find a job, with an additional three months to get to New Zealand before that nine months begins. In addition skilled migrants who found a job would no longer need to work for three months prior to getting residence.

So unless the recession was already happening then, I suspect that it wasn't changed for this reason.

A two year WTR was more normally a 30 month WTR to allow you to work in NZ for 2 years and then apply for PR without having to leave the country.

And it was certainly called this when we applied for it, see Work to Residence - how do I apply (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktoresidence/howdoiapply/) for details.

Ian

[sekilau]

I do meet a case for WTR 6 months on Jul 09.

The gentleman on my opposite room got his PR->WTR approved on April 09 and the 6 months is start counting on that date. He arrived here on July, stayed here for 2 weeks and left with frustration. He did go to NZIS Auckland CBD office to clarify if it is 6 months since date of issue or 9 months since date of arrival. The officer tell him according to the information on their system, it is correct that 6 months since date of arrival and the date he should left, or convert to PR is Oct 09.

He showed a letter from NZIS Beijing office to Auckland CBD officer and the officer there said further question regarding to the letter should be directed to NZIS Beijing.

He is frustrated with the answer and he doesn't border it anymore.


WTR is 9 months, not 6, and was increased earlier this year to reflect the impact of the recession on the job market.
WTR has never been for 2 years, that is Work FOR Residence. Although NZIS do seem to use both interchangeably on their website.

[sekilau]

Accordingly, in April [2007] I announced that people granted Work to Residence permits under the SMC would henceforth be given nine months instead of six to find a job, with an additional three months to get to New Zealand before that nine months begins. In addition skilled migrants who found a job would no longer need to work for three months prior to getting residence.

Does any one know since when the "work for three months prior to getting residence" what re-invented?

On the letter I have from NZIS, it isn't just three months requirement. it is "established in an ongoing skilled employment, and remain in the employment for the least three months within the validity period"
Therefore, even I get a contract job which last for 4 months or 6 months, I still need to proof the "ongoing". I really cannot answer the NZIS officer if they ask me what happen on me after 4 months or 6 months of employment.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10591170


Employers would look to fill vacancies with part-time and contract workers, he said.


If you are talking about PR->WTR type then it was changed in April 2007 (from link posted previously).



So unless the recession was already happening then, I suspect that it wasn't changed for this reason.

A two year WTR was more normally a 30 month WTR to allow you to work in NZ for 2 years and then apply for PR without having to leave the country.

And it was certainly called this when we applied for it, see Work to Residence - how do I apply (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktoresidence/howdoiapply/) for details.

Ian

[baais]

yossarian

Could you plz highlight following points:

Shortcomings of WTR visa.
Practical difficulties faced due to WTR visa.
Problems in converting WTR to PR


BR

[M-Squared]

Yossarian, so sorry it didn't work out, it's tough everywhere right now, not just here. Best of luck in whatever you find. :)

[ykkee]

Hi Yossarian, I am really sorry to hear this. Indeed, I think the job market is still depend on the skills instead of Kiwi first policy. If someone can't perform his job or fail the project, the hiring manager may risk himself to be the next possible "non-performing" candidates on the "list". Most managers are smart enough for this rule, I may be too positive anyway.

[JandL]

Have not been on here for a while, sad to hear this news. You started on these forums about the same time as us. We have not yet made it to NZ even with PR which runs out in November. Took us so long to sell house (at a huge loss) and now we are renting and waiting out as much as we dare until we can attempt a move. Likely we will have to let our PR lapse and re-apply in a year or so when we have clawed back some of our lose. Good luck my friend!

[Elainep]

So sorry to hear about your troubles, good luck for your future.

J&L - I may be getting the wrong end of the stick here, but is it out of the question to fund a trip to NZ to activate your visas to give you more time to make the move?

[JandL]

Possibly, we would have to pay for 4 of us to go over to activate them and stay for a week etc. Then it would last 2 years, it would be hoping that we get out there within those 2 years, if not we gotta reapply again anyway. Its a close call price and time wise, but yes, we have thought of it :).

[batgirl1001]

I wouldn't worry about yossarian. He doesn't seem bitter about "wasting" his time in NZ just unhappy about not getting employment. I think he is heading out to Singapore (which I would highly recommend) for an IT job; which I believe he wouldn't have the same trouble as here.

He seems like someone who bounces back easily.

[yossarian]

hey everyone, thanks for all the sympathies. i left nz last tuesday, and now in singapore. i'll be starting on a new job, which is in the IT field, this coming tuesday!(monday is holiday)

i'd like to thank everyone for all their help, understanding, and inputs. this forum has made my trip to nz a lot more easier, although in the end, i still have to leave kiwiland. my 9 month stay in nz has been rewarding and life-changing. i've learned a lot of things, met tons of people and friends, and enjoyed traveling around the country. it has taught me one important thing in my life, which is we cannot get just about everything we desire. i know this experience has given a sharp blow in my confidence level, but i genuinely enjoy every moment of my stay.

see you around! :)

[nifta]

so sorry it didn't work out for you, yossarian.

though i'm glad that, in spite of the difficulties you experienced, you left NZ with positive feelings about your time there. based on that i'd say it's NZ's loss!

best of luck in the new job!

[JandM]

Good news about the job - all the best. :nice1

[Mamee & Co]

Best of luck in your new job.

[Syed]

All the best

[dianney]

Best of luck in your new job.:)

[pamg9]

Hi, Could I check - if you had been fortunate enough to have secured a job, would you have easily been able to convert to RP? Are there more fees to be paid?

[baais]

Are there more people who are facing same issues like Yossrain? Moreover is there any proper solution to handle issues raised due to WTR strict timelines and no extension?


Please comment so that new comers should make up their minds accordingly.



All the Best