[thegatehouse]

My family and I have been hoping to make the move to NZ for about 10 years now and are now in a position to get the ball rolling. As this is our future, we think it best to lay out some cash and get a professional to sort out the admin. We are looking to a company called Lifestyle NZ or Malcolm Pacific. If anyone has any good or bad info on these or others, we would appreciate it. Thanks

[Diny]

Welcome to the forum. From what I understand an agency doesn't do anything that you can't for yourself.

I've heard plenty of comments regarding agencies and I have to admit that there have been more bad comments than good.

This forum will provide you with a fantastic source of information, no matter what question you have you will find the answer here.

Obviously this is something you have to decide upon for yourself, but in my opinion (for what it's worth) - I'd forget the agancies and go it alone.

Diny

[veronica]

If you can do it yourself I would.

[thegatehouse]

thanks Diny

It just seems that it is a huge minefield out there and timings etc appear to be crucial... medicals, police reports and everything else. I am tied into my present career untill Feb 07 so at the moment an agency looks likely....

[chips]

If you have a computer, and spend a bit of time on it ,it is totally possible for you to do it yourself. Some people are even doing their own shipping.
I suggest that unless it's something personal, that there is at least one person for every question on here.
Don't worry if the questions been asked before , some will know the answer, or be able to guide you.
All the best Chips

[bbq]

My family and I have been hoping to make the move to NZ for about 10 years now and are now in a position to get the ball rolling. As this is our future, we think it best to lay out some cash and get a professional to sort out the admin. We are looking to a company called Lifestyle NZ or Malcolm Pacific. If anyone has any good or bad info on these or others, we would appreciate it. Thanks

Hiya (&welcome)

I was also looking at getting a professional in to do the leg work, but having spent a lot of time looking through the various forums I changed my mind. I'd agree with everything Diny, Veronica and Chips say and add that I have seen some posts where people using agents have actually said that they (the agents) actually cause them MORE problems, than doing it themself.

I haven't heard much in the way of positive comments about using agents.

Good luck either way

alex

[clg]

I looked into agents and decided to go it myself. But while looking, I found quite a few good postings about Malcom Pacific. They are expensive, they quoted us something lik 6k US.

[Ian and Rachel]

Hi,

You sound as if you are in a similar situation as ourselves - just starting out in the process. We have already looked into using an agency, including those mentioned by you. But, we really do not see what else they can offer in the immigration process, over and above what we can do ourselves.

They do offer some useful services, which could be of value in helping you relocate - housing and jobs etc. but, personally we think this is the biggest thing we will ever do and would rather do the leg work ourselves and be sure we know what we are letting ourselves in for!

Are you going to the New Zealand Expo in London 16 and 17 Oct? It may be a good place to start.

[Timbo]

My experience of agents has been documented on this forum. Save your money and put it towards your new life in NZ. Thats my tuppence worth.
If you want the full story, feel free to PM me. (I dont want to jeapordise the pending court case)

[bbq]

(I dont want to jeapordise the pending court case)

:D :D :D

[thegatehouse]

Ian & Rachael, I was unaware of an upcoming Expo. Unfortunately we live in the North of Scotland so it may be unlikely that we can make it at such short notice. Is there a website offering info on the Expo?.

The whole process looks quite daunting and even though my wife has a brother, aunt, uncle and countless cousins etc living in NZ, some for over forty years it appears that getting in is far from certain.

how close are you to applying?

Thegatehouse

[Diny]

How long has your wife's brother been in NZ. He may be able to sponsor her under the family category. She would be the principal applicant and you would be included as her spouse.

Stop telling yourself it's going to be difficult - you may be pleasantly suprised but you won't know until you give it a go. :D

Diny

[Fern]

Another useful source of information is Outbound Papers solely on New Zealand, a £19 subscription will get you 12 monthly issues. You can ring them on 01323 726040 with a credit card or send a cheque.

We found them to be an invaluable source and would just also like to say we dont have degrees or high profile jobs, we just visited NZ got some interviews lined up, hubby got a job, came back put house on market and 2 year visas were back within a week of returning, easy as that so definately not worth losing thousands of pounds over.

Also we know of another couple that were quoted about £6,000 to get them jobs, in the end they packed up and went on six months visitors visa's got jobs and applied for work visa's, so my advise again would be to save your pennies or pounds should I say!

[thegatehouse]

Hi Diny

My wifes brother has been there for 16 years or so and is married to a NZ girl. I know a little about the category you mention but I understand that as my wifes parents are still in the UK, we dont qualify.... is this right?

[thegatehouse]

Well I think all of you have convinced us already that we should at least give it a go on our own. I am keeping my fingers crossed .... thanks all.

[Diny]

I think you may be right on that. I've just looked at the info I have on file and it does say that you need to produce evidence that your siblings and parents are not living in the same country as you.

Have you worked out what points you have, I understand that the points requirements are at an all time low. I am being sponsored by my Kiwi husband so I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to point scores.

Diny

[thegatehouse]

The points thing is why we were unsure about self help as my qualifications have questionable impact. I am in the RAF working with Survival Equipment...Liferafts and all things associated with Survival stuff! I know this may be useful in the Marine industry but as far as I know, my 22 years in service wont count for much! My wife used to be a Nurse but has been out of that employ for a number of years. She may look to getting re registered for immigration purposes though! Perhaps we are more viable than we give ourselves credit for. Financially we are secure so no worries there.

[veronica]

I think you could well be. Are you sure your time in the services counts for nothing.

[miep]

Hi,

We looked at using an agency twice, and both times decided against it. If you use all the resources available through the internet you really have all the info you need. The agencies didn't come across as being trustworthy at all. Secondhand car salesmen come to mind when trying to explain how they made us feel.
We went the work permit and then pr route and when we thought immigration was trying to buy yet more time we had a lawyer write a letter on our behalf and that's what did it in the end. Despite having a job on the PoL, qualifications on the recognised qual list, 31 points when we needed 28 etc it still took 16 months to get processed, but we got there in the end.
We talked to Malcolm Pacific when we were starting to get really annoyed with how long everything was taking ( 9 months to get a reply to a letter!) but they couldn't/wouldn't do anything for us unless we went through the whole procedure with them from the beginning, ie pay the whole amount, no flexibility at all, and a very smug/arrogant attitude. All in all it didn't instill any confidence in them at all and we went with the lawyer instead.


So I suggest you spend some time reading the immigration service operations manual available on their site and do it yourself.

Best of luck!

Miep