[Meg]

HI all I am new here.

I need some information on migration to NZ.

1) How much funds are needed to show to NZ government when we migrate. Someon told me US$100,000. Is that correct. Wow, that's a big amount.

2) I work as Secretary/Legal Secretary. This is in the skill list. If however, I don't get enough points, is it easy to get work permit for this kind of job. Where can I hunt for jobs.

3) If I get a work permit, how soon can I apply for migration. Will I still need to show any funds to the government.

4) Does the work experience in India count as experience.

5) Is it easy for a single mother with a small child to migrate to NZ.

6) How much tax do we pay there.

I will come back with more questions.

Thanks.

Meg

[Phil&Shell]

Hi Meg,

We're new here ourselves so I can't answer all your questions but if you start to read and take part in this forum someone somewhere will help you fit all the pieces together. It difficult and you never get everything that you need to know in one go, but eventually you get the picture.

My bit of advice is to start at the New Zealand Immigration site www.immigration.govt.nz then come back to this forum and try to fill in the bits that don't make sense.

all the best

Phil

[Meg]

Phil & Shell

Thanks for your reply. I have already looked up that website, but unfortunately can't find my way through to what I am looking for. I am hoping to receive help from the forum members.

Thanks.

Meg

[Douglas]

Hello Meg,


How much funds are needed to show to NZ government when we migrate. Someon told me US$100,000. Is that correct. Wow, that's a big amount.


The key to migration is not money (unless you have a million or two for investor category), it's a job-offer or is based on your skills.


2) I work as Secretary/Legal Secretary. This is in the skill list. If however, I don't get enough points, is it easy to get work permit for this kind of job. Where can I hunt for jobs.


For any job on the POL or OSL, a work-visa/permit is automatic provided you have a job offer from a New Zealand employer.

To hunt for jobs, search Yahoo for "New Zealand jobs".


3) If I get a work permit, how soon can I apply for migration.


If you get a work visa you can come here immediately. You can apply for residence immediately provided you have sufficient points for the Skilled Migrant category.


Will I still need to show any funds to the government.


No.


4) Does the work experience in India count as experience.


For Skilled migration, experience in India is valid only if you have a job offer from a NZ employer.


5) Is it easy for a single mother with a small child to migrate to NZ.


Immigration for a single mother is no different in terms of most regulations. Many people who apply for SMC can score extra points because of their spouse's qualifications though.

In terms of how easy it is in terms of personal circumstances for a single parent, other people might be able to answer this one better than I can.

:smile

[beshaym]

Hi Douglas,

are you immigration attorny or something :clap . Man you are really study that well.

Please tell me if my university degree is in Accountancy and my work expirence in IT ( which is 5 years ). what will be the situation.. also note that my country is not in the recognised List ?

what will be the situation then.

[Lizelle]

Beshaym,

I had a quick look around the immigration website, and have found the following:

- As I understand it, your qualification is not recognized, but you can have it assessed by the NZQA. The following is from the website:

"You can qualify for points for qualifications such as trade certificates, diplomas, bachelor degrees and post-graduate qualifications. Your qualification must align with those we have accepted in the List of Recognised Qualifications.


If it does not we may require NZQA to assess your qualification. The points you can earn for a recognised qualification will depend on what level we assess your qualification to be on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications."

- On the work experience:
Eqypt is also not on the list of comparable markets, but if you have a job offer it does not appear to matter.
The website says the following:

"A labour market is the commercial environment in which people exchange their work for income and where employers and workers ‘trade’ on the demand for, and supply of, skills. If you do not have skilled employment or an offer of skilled employment, your work experience must have been gained in a comparable labour market in order for you to claim points."

Hope this helps :hopeso

Cheers
Zelly :nice1

[Douglas]

Hi Mike, no I'm not an attorney. :uhoh

Basically because your experience is not in a "similar labour market" country, you'll need a job offer before your experience will be recognised by the NZIS.

Presumably you'll be looking for IT work. What you'll need to find out is whether any certifications you have picked up while you have been working are recognised by the NZIS as sufficient qualifications to entitle you to get an IT job here.

(I know that's probably not too helpful, but it's what you'll need to find out.)

[jesselyn]

hi meg,

just wanna say welcome to the forum :smile

jes :angel

[jesselyn]

hi mike,

welcome to the forum :smile
will pm you a link for an IT job...
good luck! :nice1

jes :angel

[Meg]

Hi all

Thanks for the welcomes and replies, especially to Douglas. Well most of my work experience is from India, but my 4 years of legal seretary experience is in Bermuda. I think even that is not a recognised country. Will my Legal Secretary Certificate by correspondence course from UK do any good to me.

How do we go about getting a job offer. I sent my resumes to a few agencies and they came back and all asked me the same question: "Whether I have a work permit to work in NZ?". What comes first, the job offer or the work permit. And whicever comes first, how do I go about getting it. Somewher I read about accredited employers who can offer jobs to expats - do we get jobs by applying to these employers?

If someone come to NZ as a visitor, I assume we are allowed to look for jobs then, but will the employers give jobs to visitors? Its such a maze, I am so totally confused.

Thanks.

Meg

[Raeven]

Hi, Meg,

I think legal experience of all kinds is appreciated in NZ; however, your qualification will not be recognized there. I am a certified paralegal here in the States, and it won't do me much good in NZ. While there are similarities in the legal systems, there are many differences, as well.

The equivalent position for a paralegal in NZ is called a legal executive, and you can find out about taking courses for their qualification here: http://www.nzile.org.nz/

Great place to start networking, too!!

You needn't be a certified legal executive to work as one in NZ, but getting their qualification will definitely help in the salary department.

Best of luck to you in your immigration adventures!! - Rae

[beshaym]

Hello Lizelle, Douglas, Jes, Meg,

Thank you all for your great help.

I have one more question here about the labor market. I’m in Egypt and i knew that it is not on the list of comparable markets,but the company I’m working for is a multinational company called Infonet ( www.infonet.com ) it is American company. Is this can help now about the job experience?

Thanks

[jesselyn]

i dont think so... :(
in the expression of interest guide - it says there :


b. Work experience is also assessed as being in a comparable labour market if:


i. it was undertaken for a multinational commercial entity that is domiciled in one of the countries listed ;and

ii. the work was undertaken in a country not listed by a person who is a citizen or permanent resident of one of the listed countries and had the lawful authority to work in that country.

jes :angel