[tigerlily]

I'm wondering if anyone has had or has even heard of face to face instead of telephone interviews for those of us applying for PR without a job or job offer?
I'm reading through the Application for Residence Guide (page 26 and 27) and it's talking only about face to face interviews, with all those on the application (does that include my 3 year old?).

From the guide...
It is important to note that:
If we need you to attend an interview, you may have to be prepared to travel to the NZIS for this interview to take place. The NZIS does travel routinely to see customers who do not live near to the NZIS branch assessing their application. Therefore, if you rewure the NZIS to travel to you to undertake an interview at a time and/or location other than scheduled by the NZIS, it may be necessary for the NZIS to ask you to pay expenses associated with any travel undertaken.



Does this mean I have to pay to fly my case officer to my town? This booklet is dated December 2005, so I'm freaking out a bit that this is part of the new policy. Please please has anyone had a phone interview since then?

[MB]

tigerlily - hello! I know of one USA-based forum member who was asked to attend, and attended, an in-person NZIS interview (as well as a phone interview I think). His take on this was that it helped him because he could meet an officer. Maybe he'll post with any ideas he has as to why he/his family were asked to attend in person, if he has any strong notions about this.
But my impression is that few USA applicants -- at least in the recent '100-point-passmark' era, and probably since that too -- have been asked to do more than a phone interview.
We were no-job-offer, not on a skill priority list. I can tell you that we had only a phone interview (in Jan. '05) with a very nice D.C. officer, although it seems to have lasted a little longer than interviews with London case officers and/or interviews with UK applicants.... 45-55 mins. rather than 15-20 mins., say. But my wife and I were on the phone with him at the same time, and maybe we were just chatterboxes!
In-person interview costs -- in the unlikely event that this becomes relevant to you -- are another question, and I don't feel very confident about addressing this area. If NZIS wanted you to pick up the tab, I think they'd at least be pretty understanding about scheduling the interview so that you could have a good shot at getting cheap tickets, childcare/petcare, or whatever.
Whether your interview is in person or face-to-face, the best thing is probably -- as you might imagine -- to demonstrate that you have a good, plain, working idea of what NZ will likely have in store for you... economically, weather-wise, school-wise, etc. A few good facts, experiences or reports about those sorts of areas -- NZ salary ranges in your skill area, temperature averages, rainfall, kindergarten system, or whatever -- will be v.useful and are great to have in front of you on note paper if you are unsure what to say next at interview.
You'll do fine. :)

[Rocketman]

Tigerlilly - ( Correct me if I am wrong , but I am assumming that all US applications are delt with the by London branch) In most cases I think that if NZIS does not have someone in the US, then your interview will be by telephone. I had a telephone interview and I am in Scotland.

However I would be supprised if NZIS would pick up the tab for any cost.

[StevieD]

Telephone tigerlily, don't think they have the time or inclination to drag someone half way across the world for a 10-15 min chat. They have the majority of what they need from the ITA/EOI process anyway.

Good luck

Steve