[starkhorn]

Well, we've finally done it and sent it our ITA. So begins the long wait. I can't wait to get PR so that I can finally resign from my current job!! :)

Starting now to actively look for a new one. Anyone in Wellington (or even Auckland) in IT looking for a hp-ux person ?!? :)

Fingers-crossed all goes well. It's been a pain (and expensive) having to translate everything from french into english, so we hope we get it!

Cheers
Brendan & Isabelle.

[zardell]

Well done on getting all the paperwork together. It can be a real pain can't it. Heres hoping that everything goes smoothly for you.

Don't talk to me about long waits.....I've never had much patience and this is a killer !!

Still, worth it in the end.......

Julie

xx

[StevieD]

Good luck Brendan! Stick with it, you'll be o.k.

Steve :nice1

[Nienke]

Good luck! :nice1

[Smiler]

good luck with the ITA application. :nice1:nice1

[starkhorn]

Folks,

Well we received a letter this week from the London Branch of NZIS basically saying they received our application and that we are in the queue. Our status on the NZIS website has changed to "Application Received" but checking the London branch site, it seems there is a 4 month backlog so it looks like we are in for a long wait. :( :(

I did have one question. When will they return the original documents? Do I have to wait the entire 4 months until a case officer is assigned before they will return them?

Cheers
Starkhorn

[willsken]

Yes, you have to wait for the paperwork until you get PR. At least I haven't had mine back yet and was interviewed the other day! :roll I think if you need the passports you can have them back......not sure how you go about it though! :)

[StevieD]

We got our passports back this week with our visa's, and all the original paperwork was returned to us. I'm sure if you need something they will return it to you, I think the reason is that they can see the documents first hand as opposed to looking at photocopies.

Good luck with your wait... sure you will be fine.

Steve

[starkhorn]

Hi,

Many thanks for that. So wow, I have to wait until the entire PR process is completed before receiving my documents back. I wish we had done certified copies of our passports instead. :)

Hmm, I better give them a call or something then as we'll need our passports this summer.

Thanks again.

Cheers
Brendan

[edmundt]

In our case, because it would cost us NZ$5 plus GST to certify each document, to cut cost, what we did instead was to make a photocopy (uncertified) of all the documents that we were submitting. We neatly filed all the originals in a clear folder. Then, we filed all the photocopies in another clear folder, in exactly the same sequence as the one with the originals.

On the day of submission of ITA, the case officer took both files & after a 20 minutes wait (time she took to vouch the photocopies against the originals), she returned us the folder with the originals (including passports) & kept the one with the photocopies.

I guess this is a good arrangement as you get to have all your documents back immediately & yet not spend $$$ on certification of photocopies.

[starkhorn]

Hi Folks,

Well things have started moving with our ITA. It seems a case officer has been assigned and the telephone interview has been arranged.

Yikes! :)

I'm trying now to find old threads that give interview tips and help. If anyone has any good threads on interview in their favourites then I'd be eternally grateful!

Anyway, everyone keep fingers crossed for me! :) :)

Cheers
Starkhorn

[Trigirl]

Hi Starkhorn,

GOOD LUCK (and it will be fine)

We had ours this morning - well actually my husband did - they didn't want to talk to me!

This was the main thread we used to swot up (Gil's post about half way down)
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?p=51692#post51692

Hope it all goes well

Mandy

[willsken]

If you PM me your e mail address I will send you the questions I have and the answers I gave to the ones they asked me. :nice1

[starkhorn]

Thats brillant, thanks a million for the swift answers. Really useful post! :)

Cheers
Brendan

[starkhorn]

Folks,

I'm a bit worried about the below question:-

What will you do if you can't find employment in your profession?

I've never really considered this point as I've been fairly confident that I would be able to find a job in IT.

I can't really think of a good answer for that one?

Live off our meagre savings whilst finding alternative unskilled work like working in a bar? Or should I just that I don't believe that I won't find employment in my profession?

Any ideas or advice would be very welcome! :)

Cheers
Starkhorn

[Trigirl]

I'd go for confident that you will. Back it up with why you are confident. In particular:

Have you spoken to recruitment agents? What did they say?

Are you flexible on NZ location to find work? Auckland and Wellington may be easiest for IT but if you are happy to move to wherever the jobs are then thats even better.

Would you be happy to take a lesser skilled / lower paid role in your profession to get started?

Is there a Mrs Starkhorn? Will she be working and if so would that take the pressure off for a while? (This is the route we used as although my OH will be looking for a job in IT I already have a job offer so it doesn't matter so much if it takes a while)

Hope this mornings waffling helps - what time is your interview? Will have fingers crossed for you.

[starkhorn]

Hi Trigirl,

Ok thanks thats great.

Wellington is definitely our first choice and we'd consider Auckland if there a good job on offer, sure. Agencies said yep they are interested but we need to be over there.

And yes indeed the waffle helped alot! :)

Cheers

[starkhorn]

Well I just had the interview and it seemed to go quite well. It last about 15 mins and the case officer seemed happy with our application. The questions that he asked were pretty much the same as the link that Trigirl has posted above.

Many thanks to all for their help. Much appreciated! :)

Now begins the dreaded wait on whether we'll get PR or WTR. Figures crossed

Cheers
Brendan