[ianandlou]

Hello. We just joined. We are Ian and Lou, a software developer and a primary school teacher looking to emmigrate to NZ with our 2 young kids. As we are new, we have some questions which I am sure there are answers we should have found ourselves, but your patience is appreciated :)

Our first real concern is when to lodge the EOI. Like most people we need a job before we can qualify for residence, and do not have one yet. Do we wait for a job offer before lodging the EOI, or can we lodge the EOI and then update it later if we get job offers?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers,

Ian

[StevieD]

Ian and Lou - firstly, WELCOME TO THE FORUM! I'm sure with your skills that you will reach the required points total with no problems at all as I imagine that you are both on the skills shortage list. Have you checked your points totals on the NZ immigration website. Read that site thoroughly, I know it looks a thankless task, but it is worth it. And whatever you do, don't bother with immigration consultants - complete and utter waste of money.

I know the requirements have changed recently, but sure you will have no problems. You don't necessarily have to have a job to get ITA, just that applicants over 140 points with a job offer will be considered first. Then they look at other applicants.... so there is no magic time to apply, whatever suits you I suppose. If you want a chat, send us a pm and we can meet on MSN if you want to chat farther.

Good luck and again, welcome!

Steve

[katandbob]

Yes WELCOME


If you read the NZIS website and fill in the online EOI you should have no problems, I admit that some of the questions are a bit of a nightmare to interpret but you will find that if you have a specific query about one, someone on here will (hopefully) answer.

steve....
how farther can you go???....hopefully all the way to NZ ;)


Welcome once again, Ian & Lou

cheers

Kat :D

[ianandlou]

Steve,

many thanks for the advice. I have made a start on the NZIS website. We want to get cracking asap, so we will fill in the EOI and apply for jobs in the interim.

I see that you fly out at the end of next month. Where are you headed?

cheers,

Ian

[katandbob]

Steve,

many thanks for the advice. I have made a start on the NZIS website. We want to get cracking asap, so we will fill in the EOI and apply for jobs in the interim.

I see that you fly out at the end of next month. Where are you headed?

cheers,

Ian


Or Ian did you mean Me ;) ???

if it was we are going to land in Auckland ...have a reccy around for 10 days and then head for CHch for a mth to check the Jobs my OH has interviews set up for. (the Kids fly Sept)

good luck

Kat

[Sir]

Hi and welcome to both of you.

Just like your self , we were unsure of submitting our EOI without a job offer and i asked the same question , just page down a bit and check my post called "First Question !!! "

i am sure that it will help .

all the best :cheers

[ianandlou]

I see that it is Kat and Bob who are off on 31 May. Doh. Need to be more careful with the EOI eh? Anyway, thanks to you all for the welcome and helpful replies.

cheers,

Ian

[ianandlou]

Will do

[Hannah]

Big Welcome Ian and Lou,

have you tried going onto the NZIS site and doing a points calculation. Some of the questions may need a bit of research to answer (are you in a shortage skill area, are you in a something or other cluster - i never really went into those because I knew i was neither, but i'm sure others on here can advise whether your professions fit into these areas. From what i've seen from the recent selections from the EOI pool, they are taking people with 125 points or more without job offers who have a few years experience (i think 5 yrs but do check) in a shortage skill area (which I would have thought teaching fits into??)
If you go onto the NZIS site and click on the link that takes you an update of the most recent selection under the sklled migrant category, it gives you an idea of the kind of applicants that are getting selected without job offer. This can change each month note - one month they may ask for 135 points and 6 years experience, another it could be 120 points and 4 years experience, depending on how many other applicants have applied with jobs i guess. The sure fire way to be selected is having 140 points (with or without job offer - you may reach that so worth a check on the points calculator!). You have an excellent chance if you have between 100 - 140 points with a job offer (this is not guaranteed selection, but since the change in the rules from 1st Feb 06 all with job offers have being selected from what I can tell, hence NZIS have considered applications with job offers also).

Of course it's always worth applying for jobs from abroad, particularly as you work in shortage occupations. Or you could go on a short recce trip and apply for jobs/attend interviews and then go home to pack (as many on this forum have done) which also gives you an idea of what the country is really like and if it's for you.

Stick around on this forum, there are several benefits:

1. Useful, even vital information. Quick answers in straightforward language (unlike many NZIS policy documents!)
2. Good support - when you encounter problems (house won't sell, leaving relatives behind, children don't want to go to NZ, homesickness etc) it helps to know that you are not alone and what you are experiencing is normal.
3. Good laugh
4. One less customer for those corrupt emigration agents (you'll get more accurate information and practical support here than will from many agents!)

Good luck with your plans Ian and Lou, hope to hear from you as you go through your journey to get here.

Hannah

[zardell]

Hi and welcome to both of you.

Just like your self , we were unsure of submitting our EOI without a job offer and i asked the same question , just page down a bit and check my post called "First Question !!! "

i am sure that it will help .

all the best :cheers


Hello Ian and Lou and WELCOME to the forum.

Although loads and loads of people (including me) will be more than willing to help and guide you, I know how daunting it can all seem at first, but when you get into it, its really not that bad.

Do, do forum searches, cos like you said, a lot of queries have been asked and answered before and if you can find what you want on a search, it saves
time waiting for a reply to a post.

Juniper has compiled an excellent posting all about the immigration process and its invaluable (IMO) especially to someone like yourself that is just starting out.

All I can advise is this - do a D.I.Y job (who needs immigration agents eh?) and stock up on patience ! Who was the pain in the ass that said 'patience is a virtue' ?

Julie

xx

[zardell]

Juniper has compiled an excellent posting all about the immigration process and its invaluable (IMO) especially to someone like yourself that is just starting out.Julie



Ooops, sorry....I should have said - its called ' A walk through the immigration process '

Julie

xx

[StevieD]

Julie, but patience is needed in buckets in the emigration roller coaster isn't it? :)

[zardell]

Julie, but patience is needed in buckets in the emigration roller coaster isn't it? :)


Tell me about it !!

People say to me 'oh, you're a driving instructor - you must have lots of patience'

WRONG.....I have dual controls... :roll

Nah, patience has never been one of my virtues and this immigration process is proving very hard for my self control, but we'll get there in the end.

Julie

xx

[marcia]

Hi Welcome to the forum.

If you are determined you'll get there in the end, well we hope so anyway.

We have had a plan A - which failed when we hit a brick wall.

Now on plan 'B' - which doesn't seem to be happening due to waiting for paperwork from others!

Plan 'C' is about to come into force!!! - Just sell up and go!!!!

You'll no doubt you will hear more from us on this soon!!

The forum is a wonderful friendly place, don't think any question is too silly to ask, someone will probably know the answer or point you in the direction to get it!

Have fun - hope you like rollercoaters rides you've just got on a cracker!!! :roll

[ianandlou]

Hannah,

I have had a go at the online calculator and get 120 points. Frustratingly I am couple of months off the 6 years in absolute shortage area that would get me the points they seem to need right now. All the same I guess it is worth banging in an EOI on the chance that one month they cut it low.

I in the process of being made redundant so am in the odd position of needing to find jobs in 2 countries. I know where I'd like to get a job first ;)

Thanks for your help. The response to my first post has been overwhelmingly kind.

cheers,

IanBig Welcome Ian and Lou,

have you tried going onto the NZIS site and doing a points calculation. Some of the questions may need a bit of research to answer (are you in a shortage skill area, are you in a something or other cluster - i never really went into those because I knew i was neither, but i'm sure others on here can advise whether your professions fit into these areas. From what i've seen from the recent selections from the EOI pool, they are taking people with 125 points or more without job offers who have a few years experience (i think 5 yrs but do check) in a shortage skill area (which I would have thought teaching fits into??)
If you go onto the NZIS site and click on the link that takes you an update of the most recent selection under the sklled migrant category, it gives you an idea of the kind of applicants that are getting selected without job offer. This can change each month note - one month they may ask for 135 points and 6 years experience, another it could be 120 points and 4 years experience, depending on how many other applicants have applied with jobs i guess. The sure fire way to be selected is having 140 points (with or without job offer - you may reach that so worth a check on the points calculator!). You have an excellent chance if you have between 100 - 140 points with a job offer (this is not guaranteed selection, but since the change in the rules from 1st Feb 06 all with job offers have being selected from what I can tell, hence NZIS have considered applications with job offers also).

Of course it's always worth applying for jobs from abroad, particularly as you work in shortage occupations. Or you could go on a short recce trip and apply for jobs/attend interviews and then go home to pack (as many on this forum have done) which also gives you an idea of what the country is really like and if it's for you.

Stick around on this forum, there are several benefits:

1. Useful, even vital information. Quick answers in straightforward language (unlike many NZIS policy documents!)
2. Good support - when you encounter problems (house won't sell, leaving relatives behind, children don't want to go to NZ, homesickness etc) it helps to know that you are not alone and what you are experiencing is normal.
3. Good laugh
4. One less customer for those corrupt emigration agents (you'll get more accurate information and practical support here than will from many agents!)

Good luck with your plans Ian and Lou, hope to hear from you as you go through your journey to get here.

Hannah

[Smiler]

Hi Ian and Lou

Welcome to the forum.

Sounds like you are in a difficult position at the moment, but I know where I would want to be job wise and it sounds like you do too. :nice1

This forum is brilliant, like Hannah says it is nice to get things in plain english instead of the gobblydygook immigtration speak. You just know someone on here will know the answer.

Good luck with your EOI. Keep us updated.

[Questor]

Welcome Ian and Lou - have fun with the Immigration process - it makes you realise that if it takes so much effort, it must be worth it in the end!!

Jon and Catie

BTW Marcia - we must have a drink sometime as we're so close!

[Moorf]

Hi Ian & Lou

Just wanted to say a huge WELCOME to the forum and I know you'll get all your answers here or a good few shoulders to lean/cry/laugh/slobber on...... :nice1 and do check out the UK meets, there may be one near you and you can either avoid the nutters or join them for a beer and a natter about what lies ahead.... :D
Moorf

[Questor]

That hurts Helen, it really does.... :)

[Moorf]

Ahhh... I'm just bitter I missed the 2004 Scottish meet :D

[Questor]

That's alright - we seem to be missing every meet atm! :)