[derek gleghorn]

Im so glad i found this forum.You folks are so helpful and friendly it warms my heart.Anyway heres my story.We have registered with a company called Goldensands Migration who have told us that we will qualify for visas no problem.They charge £4000 for the whole deal.ie visas,job etc etc.Anyone else used them?
Our big worry is that my partner cindy has rheumatoid arthritis and urticaria which she must have pills to keep under control.Do you think it will go against her at the medical.She holds down a full time job so she is by no means infirmed but she would be without her prescription.Would she still be able to get her prescription in NZ.
Lastly(for now)any good websites where i can apply for jobs?

Thanks again everybody and hope to hear from you soon.

derek

[katandbob]

one bit of advise........go DIY not through a migrant agency, its easy and you'll save around 3 grand for your medical expenses.....wether the condition will affect it I dont know...sorry, but welcome and good luck

Kat

[derek gleghorn]

Thanks for your reply but - DIY- i wouldnt know where to start.

[Sarah & Alex]

Sorry don't know the answer to the question but welcome to the forum

[mossum]

Hi derek & welcome

I also would have to say - try DIY - most of on here have done it & I'm sure You could too . If it all goes belly up - you've lost £1000 not £4000 .

vic

[StevieD]

Derek - welcome to the forum! I'll give you the same advice as the others - go solo, bin the agency, they spin you a load of twaddle, playing on your ignorance of the process, and emptying large chunks of money out of your wallet to boot! It is easy enough with a bit of research.

Good luck

Steve

[marcia]

Hi I'd like to add my welcome to you! ;)

And to confirm what the others have said don't use an agency - money down the pan and some have had problems with them too!!

Folks on this forum are so helpfull, I'm sure any questions you have will be answered here - (I might even know the answer my self now!! :laugh )

The forms do look daunting at first but the online EOI can be filled in in bits and saved so it isn't so hard really.

welcome onto the NZ rollercoaster ride of your life!

[zardell]

Hello Derek and WELCOME to the forum.

Of course you should use an agent if that is what you want to do, but I would just like to echo every one else's sentiments and say have a go yourself.

Unless your circumstances are particularly unusual, I can't see you having any problems....and even if your circumstances are not the norm, I doubt if it's something that NZIS hasn't come across before and they will ask you for anything extra that they may require in order to process your application.

Any immigration agent can only fill in the forms WITH you not FOR you......in other words, you have to supply them with the information they need, so why not do it yourself ?? You will get all the help you need from this forum and also from the NZIS themselves.....they aren't complete ogres you know !!

As far as Cindy's medication is concerned, we have a forum member ( k-k I think ) who is a pharmacist in NZ and a couple of weeks ago she posted on here about the cost and availability of medication.....do a forum search and you will find the post.

Questor is a UK pharmacist.....help me out here please Questor !!!

Whatever you decide, Derek, good luck and welcome to the roller coaster.

Julie

xx

[mossum]

Derek ,

If you let me know (or PM me) the name of the drugs I can ask my mum who lives in NZ - she has RA & has been on every pharmaceutical substance invented !!!

vic x

[StevieD]

Julie - is there anybody you don't know on this forum?? LOL :laugh

[zardell]

Julie - is there anybody you don't know on this forum?? LOL :laugh


Oh aye lad, one or two. ;)

xxxxxxx

[derek gleghorn]

So grateful for all your help.The reason i was thinking of using an agent was
1They arrange the visas
2They do the job searches
3If we are refused visas,we get a full refund(less visa fees)

[Moorf]

Hi Derek and Welcome to the forum....

I'd agree with those above who say do it yourself, it really isn't a complicated process and the money saved would come in very handy once you are here. No stone is left unturned here so if you run up against a problem you can almost guarantee someone here will have the answer or at the very least we can thrash it through :nice1 - someone even posted a walkthrough and you can do the initial bits online via the immmigration website - have you done the online points calc?

Perhaps you could tell us what you do, what you want to do when you get to NZ and what visa you intend to arrive on? Oh, and where are you heading??!

Nice to have you aboard - even if you do decide to go via the agency route it will be really interesting to see how it works for you. Unfortunately I haven't heard a "good" agency story yet but there must be some around otherwise they'd be out of business!

Moorf

[Questor]

I dunno Helen - people who tend to use agents probably wouldn't know about these kind of forums - I've read a few magazines and there are a few agent horror stories in there!!

Jon

[Moorf]

I've read horror stories too and we all know a good forum buddy who has been hugely let down by an agency, but I'd hate to taint all agencies with the same brush. I am sure some people do need to use agencies and it's not really my place to say they "don't work" or "don't use them" - there's plenty of info, and experience, on here for someone to make their own mind up.

[Smiler]

Hi Derek

Welcome to the forum.

We came to NZ DIY along with many others. I have only heard bad agency stories. It would be good to hear something positive from, or about one. That's not to say you shouldn't use one, it's just my opinion. :D

Just to throw something else in the thinking pot, the satisfaction you get from doing it yourself is tremendous. No one passes you the news that you your EOI has been selected, you read it first yourself and so on.

It really just requires a bit of planning, preparation and thought, but basically comes down to form filling, collating documents and making sure you follow the timeline.

AND the saving of 3,000 GBP would get you a good few things on your arrival.

You won't be the first to ask the question you think is dumb on here, but you can be sure someone will know or point you in the right direction.

[ianandlou]

Derek and Cindy,

having just started the process (DIY) I can't really comment on using agents, and will leave that to others. Whether you go it alone or use an agent you will find this forum to be a great place to focus on what you need to know about the adventure ahead of you. Good luck,

Ian

[derek gleghorn]

My only concern with doing it myself is when you start the EOI they need to know if you have a job offer(which i dont)With a job offer i have more than enough points but without one i fall short.What is the best way to search for jobs.Sorry if i'm being a pain.

[NannyOgg]

Hi Derek & Cindy,

Welcome!

Just a little note on your mention of a job offer. My husband has been in contact with various employment agencies in Auckland - all of whom have said he has an excellent chance of employment (one even interviewed him in London) but they have all said the same thing - you need to have a firm date and you need to be in NZ. I realise its a catch 22 situation, and whilst there are people on this forum that have managed to secure job offers whilst still in the UK they are few and far between. With my OH quals we would qualify on points HOWEVER we cannot trace his C & G Certificate and without that we are stuffed so need a job offer to qualify. We have decided to bite the bullet and head off to Auckland in August (us and two kids),on a visitors visa, look for work, apply for permits and take it from there. For us neededing a job offer we felt this really was the only viable route available to us.

Not very helpfull I know but something to think about.

Nanny.

PS. Where are you heading?
PPS. Sorry to say I agree the migration agency is a rip off. Think of them as estate agents as you will get an idea of the kind of people you are dealing with!

[willsken]

Hi Derek & Cindy,

Welcome!

Just a little note on your mention of a job offer. My husband has been in contact with various employment agencies in Auckland - all of whom have said he has an excellent chance of employment (one even interviewed him in London) but they have all said the same thing - you need to have a firm date and you need to be in NZ. I realise its a catch 22 situation, and whilst there are people on this forum that have managed to secure job offers whilst still in the UK they are few and far between. With my OH quals we would qualify on points HOWEVER we cannot trace his C & G Certificate and without that we are stuffed so need a job offer to qualify. We have decided to bite the bullet and head off to Auckland in August (us and two kids),on a visitors visa, look for work, apply for permits and take it from there. For us neededing a job offer we felt this really was the only viable route available to us.

Not very helpfull I know but something to think about.

Nanny.

PS. Where are you heading?
PPS. Sorry to say I agree the migration agency is a rip off. Think of them as estate agents as you will get an idea of the kind of people you are dealing with!

I have a friend in the same situation. Not enough points without a job offer. She is planning on doing the same thing. Just go over, get a job offer and then a Visa........ sounds scary but if there are plenty of suitable jobs out there then you should be fine.
Easy for me to say when I have PR I know. :uhoh

[janjane]

havent read what everyone else has said but please fill in the form on the nz immigration and only if you cant fill this in after asking everyone on this site for help and advise consider paying an agent to do it for you jane

[diforsyth]

I have only heard bad agency stories. It would be good to hear something positive from, or about one.

I used Protea Pacific and found it took all the hassle out of the whole process. Without a job offer they still managed to get me a Residents Visa which according to my last passport stamp allows "Holder to stay indefinately". Although the visa was granted last May I can still use Protea for advice, their office facilites and they have a house for newcomers. They say the relationship ends when I want it too. I consider it money well spent.

I hope the above restores some faith in the use of agencies and at least allow more choice for deciding whether to DIY or not.

David.

[Smiler]

Hi David

Good news. Thank you :nice1

When will you be coming to NZ?

[diforsyth]

Our flights are booked for 17 August but will stop off en route in Singapore & Sydney for some much needed R&R. I haven't booked the SYD-AKL leg yet but anticipate arrival at the end of the month. I'm sure it'll be on on before we know it so I guess I ought to start thinking about accomodation & jobs :uhoh

[willsken]

I used Protea Pacific and found it took all the hassle out of the whole process. Without a job offer they still managed to get me a Residents Visa which according to my last passport stamp allows "Holder to stay indefinately". Although the visa was granted last May I can still use Protea for advice, their office facilites and they have a house for newcomers. They say the relationship ends when I want it too. I consider it money well spent.

I hope the above restores some faith in the use of agencies and at least allow more choice for deciding whether to DIY or not.

David.

Most of us DIYers on here have received PR without job offers. I think all we are saying is that you don't need to use an agent, if money is a consideration. I thought about using an agent but ended up doing it all myself. Having now been granted PR I am so pleased I didn't spend the money. For us every penny counts and we need to save as much as possible in the process.

Everyone is different and if that is how you choose to spend spare cash that fine. Just make sure you do your research and find a good one. :)

[zardell]

Just make sure you do your research and find a good one. :)


Couldn't agree more.

Julie

xx