[Wendy]

This is the first time I have posted anything like this. It has been very interesting to read the threads and have some positive comments regarding moving to New Zealand.

My family and I are planning to move to New Zealand as soon as possible. The house is on the market and as soon as it is sold we shall move.

We are hoping to go to New Zealand as a visitor for six months and then during this time get a job and apply for residency and work permits. Does anyone think this is a viable and realistic thing to do?

We have submitted our EOI but think it will be a long wait. My husband works as a Senior Systems Analyst in a large Insurance/pensions company. We have listed him as not working in a future growth area - are we right in doing so?

It would be nice to hear from someone to know if we are doing the right thing. Our two girls are very anti the move and it would be good to know one way or the other. My eldest daughter who has just turned thirteen says she would rather live in a children's home than go to New Zealand! It is proving to be such a battle that we are begining to wonder whether it would be better for them to stay here. My husband and I still really want to go and know that we would all benefit from it but are we being selfish?

Hope someone call help me.

Wendy

[Pip]

Hi Wendy,

I don't know enough to offer any advice on going to NZ/looking for a job compared to EOI submission, but I do know there are lots of very knowledgable people on here, so I'm sure someone on here will be able to offer to some advice. Anyway, - I just wanted to say welcome and good luck, I only did my first post the other day and everyone gave me so much help and advice and made me feel really welcome.

As for doing the right thing - I guess it depends on the people involved - but my husband and I are giving it a go, and if it doesn't work out - we'll come back to the UK. It might be costly, but at least we'll have tried rather than wondering what if...

fingers crossed the girls will come round to the idea..I seem to remember at 13 being opposed to anything my parents wanted to do on principle - but I have to admit, - they were usually right - even if I couldn't see it at the time.

hope thats of some help..

[kiwidebs]

Hi Wendy

Welcome to the forum. Noone can tell you the right thing to do for you and your family but there certainly is plenty of people on this forum who have arrived on visitors visas, found jobs and done the official paperwork over here. As for 13 year olds, I'm no help, my two are 3 and 4 - we thought we'd do the big move before they were old enough to object. I know others have come over with teens so hopefully they'll be able to offer some wisdom on the subject.
Just wanted to say hi.

[Smiler]

Hi Wendy

Welcome to the forum :cheers

Many people on here have arrived in NZ the way you are planning to and succeeded. Has your OH started looking around for SSA jobs yet, to give you some idea of the market etc? Sorry I can't help with the growth area bit.

It must be difficult with your 13 year old. I hope that things get better and that they realise what an opportunity they have right now. You could point out that all airports have a departure lounge which they could use if they still hated NZ after x months. At 13 I would have jumped at the chance, but only if I could have left my sisters behind. ;)

Good luck with all your plans.

[StevieD]

Hi Wendy, welcome to the forum!

Questions:

1. where are you based in UK?

2. what is OH systems analyst in? IT? if so his skills will be sorely needed.

Teenagers are notoriously awkward as we all know, but we know people who have gone with teenagers and they are loving it! Try dropping a pm to people like Kim39, Marie P, they have teenage girls and will may be able to give you a few pointers.

As others have said, many people have gone by your proposed route and succeeded. It is purely dependant on your circumstances. We are lucky and already have our PR visa, but there is no reason why you can't go by other methods.

If you want to have a look at jobs for your OH, try seek.co.nz or jobstuff.co.nz, you may get an idea from them.

Good luck

Steve

[Wendy]

Thanks for your replies - am feeling more positive again now - just wish I could click my fingers and be there! I have read some comments on another forum and it was begining to get a bit depressing.

I know I am being very thick, but what are 'SSA jobs' please?

We live in Norwich, Norfolk. My husband designs and develops IT solutions for pension products. He has no IT qualifications but has been doing the job for the last ten years and was programming pension products for ten years before that. Does that count for anything? I don't care where we move to but would prefer the South Island.

Does anyone think we should amend our EOI to say that my husband has experience in a skilled shortage or an immediate skills shortage area? Is it too late to change the EOI anyway?

Thanks again

Wendy

[jaycee]

Hi Wendy, Can't tell you if it's the right thing to do, but it's worth a try if you're willing and able to take the risk. I work in IT, but at a lower level than your OH, and was told a few years back by an immigration consultant that the only people who stood a good chance of finding work in that field were Systems Analysts. However, if I had known then what I know now (mainly thanks to this forum), I'd have been straight on that plane to go and look for myself. So two positive thoughts there!

Yes, you're right about not claiming the future growth area points - you only get those if you have a job offer in one of the specified areas. However if you qualify for the bonus points for a employment/qualification in a skill shortage area, you may find your wait in the pool is not as long as you anticipate:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/news/smcadditionalselectioncriteria.htm

Good luck :)

[jaycee]

Wendy, just read your last post - unfortunately if he has no qualification in IT then you can't claim the skill shortage points. Doesn't mean he won't be able to find work though :)

[Angie and Mick]

Hi Wendy

Re question can you amend your EOI, the answer is yes. As long as you have not been selected then you can go and edit your form. (online). Be careful though, if claim points and you then get selected, if incorrect you will be put back into the pool.
Good luck. :nice1

[CAFCValley]

Hi Wendy
We arrived in Auckland 4th July and have 3 children aged 8,10 and 12. We checked out background etc on schools and areas b4 coming over and settled in the Orewa area (north of Auckland). The children all got places into a semi-private school on the 17th July, the start of the 3rd term. The older boy was in middle school (6 mths bhind England due to birthdate) and hated it by the end of the first day and wanted to go back to England. But good news, by the end of the first week he had made friends and settled well and really loves all the outdoor sports. The other 2 children are Y3 & Y5. Y5 son settled in from day one. Y3 daughter took a while as she had alot of friends in Croydon. By the end of the first week we could say that they had all pretty much settled into school and it is getting better. I am a kiwi but have been in UK for just over 17 years so it has been a shock to me to be back. I sponsored my husband to come here, we are starting to settle and it is a lovely area here. I grew up in South Auckland so didn't know this area too well but good growth here. We are pleased we made the move. The children love it and wouldn't go back to England except for holidays. My husband has just recd job offer so starts soon.
Take care, all the best.
Tracey and Larry

[kiwidebs]

Hi and welcome to the forum Tracey and Larry. Bit of a change Croyden to Orewa (we've recently done Bromley to West Harbour!!!). How are you finding it being back after so many years. I'm also a Kiwi, was in SE London for 9 years and brought my husband and two kids over on partnership visa (actually the kids have kiwi passports) earlier this year.

[tee and dee]

Hi Wendy,
We have 2 little ones (2 and 5) who are very excited to be going and 2 teenagers (14 and 15) who are decidedly NOT excited although the conversations about it can get quite passionate. We are ruining their lives and being selfish and haven't taken their opinions into consideration etc etc - we've heard it all like you and it is heartbreaking. We think we are doing the right thing for all of us - but I take comfort from the posts of ohters who have done it already - only time will tell I suppose. Good luck - we hope to fly out in SEpt and I think it's goin g to be a difficult time just before leaving and just after arriving !
Tracey

[Diny]

There's a couple of newcomers to the forum on this thread - welcome !!!!

We moved out here just over a year ago, my OH is a Kiwi who's been away from the country for over 20 years (although we made regular return trips on hols). He's finding the return experience interesting.

It's not only teenagers who can test your resolve in all matters immigration, our 2 boys are 9 and 10. Although they've settled well and are no longer considered the 'new kids' at school, made lots of friends and 'living the life', if you ask both of them how they feel they both err towards returning to the UK. We a UK holiday booked for Christmas and it's practically all they can think/talk about.

We've no immediate plans of returning to the UK (to live), but I sometimes wonder how easy it must be for those families who have their feet firmly planted in one camp or the other ......... having a foot in both camps can be very trying at times. One thing I can confirm though is that (whatever our future decisions may be), this entire experience has been worth every emotional rollercoaster ride we've been sent on. Showing your kids that there's more to the world than their own comfy little bubble is priceless ...... getting them to believe that is another matter.

Good luck.

[Lupin]

Hello to new people :)

I don't have a teenager but I've been trying to think what I would do in your situation because I feel for all of you with children that don't want to go.

Would a healthy bribe be an option? I know it's not the same but we "incentivised" :laugh the move to our 8 year old by raving about surfing and sailing, both of which she has dreamed of doing for a long time. She's booked onto a sailing course that starts as soon as her feet touch NZ soil. She needed to think beyond leaving and to something attractive. In your position I would be very tempted to try and reach a "deal" about it. E.G. they can have something they really want (something that you won't regret them having and will help them settle long term...like horse riding lessons, surfing lessons and board or skiing or whatever they fancy) and you'll get it all booked in advance, if they'll come and try to be positive for six months.

And that's all I could think of :( Must be very hard, I hope they change their minds!