[Miggie]

Hi all, just joined the forum, will make a formal intro later. Sorry to bring this up again, I have read the forum discussions about heavy duty truck drivers wanting to migrate to NZ. If kim39 or anybody can advise it will be greatly appreciated. I am ready to come over there and look for a job if I have to, I want to know how do truck drivers get past the question on the EOI form that states " do you have an offer of employment in an area of absolute skills shortage", say you do have an offer of employment once you get there and you start work as a truck driver how do you go about actually getting residency.

[jan]

We went to Auckland after an expo in London and hooked up with this company. Fulton Hogan www.fultonhogan.co.nz (http://www.fultonhogan.co.nz) . Great co to work for. Just dire wages, but can quite honestly say that they are a large family run business (all over NZ, with heaps of awards), and have great rewards when employed with them.Jules Fulton interviewed hubby in London. Asked how I was about the move so when hubby said she is downstairs he said " Go and get her!!!" :exit

Good luck

Jan x

[Diny]

Hi Miggie, welcome to the forum.

Sorry I can't help with your questions regarding the PR bit (I have no experience of getting here via that route). However, I'd just like to give you this address:

http://www.higgins.co.nz/14.html

I have no idea what area you are thinking of coming to, but these fellas are HUGE here in the Manawatu. They also have branch in Taupo.

Hope this helps.

Diny

[Diny]

Actually - I've just looked at that website and it shows that they have branches all over the north island. The main one is here in Palmerston North though. May be worth giving them a try.

[Kim39]

Hi Miggie,

Sorry but no EOI for us truckers unless you come in with a job offer from an accredited company i'm afraid. The company's that have been mentioned are at this moment accredited, but be aware they are only construction company's. I am led to believe that the company i am with at the mo, Fonterra are accredited, but i am only employed on a seasonal contract of 6 months and immigration will not give you ITA on the basis of this type of contract.
Now with accreditation the company has to guarantee of annual wage of $45,000, and from an experience that a friend of mine suffered with, with the company HALLS (who are accredited) who he was with couldn't guarantee this wage for him so he had to come down the work visa route instead. Just be aware, because you could spend good cash on meds, EOI's and such like and then be knocked back. My advice to you would be to come in on a work visa of 2 years(i have that) and then start to work the EOI route from here.
As muchj as the role is on the ISL it is still not classed as a skilled occupation, but the Road Transport forum are trying their best to get this changed in the next influx of changes to the list, so keep tabs on this and this may just work in your favour.

Hope this helps

Kim

[Miggie]

Thanks for the reply's all. So basically I will never be allowed to stay permanently until truck drivers are on the LTSSL? If I go the route of getting a work permit, working for a few years, how will that allow me to try and apply for ITA?
Sorry if I sound stupid, but I still need to try and clarify this idea that people keep on telling me ( not you guys ) that all I have to do is go there get a job and then apply for ITA. I cannot uproot my family come over and then have to leave after the work permit expires. I am from South Africa and need to let my children have the freedom that children deserve.(do not need to go there right now)

Is there anyone out there who has residency and got in by getting a job that is not in an area of asolute skills shortage?

Thanks once again for the reply's.

[Trigirl]

Permanent Residence - Skilled Migrant category
You can only apply for this if you have enough points without a job offer. Getting a job offer wont count for any additional points as its not considered to be a skilled occupation. Working in NZ wont count for additional points for the same reason.

Work to Residence (accredited employer)
You can get a work visa if you have a job offer from an accredited company. Annual salary must be more than $45k. After 2 years with that company if you are still on more than $45k you are entitled to apply for permanent residence.

Work to Residence (Long Term Skills Shortage)
Your occupation is not currently on the LTSSL so you can’t take this route.

Work permit
Your occupation is on the immediate skills shortage list so a job offer from any NZ company would entitle you to a temporary work permit but this wouldn’t entitle you to permanent residence.


At the moment it looks like working for an accredited company is likely to be your only option for working towards getting residence.



Possible future changes. If your occupation becomes classed as "skilled" then a job offer would give you additional points towards PR under the skilled migrant category. If it goes on the LTSSL you could apply under work to residence - LTSS which would mean that you could get a job offer from an employer that was not accredited and after 2 years with them apply for residence. You would still need to be on $45k to apply for residence.


Hope that helps
Mandy

[Kim39]

Miggie,

You can come in on a work permit of 2 years and once that runs out you reapply for an extension. Now you may feel this is a gamble, but remember, you are here and have been for 2 years contributing to the NZ economy, and you will be in the system. Believe me when i say i can't really see you being kicked out when this term is up. Ok you may not have the residency security,but the amount of pressure that is being put on the govn't to submit this role to the OSL will be only a matter of time before it does appear. Just out of curiosity couldn't your wife/partner be the principal applicant?
Before you get this permit though you will need that elusive offer. Have you tried applying for anything from over there?

Kim

[Miggie]

Trigirl and Kim39, thanks a million for that info.(that's what I wanted). It seems that it is possible to go the work permit route.
Need to start planning now. Kim my wife's occupation is "Death & Disability Claims Assessor" for one of the largest life insurance companies in SA. She has 18 years exp but no formal qualifications as such.

Chat soon, cheers all

[Kim39]

Glad to be of help. If you have any questions on the industry out here then don't hesitate to ask.

Remember you can come here and do anything so long as the company has done everything in its power to recruit locally for that position. Ok your life to a degree is in limbo because of the uncertainty of the security you are looking for, but hey, i have been told that some folks out here just carry on renewing the permit and are quite happy to play this game.
Kim

[Miggie]

Kim
Will need to start doing some serious research into job oppotunities for truck drivers because that will determine where we will move to. On the other hand do we move to an area like Chch and then go job hunting? Salary wise I would need to be selective in what area to live, can you give me a ball park figure on wages for a driver?

Want to make the move soon to NZ, is it ok to come over (where I have no idea ) then get that offer of employment and go off to get that permit. Sorry if I repeat myself, sometimes I get in a flat spin.

[Kim39]

As i don't know where you guys will be heading all i can say is try a company called Halls http://www.halls.co.nz/halls.htm i know they have employed South Africans and they are based all over NZ. Also you could just trawl www.yellowpages.co.nz (http://www.yellowpages.co.nz/) and go into the transport section and start firing off emails. You could also try Mcdowells, but i have heard their reputation isn't that good.

If you can afford to come in on a recce and put your face in the shop window then do so. As for the salary your looking for don't be surprised to find that it can be a low hourly rate. Companys seem to pay anything between $14 and $25 depending on your location,type of work, and most importantly the reputation they have as an employer. Fonterra the Dairy co, who i am with are paying $25ph, whereas the company i left was only paying $14. Companys are reluctant to pay OT rates so bear that in mind.

You may have more of a chance in the cities to find that elusive good paying number rather than out in the sticks. But obviously you could settle on the outskirts of the cities and travel in.

Kim