[jbharvey]

Hi there,

I'm close to receiving an offer from an employer in Wellington. I'd like to ask a few questions an get some validation if you please...there are a lot of unknowns and if I can pin this down a little, I'll know what to ask and how to work this out.

Situation:

I'm close to getting an offer of full time employment from a Wellington based IT consulting company. They have about 60 employees.

Factors:

There are a few factors I'm quite concerned about:


I do not have a degree
My BMI is high (38, I'm 6'3")...yes yes, I know, I can lose a few lbs.
So you can see that I'm worried. So about the degree....the NZ immigration website sayeth:

One of the main requirements is a job offer which will need to be one of the following:



an offer of employment (http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/Offerofemployment.htm) in an occupation currently included on the Immediate Skill Shortage List (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/LinkAdministration/ToolboxLinks/immediateskillshortagelist.htm)
or
an offer of employment from an employer who has a current approval in principle (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/caniworkinnz/whatisrequired/offerfromanapprovedemployer/default.htm) to employ you (please include a copy of the approval if you have it)
or
an offer of employment (http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/Offerofemployment.htm) and evidence from an employer that shows there are no New Zealand citizens or residents (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/caniworkinnz/whatisrequired/nonewzealandworkers/default.htm) suitably qualified by training and experience available
And the ISSL states that in order to be considering an IT specialist, I must have a degree. I've been working in IT for over fifteen years and am considered quite senior....but no degree. I believe that precludes me from going in under ISSL, yes?

Additionally, I don't know if my employer is accredited (they have 60 people working at the company, not sure if size is a factor)....also, not sure if they're going to have any luck claiming that they've looked for locals and weren't able to find anyone.

Does anyone have any comments on the lack of a degree as it relates to ISSL or accreditation of employers?

The second issue is my BMI. I'll be honest here, I'm a tall and big guy. Yes, I definitely need to lose weight and I'm working on it, but that doesn't factor into NZIS decision. I'm 30 and on a small dose blood pressure medication. Other than those two health notes, I am perfectly healthy. Is this going to stop my entry even if I have a job offer?

One idea I had was to enter in under the staying 6-12 months category, then I'll only need to provide chest Xrays, then I can lose the weight and get my BMI under 35. Is this an option?

I could really use some advice, I know this sounds odd but I'd appreciate honest and sound advice (hold the fat American jokes please :p)

[Richard_from_Long Beach]

Ask your prospective employer whether they've hired people from overseas before and what they do about the work permit/visa issue. I think if they were going to offer you a job they'd have your immigration status in mind.

[jbharvey]

I know they've hired a guy from the states before, but I can easily see him having a degree. They know my status, but I'm not sure if they really have all this in mind. Definitely will bring it up tonight for the next interview.

[tigerlily]

They can give you a medical waiver, even if you don't lose any weight. But they will require more testing of you, because of that BMI, to make sure there are no other big underlying issues. See the medicals section for some people's experience on this. Do you want to get a degree? Because I bet you could get a work visa, move there, and then study for a degree while you are there. Or you could just go on the visa and see if you like it enough to try to stay. Do you have a family coming too? Taking a chance like that is harder if your spouse has to leave a job for you to try out NZ!

[jbharvey]

Thanks for the response tigerlily. I definitely do want to lose weight, and I'm in the process of doing so. At this point, a degree isn't on my priority list after having been in the industry for 15 years, however it's not not altogether an impossibility.

My chief concern is getting accepted into NZ when I have an offer, achieving permanent residence can be worked on in earnest when I get there.

[KerryS]

OK, personal opinion here, but I wouldn't worry about the degree. I came in via the work visa route - and although it wasn't the same criteria then as now, had no problems.
I work in IT, and my degree is in a completely unrelated field. NZIS ask for a degree in IS or computer science for my job, but mine is in sociology and politics. They just looked at my work experience instead.
I don't think you would have a problem if you got a one year work visa and then began the PR process once you are in NZ and able to work on reducing your BMI.

[Bergita]

Hi there,

As far as I understand the skilled migrant category, you can come in under it if you have a job offer in the skill shortage area and work experience in the skill shortage area. If you have a degree, you can come in under the skilled migrants category without a job offer. (If you have enough points)

My husband and I are both in IT, no degrees but 10 and 7 years work experience in IT respectively. We plan to get job offers and then come in under the skilled migrant category. Hope that helps.

[Smiler]

Although we came in on PR (with job offer eventually) when points were at the 100 level, OH's degree is in genetics not IT. But they took his 19 years work experience in IT into account.

You shouldn't have any probs with the work visa route and can apply for PR when you're here.

Good luck. :nice1

[wilson182]

Really cant say anymore than has been said. I think that with a job offer, and providing you can give proof of your 15 years work experience you will have no issues. As the job is on the skilled shortage list NZIS already accept there are not enough kiwis to fill the role, so Im fairly sure you potential employer will not have to have a labour survey done or prove that they cannot offer the role to a kiwi.

[jaycee]

Jb, my understanding of your position re the skills shortage list would be the same as yours, based on the following, from the NZIS requirements for a SSL work visa:

"be suitably qualified by training and/or experience to undertake the offer of employment (including any specific requirements set out on the LTSSL)"

However a few people here seem to disagree, so maybe I'm taking that too literally. I rather hope I'm wrong, because I'm in a similar situation, so I'd be interested to know how you get on.

How would you stand points-wise for going for PR?

Regarding health, I would have thought that since you are taking medication for blood pressure, you are being monitored and would have already had most of the tests that are done for the immigration medical. I had some tests done for a potential problem last year (thankfully turned out to be clear) and it included all the blood tests they do for the medical. Still means you'd have to do them again (including the extra bloods because of your BMI), but I think what they're looking for is underlying conditions connected with being overweight, rather than your weight specifically. I'd hope that your doctor would have checked for those, so you shouldn't get any nasty surprises!

[Ana&Steve]

jbharvey, I can't offer much for the job situation, as we're kinda going through teh same IT thing...but your sincerity in wanting to lose weight prompted me to write. Hubby and I EACH lost 45lb, he in 5mo, me in 6mo. We did the Atkins thing by the book, endorsed by the Doc, and lowered our bad cholesteral to boot. I don't want to be presumptuous, I just felt your dilemmas!

/another "fat" American
//hard to do low-carb in NZ

Ana