[tigerlily]

Hello-
I'm an American wishing to escape the Bush regime. Actually fell in love with NZ a few years ago on a month long visit. Ok, questions...

Hope to qualify on husband's work/education. First, basic question. Will I be able to work too, even if I would not have the points to qualify? IE, do spouses automatically get the right to work too?

Next, husband wants to work in an area of skill shortage (university lecturer), but all his former work experience has been in another area (since university, just administration instead).

Last, he is currently working on his PHD, and we need those points to qualify. Should I wait until we have the hot steaming diploma in our hands to apply?

Cheers

[veronica]

As I understand it if your husband gets a work visa or residency then you get one automatically. Anyone out there know different.

[Michelle and Richard]

Yes thats it. I got the job offer and work visa and it specifies my job and employer, Richard got an open one allowing him to do whatever.

Michelle

[Moorf]

Yep, can confirm what Veronica said above, Woz got his visa today which lists the company he is eligble to work for (he can't change job with this visa - or if he does he has to reapply for another visa).

So... I now have the forms here to fill in to take to Chch to get processed and I will receive a years work visa to do whatever I want. :nice1 I shall be doing this next week. Seems the immigration officer said just to bring the min amount of proof of relationship (marriage cert / birth cert / passport) its a quick process... same day visa. :nice1 At least it is here in Chch.

[tigerlily]

How long does it take from application to PR (best case)?

Thanks for the helpful information, sorry for the newbie questions.

[catjlin]

[/quote]
Last, he is currently working on his PHD, and we need those points to qualify. Should I wait until we have the hot steaming diploma in our hands to apply?[/quote]

According to everything I've seen you cannot claim points for something that you are in the process of completing :? But, depending on how much longer he has until completion, you could claim points for it and hope that it is completed before the background checks are begun. Though this may not be the best way to go about it.

[Michelle and Richard]

I woudl say you will have to wait until the course is completed before you can claim points for it.

Tigerlily, we were picked 7th July and got PR 12th sept, then had a hold up of some weeks whilst our file was transferred over to Auckland. But basically 2 months from being picked to acceptance.

Michelle

[deebat]

Tigerlily, isn't it true that a PhD will give your husband only an additional 5 points? My fiancee was thinking of completing her Master's until she realized that the extra points weren't going to make that much of a difference. Am I reading that part of the EOI points test incorrectly?

Thanks,
Dan

[Tate6]

Yep, can confirm what Veronica said above, Woz got his visa today which lists the company he is eligble to work for (he can't change job with this visa - or if he does he has to reapply for another visa).

Is it true that you need only stay at first job for 3 months then can go on to another job with same visa or what is process? My hubby may be able to get one job easier and in the mean time, put applications in at other places. Anyone know the process for visas in this situation? :?
Thanks for help!
Tigerlily--
Nice to see some more from US to compare process with!! :cheers

Terry

[tigerlily]

I wasn't reading the points very carefully. He has a masters- so it looks like the PHD will actually make no difference at all. Thanks! Saved me a couple of years you may have!

Dan- BTW- we just departed PDX (after 13 years) for Eastern Washington to do this silly PHD thing. Have you talked to the marketing person for NZIS there in Portland?

[deebat]

Hi Tigerlily -- Nope, haven't met with the NZIS marketing guy here in PDX yet, but it's awfully nice that we've got someone like him right in our neighborhood! :nice1 We're probably still 12-18 months out from heading across to NZ, so we might wait a little while to meet with him. On the other hand, it would be nice to get our ducks in a row sooner rather than later. (Plus, it's really exciting to be working on this!)

I wonder: has anyone else on this forum met with an NZIS marketing person in the US, either in Portland or in Los Angeles? I'd be interested to hear what kind of relationship you could build with someone like that.

See you,
Dan

[cloudboy99]

Greetings everyone! As my first post I'd like to say hi to everyone and I don't know how I've survived without the forum (although I did manage to submit my EOI by myself). Being from Portland as well, I have contacted Terry, the NZIS marketing director, twice and he is very helpful. While he can't answer questions regarding the status of an ITA, he can help you "get your ducks in a row" and address any issues you may have with the EOI, how to time your med/FBI checks, etc. For some strange reason he was absolutly swamped with calls last week but you should be able to reach him within one or two rings. He works your standard 9-5 shift and is the only guy in the office.

[wilson182]

Hey Moorf,

I think you also need a letter from Woz saying he is happy to sponsor you for your work visa. I didnt have one, but they were asking for it, and I think the only reasons she let me get away with it was the fact that I had everything else, I had been there five hours and it was nearly knocking off time by the time I got in.

[deebat]

Hi cloudboy -- Welcome to the growing list of PDX folks on this forum! At the rate we're going, maybe a bunch of us can just rent a 747 for a private trip to NZ ourselves. :mrgreen:

Thanks for the info on Terry Murphy. It sounds like he'd be a great chap to talk to. No surprise that he's been logging long hours lately...

Congrats on the successful EOI. Am I to understand that you have a POL job/job offer already?

Take care,
Dan

[cloudboy99]

Unfortunately not. There are tons of jobs I'm qualified for on SEEK, however I on'y received one follow-up from a recruiter wanting me to clarify my situation. Oh well, not too worried, just glad I don't have to pay the Multnomah Co tax (Washington County myself) and will continue to stockpile cash for my move, job or not!

[deebat]

With 130 points, regardless of whether you have a job offer, you're probably going to be pretty attractive to NZIS anyway. Sounds like your ducks (no Oregon pun intended!) are already lining up quite nicely for you! Please keep us posted on your progress, OK?

Best,
Dan

[cloudboy99]

Will do, although I'm more of a Beavers fan (http://www.oregonstate.edu) than I am of the Ducks (http://www.uoregon.edu). I figure with 130 I should be able to positively contribute to the country long enough to earn my superannuation as we know that, by the time I retire, Social Security will be a fleeting memory.

[Timbo]

Hey, Cloudboy, that sounds just like the good ole UK. I think by the time we reach retirement age here in 20 years or so, it will be a case of every man for himself. If you havew not made provisions, then tough luck.

[cloudboy99]

And here I thought it was just the good ole US of A. Being 27, I actually have a good 40 years before I can collect Social Security or Medicare. On the lighter side, being 20-29 has benefits (30 points!). Let me tell you there's nothing like going through a Reduction In Force (Monday morning, 9am, "sorry, we no longer require your services") to remind you that you can never have enough money saved. Good thing US$ are still worth something in NZ$, although I better get my ITA soon as was said in another post, we're soon to see the US lira/peso.