[Lisa&Andy]

Hi
I was wondering if anyone could answer a question about EOI to IVA. Once the EOI has been submitted and selected and the ITA sent out is there a time limit on returning the documents and then how long would we have before we had to leave the UK?? :roll We are a family of three and we were hoping to be in NZ July 2007 but it now looks like it will be early 2008, so I was just wondering about time scales and how to plan it around the paperwork :confused:

Thanks

Lisa x

[Jenny & Mark]

Hi Lisa and Andy.

Jenny and I are in a very similar circumstance. We are planning the jump either July 2007 or early 2008. Once you have the ITA, you have 4 months to gather up all of the requirements. If something is not ready to go at the end of 4 months, such as your NZQA assessment, then you need to contact NZIS to be granted more time.

Once they have received your ITA package, you will be assigned a case worker. If you do not have an offer of employment, then it could take up to four months for the assignment. I am not clear about the length of time needed for the final process of interviews and attain the mysterious "blue stickers"; however, when you get your blue stickers, you will have one year to move to NZ.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Mark.

[Lisa&Andy]

Thanx Mark! :nice1

Your post was very useful and gives us a better insight to how much time we have with each stage of the process

Lisa x

[StevieD]

Don't forget the extra six months you can have for the migrant levy payment, you don't have to pay it straight away.

So you can eke it out to 18 months if need be. The way our house sale is going it is very much needed - going to be cutting it fine as it is :(

[Lisa&Andy]

:confused: Excuse my ignorance but what what is the migrant levy payment? I have been reading and reseaching lots but I have not heard or read about that - it sounds scary though :laugh

Lisa x

[snailandthewhale]

Hi

When you return your ITA you have the option of paying the migrant levy then (£105 per person ) which means when your ITA is approved you get your blue stickers straight away. If you don't pay it when you send back your ITA you will be "Approved in Principle" and you then have six months to pay the migrant levy and when you decide to pay is when you get your blue stickers.

I hope that's right...

Karen

[Lisa&Andy]

Thanks for that Karen :cheers I had no idea and hadn't heard of that!! Doesn't that mean that the medicals could be out of date and need done again :confused: ?? I thought the medicals had a three month time limit?

Thanks

Lisa x

[snailandthewhale]

Hi

I think your medicals just have to have been done within 3 months of when you submit your ITA. Remember, some people wait 4 months after they submit their ITA just to get a case officer, never mind a decision, so by the time they get round to looking at your file most people's police reports and medicals will be "out of date".

I think people don't always pay the levy immediately cos if you have trouble selling your house for example, you only get a year after being approved to get to NZ, however, if you're approved in principle, you have 6 months to pay the levy before the clock starts on your year to get to NZ.

I'm sure someone else could explain it better than that, I've read it again and I'm confusing myself...

Karen