Anyone from the USA looking to move to NZ?

justbishop

I know, I already posted questions, but I thought that those of us hopefuls from the good ole US of A could share some info :)

Please post if you have emigrated from the US, are trying to, or are gathering info about it!

richsadams · Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2003 9:35 am Post subject: USA to NZ

Dear Bishop,

My wife and I are in the middle of our immigration process. We've hired a consulting firm and will be lodging our Expression of Interest (EOI) in a couple of weeks. We have about 185 points for the Skilled Emigration category. It's been a long haul with all of the paperwork, etc. Nutcase

but worth it to us. Hopefully they'll pull us from the "pool" before we drown in anticipation! Laughing

Let us know where you're from and what you're thinking, maybe we can share some of our "knowledge". Clink

Cheers!

Rich

jerjon · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2004 12:44 pm Post subject: USA to NZ

Hey Everyone-

My partner and I live out in the Mojave Desert in California; we just got back from a great 3 week trip to NZ and fell in love with it. We had the idea of immigration when we decided to visit there. Things in the States are just getting exceedingly frustrating, like the whole IQ of the country has dropped 100 points since 11 Sept.

Anyway, we are just contemplating a move at this point. Not sure we'd have enough points to apply, my estimate is about 125. I think we saw NZ at the best time of the year, late Nov/early Dec; I am wondering what it would be like in the winter time. At least up here, the holidays are a distraction from the short days. Just a consideration.

We really liked the South Island the best. We managed to see quite a bit from the Marlborough/Nelson area, Abel Tasman Nat'l Park, the West "Wet" coast, the Glaciers, Wanaka, Q'Town, Fiordland, the Catlins, Dunedin, Otago, Kaikoura and Blenheim. (Missed Christchurch and took the scenic inland route instead). I really liked Kaikoura, it reminds me of the best parts of California without all the people. Would guess work would be harder to find in that small of a town. My second choice would probably be the Nelson/Blenheim area or Dunedin/Otago.

Next step is to pay off some debts fingers crossed

and save some money for a move. I think this will take a few years so no idea what the immigration laws will be at that time or how economic/political developments might change things. It is fun to think about though and I am enjoying reading the perspectives of the other people on this board.

Happy New Year all and good luck! Cheers!

John

PS- I was REALLY stoked to find Monteiths Nice One

and Speights beer at our local speciality market. Great change from American beer!

justbishop · Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2004 6:56 pm Post subject:

Wow, I'm so glad that we aren't the only ones from the US

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!

We are from Greenville, SC...so jerjon, I feel your pain on the whole being-surrounded-by-people-possessing-sub-par-intelligence conundrum! For more info on us and our situation, refer to my other post "need some straight answers." I explained it all there.

As for our points, I'm fairly sure we WOULD be left in that pool to drown, at about 115 Sad

It seemed that every road I explored to reach NZ led me to a dead end, so I have started to research another option: migrating to Australia and using that as a springboard to NZ. They have the same type of points system, but we scored a MUCH higher 185 on theirs!

I wish you both the best of luck, and really look forward to hearing every detail about your immigration experiences! Nice One

bigshotla · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 16

My husband and I are in Los Angeles, hoping to make the move. We score about 110-115, but I'm hoping since both of us are in an "area of future growth" we might have some leeway? Who knows. We want to have children soon, and I can't imagine raising kids in L.A.

If you recommend your immigration consultants, would you mind emailing me off list? bigshotla@earthlink.net. We've run up against a couple of bumps, and I think we need a professional opinion.

Now - if only we could get some improvement in this US$. Yeesh!

richsadams · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:25 am Post subject: Maojave CA

Hi John and Jerry!

Checked out your website and it reminded me of "home". I grew up on the high desert of S. CA. The joshua trees are part of my childhood (having crashed into more than one on my bike! Nutcase

) My wife and I now live in another desert in AZ. cool

and long for the green hills and pristine beaches of NZ. Can't wait to get there and start our new life! Mr. Green

Thanks for posting Nice One

and let us know how you're doing.

Cheers!

MichelleW · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 10:49 am Post subject:

I'm Michelle and my family and I live in Orlando Florida.We don't have enough points now from what I can tell but I want to go as a student and get my degree in nursing and then apply from there.
Rich I noticed your in Phoenix.We lived in Gilbert for 4 years! Would you mind sharing the name of your consulting firm? I am looking to get in touch with one about the best way of doing things.
I can't wait to get there!!

Michelle

richsadams · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:13 pm Post subject:

Hi Michelle,

I sent an e-mail with more info. Nice One

Cheers!

Rich

bigshotla · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 16

Rich, thanks for the email. I've filled out all the consultancy forms and now we'll just wait to hear. I'm not optimistic, as I think we're too unorthodox. Since my husband is a freelance television writer, his work history is unwieldy.

Worst case scenario, we're on our own with the NZIS! Ah well. I know I'm a catch, even if they don't. Yet.

Liz

richsadams · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 11:43 am Post subject:

Liz,

Hey, the upshot is they are looking for "entertainment" oriented people...film, T.V., etc. Yes

So maybe your chances are better than you thought!

Best of luck!! Nice One

Rich

Gerry · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 7:25 am Post subject: USA to NZ

I am an NZ citizen spending a year in California cool

. I return to my home in Nelson in 2 months, having met some wonderful people and experienced first class hospitality.

As a fairly recent migrant to Nelson NZ I am always happy to meet or assist other migrants, either before or after they arrive. I run a Bed & Breakfast in Nelson and this has given me a number of contacts in the community who may be helpful to other new migrants. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via the pm button, although I may not be much help on the immigration procedure since the recent changes.

I am hoping to ship a few items back to NZ, if anyone has any space on their container that they would like to "sell" to me.

Good luck to all of you who are navigating the immigration procedure[/b]

jerjon · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 7:24 am Post subject: reply to richadams

hey, thanks for the feedback on oour website richadams! You inspired me to update our site and add photos from our trip to NZ. I don't know if the photos would be useful to would be NZ immigrants, bu I thought I would mention it since I tried to include photos from all over the country as well as some links. Thanks again for the feedback!

Cheers!

richsadams · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 8:30 am Post subject: Photos!

Hey J & J!

I think everyone is interested photos of NZ! Post your website for everyone so they can have a look! Yes

dctadpole · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 16

Add me to the list of possible emigratenz - I am a Washington D.C. resident
thinking of moving to Wellington NZ. I have been to Auckland a number of times and loved it, I will visit Wellington in the spring (our spring) to check out the situation. This site has been wonderful and I enjoy reading everyone's posts.

--dctadpole

Tate6 · Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 4:19 am Post subject:

It is so great to hear of others from US working to get to NZ. All of the info is wonderful at this site and in the forum, but it is nice to have others who know first hand the changes and struggles we are encountering now and will be up against when we get there. My family and I are in Northern WI--the frozen tundra. We have two boys, 11 & 13, and two girls, 3 & 10 months. We have lived here all of our lives--except a few years in Jacksonville, FL-Hubby in Navy- and a couple years in Colo. Spgs, and Maryland. We are in our mid-30's and are looking for a change--I don't think my husband was expecting me to come up with someplace this far away! We are looking to make the move by the end of the year-if our house sells and jobs are looking good, to the South Island. Probably Nelson area. We are planning a trip in spring. We will just have to see how everything plays out. fingers crossed

Kind of scary, but exciting!!
Best of luck to all of you and look forward to hearing the success stories! Nice One