Can anyone explain...?

Daniel Park · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:37 pm Post subject: Can anyone explain...?

Hi there everyone.

Found this excellent site quite recently.

I'm probably in the same boat as many, with a useless waste-of-money EOI in the pool (120 points) and no realistic prospect of being selected for NZ residence despite being a skilled and well-qualified person with tons of work experience who's an all-round great guy... umm...

Anyway, I wonder if anyone out there can help with the following conundrums.

1. Why is NZ "immigration" policy currently geared exclusively towards people already living and working in NZ?

2. The only realistic way to get work in NZ is to go there and find it, but it seems that most, certainly many, employers in NZ won't touch you unless you have some form of permanent leave to remain. It's a classic Catch-22. You can't get a job (or an offer) without having residency but you can't get residency without having a job (or an offer).

3. On the EOI form, why do they seemingly offer bonus points for work experience in areas of occupational shortage and areas of future growth, both of which I have, then ONLY allow you to claim these points if you're already working in NZ or have a job offer there? Why does the NZIS bother asking whether this work experience has been gained in a "comparable labour market" if they're just going to discount any such skills anyway?

If anyone's got advice or solutions or even just comments about these problems...

...and I'd welcome "Don't be so soft, get a visitor's visa and get out there..." - what are people's experiences of that route????

Thanks!

Daniel
London, UK

veronica · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:07 am Post subject:

It looks to me like a lot of employers are worried that by offering you a job they might contravene some of the govt red tape. (it seems they have as much, if not more of that as we have here). They are supposed to be able to prove that there is no one in NZ who is available to do that job before it can be offered overseas. Some employers seem to have the confidence to just employ people and sort things out after. maybe they know there is a shortage in their industries.

What do you do anyway.

This seems to be compounded by the fact they were swamped with applications, a lot of which were from non english speaking people, and have had loads of changes in their criteria and vetting systems. I seem to recall reading they took to many bods in the first part of the year and have had less places this half of the year.

I think the changes in the systems have all been done with the best intentions, but like a lot of new systems they have encountered problems they hadn't envisaged so had no formula for. This leads to delays and confusion.

Don't give up. there are a lot of people just going out there at the moment and their stories will be up here to read soon.

Daniel Park · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:34 am Post subject: Can anyone explain...?

Thanks Veronica, that's encouraging.

I'm a lapsed teacher (last in a classroom 8 years ago) now a communications manager and technical editor. Guess I could go back to school (they don't make THAT easy, either - I've investigated with Select Education and was told I'd need to give up my job here first, go back into the classroom in the UK for a while and then they might, just might, consider me). It's a big ask, and I see plenty of editorial and comms jobs advertised over there that I could do, so it seems a bit daft not to be able to pursue those too.

Hum. Fortune favours the brave, I know, but there's a fine line between bravery and foolhardiness!

Any other thoughts?

Daniel

Bill B · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:37 am Post subject:

Hi Daniel & welcome to the forum

I also posted something similar to your 2nd question. But I will try to respond to your points as best I can with the little knowledge I have. If any of the information I give is in any way ambiguous or incorrect, be sure we will both be put right by better informed guys & gals on this forum, many of whom have greater in depth knowledge.

Ok.....

1/ I think if you look at some of the other threads on the forum, you will see that NZIS don't gear thier selection "exclusively" to those already working/living in NZ, but they do obviously encourage this as it not only helps towards your points total, but would also answer their question on whether that person would be able to settle well in NZ should you get in the position of being accepted provisionally.

2/ I also posted this question. I spoke to the immigration officer at NZ House who said that the employers' adverts must state that the position is only open to those who are allowed to work/reside in NZ, to comply with the current rules that state that the position/s must be open to the "home" workforce. In practice, most employers would be only too happy to offer employment to a suitably qualified immigrant. So, if all your paperwork was in order (assuming you went to NZ for a "holiday") you would be able to change your holiday visa for a work visa, then to a work permit (I''m sure I'll be put right on this if I'm wrong!!).

3/ Is your work experience within one of the "areas of future growth"? This list can be found on the NZIS website. Although there is a general OSL list, all the jobs on it would not necessarily apply to the whole of NZ. I suppose that's also one of the reasons you get extra points if your job offer is outside of Auckland.

Hope this has been of some small help.
For the record, my partner & I will be going to NZ either late this year or early next year, initially for a year's holiday (me 50 next week, partner 51).

I took my apprenticeship at 16 (carpentry) and did this until 11 years ago when I started doing site management. Have sent e-mails with CV's to various companies and agencies in NZ and have had a very positive response. One agency even called me on my mobile last friday evening to ask when we would be coming over and they would sort out the paperwork for my (no cost!) Nice One

Am just waiting to gat copies of my apprenticeship papers, then just before we go, I will arrange police reports, medicals, references etc, then go over, armed with copies of my CV, start with a nice relaxing holiday for a few weeks, then just "go for it" fingers crossed

Looking at some of the other postings here, it would seem that is the best way to go, at least you will then have more points to go to your total, and in my case (bloody old!) by the time the points total came down to my current level (150) I would be too old to apply anyway

Good luck to you with whatever you decide Daniel, and expect further replies from these wonderful forum members Nice One

Bill B

Bill B · Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:41 am Post subject:

Good job I'm not going as a typist!!! Embarassed

Bill B