Newbie here saying hi

MichelleW · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:28 pm Post subject: Newbie here saying hi

Hi to everyone!
I am so happy to have found this forum! My name is Michelle and I live in Orlando FL and I really want to move to NZ or Oz.In spending alot of time researching them it seems as though NZ would be a better fit.They do not seem to be as strict about age as Australia(I am 32)
I have some questions that I am hoping to find some help with.I am planning to go to nursing school.I have always wanted to be a nurse and am thrilled that I am finally getting the chance to go to school.I am wondering if I would be better off going to school here in the U.S. and then applying for skilled migration or if I should go to nursing school in NZ? It seems as though you get extra points if you get your degree there.If I was to go to school there,can I bring along my kids and husband since I wouldn't actually be a resident? Could my husband work during this time?
My other main question is about the health screening.My 9 year old son has epilepsy.It is not severe and he has only had 5 seizures in two years but he has to be on medication for it and has had no seizures at all since starting the meds.The Dr's are hopeful that he will grow out of this and it in no way affects day to day life for him.I looked at the NZ govt site and couldn't find any reference to what exactly the restrictions were and I was wondering if anyone here might know if the epilepsy might be a problem?

Thanks so much!
Michelle

lesly · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:56 pm Post subject:

Hi Michelle,
We are in about the same situation as you are.
You can find an answer to your question

karltsmith · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2004 9:10 pm Post subject:

Hi Michelle,

I concur with Lesly. The NZIS are quoting directly from the immigration manual which you can access on-line via their web site.

Hi Lesly,

I've been keeping an eye on your postings. I hope the news you got from NZIS allows you to proceed with your application and that your son is deemed worthy of a medical waiver. Good luck!

Karl

lesly · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2004 9:59 pm Post subject:

Thank you Karl,

We certainly keep heart, actually our house is for sale since yesterday, so we proceed with our plans. I guess we leave at the end of June if everything works out fine. By the way, my husband thanks you again for the information about the science and technology recruitment agency. Nice One

He doesn't have a job offer yet, because employers rather meet face to face, but it will be our first stop, when we get to NZ!

Good luck to you too, Karl!!!

Lesly

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

Hi all,

I'm a newbie too, though I've been reading the forums here for a couple of weeks, and I've found them to be very informative.

I'm in a very similar position to Michelle - I'm 31 years old, and I'm planning to go back to school and get my degree in psychology. I would love to study in New Zealand, and we plan to make beautiful New Zealand our home! so I hope to be able to find work there, once I complete my studies.

My husband is self- employed (he makes designer furniture/ lamps). He has recently qualified as an MCSE (Microsoft), but has been unable to find an IT job here in London, due to lack of work experience in the field.

From what I've read at NZIS, my husband and son can accompany me on either visitors or student visas, or my husband could get an offer of work while we're there. But I'm wondering if he will run into the same problems with his lack of experience in IT?

Is there any provision for my husband (assuming he cannot find an IT job) to continue to be self- employed while I study?

We have sufficient funds that my husband doesn't actually have to work while I study (though he likes to). However, if he doesn't work, this leaves him only the option of a visitor's visa - and that's only valid for 12 months, isn't it? That's not much good, seeing as my degree will take anywhere between three and five years.

Is there any way to extend a visitor's visa beyond the usual 12 months, if you can show that you have sufficient funds?

*phew* sorry for the length of my post! Any advice would be extremely welcome....we're SO ready to leave london, and start living the good life in NZ.

Grey · I Like It Here Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 74

If you look at 'Special Categories of Visitor's Visas' on the NZIS site you'll see a provision for partner/dependents of study permit holders. This will give a visitor's visa for the same length of time as yours.

He couldn't work self-employed (as far as I know) but if he can't find suitable work for a normal work permit he may be able to work part-time by getting a 'Variation of Conditions' on his visitor's permit. Not completely sure on this, not much info on the NZIS site, but it might be worth looking into.

MichelleW · Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:10 am Post subject:

Thank you all so much for making me feel welcome and answering my questions!
Lesly,
Thank you so much for sharing the health information you received.This sounds like good news for both of us! fingers crossed

Good luck with selling your house!

Charlotte,
Good luck to you on going back to school.I am really looking forward to it myself.My husband has done heating and air work for years but there doesn't seem to be much need for that skill with the mild NZ weather so he may go back to school as well eventually.

I have some more questions please.I read on the NZ govt site that you need to have an income of $10,000.00 NZ per year to qualify for a student visa.Does anyone know if they require more income if you are bringing your family along on a student visa?
$10,000 a year seems like so little,not that i'm rich by any means but 10,000 a year in America would see you on welfare.Is the cost of living that cheap there?

I hope so much that this works out for all of us who want to move to NZ.I really want to raise my children there!

Take care,
Michelle

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

Grey: Thank you! That's exactly the info I was looking for.

Michelle: good luck to you, too! I also hope that this works out for all of us. I've noticed from reading this forum, that many of us here want to raise our kids in a beautiful and safe environment - and that's why we've all picked NZ.

Regarding your question about finances: I couldn't find anything on the NZIS site about needing more income to bring your family on a student visa - but I imagine that would be the case.

From the research I've been doing, the standard of living in NZ really does seem to be better (in comparison to the UK). For instance, the prices on rental apartments in Wellington are a fraction of the price they are in London. A similarly priced place in London would be dire indeed.