Signs of Life..EOI Q's From Wellington!

karltsmith · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 11:34 pm Post subject:

Hi All,

Well we had a long day in London yesterday...up before sprarrows f**t Embarassed

, 2 a.m.

on a coach by 3:00am

and in London at 6:00 Uhoh

for an appointment at the UK passport authority...yes we've been waiting so long to do this that my passport ran out of date by a month or so! How embaressing Eek

...but at least we spotted it before we got to NZ house. UKPA...brilliant passport in 3 hours...I take my hat off to you Nice One

!

NZIS...lovelly people but...get this... if you do get invited to apply for PR it will take 6-9 months to process your application!

Be perpared for a long wait everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to lodge our work visa application and they said 6-8 weeks for that alone. They are processing, they say 800 per week!!!! Seems too many to me! Anyway although they say 6-8 weeks I got the impression they will try to push it through given that we intend to travel next month!

Apparently it will be NZIS Wellington that will process all PR applications this will not be done through the local offices.....something to bear in mind when you need to phone them...have those cheap phone access numbers handy you might just need them when you get a case officer appointed!

Karl Nice One

Jamie Smith · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 12:43 am Post subject:

Thanks Karl

Did NZIS say anything about if the 800 were global applications, or just enrolments for EOI wihtout being real applications? Are you able to qualify the number please?

And 6-9 months is just ridiculous.

Part of the issue is the very high turnover in staff in NZIS, many people you talk too are always new and being trained.

Ah well, maybe now all the shouting is about over they can focus on the real work.

Thanks

karltsmith · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:00 am Post subject:

Hi Jamie,

They didn't say, they infered it was just the UK, but thats impossible me thinks....I know NZ is popular but its not THAT popular!

Yes the 6-9 months thing was a shock so I'm glad to get your feedback.

Isn't it bad though when you get this kind of feedback first hand from an immigartion official?

NZ is becoming a very difficult place to migrate to and some very good people will be put off going through the process if it all takes so long to get a decision, something you may want to quote me when you speak to the Minister...don't mention me by name though eh.......don't want her black listing me

Regards Karl

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

richsadams · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 8:34 am Post subject: NZIS Timelines

Hi Karl and All,

Thanks for the continued updates...sounds like things are on track for you!

Congratulations!

Before everyone gets too excited about how long their applications will take to process, can you briefly outline your personal situation? Obviously you aren't in the current Skilled Migrant category as no one has had their EOI pulled from the "pool" since they began accepting them in mid December. (First drawing is the February 16 and each fortnight - 2 weeks - thereafter.)

The reason I ask is that many of us, particularly in this thread, have submitted our EOI's and will be waiting to see if they are drawn from the current pool...and as Grey mentions, the processing time will vary based on each individual's situation. Nutcase

Was your application submitted under the old "Interim General Skills" category or something else? You're apparently ready to move now, so can we assume you're going under a Work Visa and will have the PRV processed later?

Here is what our consultant told us after our EOI was filed...

richsadams · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 10:47 am Post subject: EOI Timing

Hi Abdul,

Thanks very much for the dates...looks like it took them a little less than three weeks to get a "paper" EOI into the system.

And the best of luck to you too!! Nice One

karltsmith · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:05 am Post subject:

Hi Rich,

To update you on our personal case, my wife and I started trying emigrate back in June of last year. As a former PR from 1987-1991 I scored pretty well under the old GSC system and we applied to emigrate without job offers in place. We fell foul of the imigration laws changing and our application missed the deadline by 3 days whcih then meant that we needed jobs or at least a job to qualify under the IGSC. We then searched for jobs and my wife was eventually sucessful in securing a research post on Nov 6th last year. By this time all our origiginal paperwork was going out of date and s we needed to have our medicals done for a second time. We finally recieved all our medicals back on November 12th the day after the IGSC category closed...bummer! We then decided to talk to my wifes employer to apply for a an Approval in Principal in order to get a 2 year work visa. this was in parallel to an EOI being lodged on Jan 5th this year. In doing this we were able to go through the 60 day consultaion period required for an AIP while the new SMC category was closed. Our intention is to apply for PR once we get to NZ! We hope that with 170m points we will not have long to wait for an invitaion to apply for PR.

I hope this wordy explanation explains our case. I know it's involved but this is the 'potted' version!

Good luck to eveyone next week.

Karl

richsadams · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 3:12 am Post subject: Immigration

Hi Karl,

Wow! Nutcase

What a hassle you've been through my friend! Talk about a roller coaster ride eh?

Thanks very much for the update. You've done everything right and you're STILL waiting?! Sheesh! Looks like things are finally working out though, so I'm really happy for you. Hang in there, all will be well soon.

Curious...what does the "60 day consultation" consist of?

And here's a bit of comfort...you're ahead of us in the EOI pool drawing with five...count 'em...five more points than we have!

Best of luck to you...and to ALL of us for sure! Nice One

karltsmith · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 8:42 pm Post subject:

Hi Rich,

The 60 day consultation period follows and application mmade by your employer to employ a person from overseas who is not on the OPL or OSL. It is for the NZIS to do a labour maket check to see if the employer could have found an equivalently qualified or experienced Kiwi to do the job. If so....no AIP is granted and no Work Visa!

Regards Karl

ruthj · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:43 pm Post subject:

Hi Karl

I am following your footsteps !! I am down in London on Wednesday to lodge the work visa app; on POL . and like you want to get out Mar/Apr so hope they can process sooner than they warn!! Some seem to get through quickly so fingers crossed for us both!

Hadn't heard a thing about EOI submitted on 19 Dec, so rang last night and, thank God, we are in the pool with 175 points and a letter of confirmation was sent out from Welly on Feb 10th - so we may receive it by next week or two, I guess!

Was getting seriously worried that I had recieved no calls/emails or letters to say I was in the pool.

Lets hope its good news for us all this week.
PS Were you long at NZ House? Any hints on stuff to take with us? Did they keep your originals of certs/docs etc or just the phototcopies? Just thinking that we will need them for PR too - hopefully!!!

Cheers
Ruth
Cheers
Ruth

karltsmith · Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 10:23 pm Post subject:

Hi Ruth,

The immigration dept at New Zealand house opens at 10:00am so don't rush down there. Hmmm

We experienced a steady flow of people and did't wait long. Clapping

You will wait in the reception area downstairs and will be called through in groups of about 10 at a time. The average time with an official is 15 mins. And you could wait about 1 hour to be seen later in the day so getting there for 10:00 am is a good move if you want to use some time in London! cool

Take all your original documentation with you and yes they will keep what they want and give you back the rest. Hmmm

One odd question we were asked concerned whether we had been in a stable relationship....marriage cert of 10 years, twin daughters 2 years old was not enough evidence Uhoh

so take joint account details with you or mortgage statements with you with both your names spanning different time intervals. Razz

We MAY be asked to supply more evidence

....can you believe it we took all our P60's back to the year dot. My wife and I keep seperate accounts....weird eh....or too weird for the NZIS to get there head around! Nutcase

Breifly they seem to mainly interested in the principle applicants details and didn't keep any of my documentation (my wife is the priciple applicant).

Advice take it all with you and let them decide what they want, have you forms already filled in and iff children are involved you will need to apply for visitors visas for them one for each child and on a seperate form each.

On a visitors visa they are only covered for A&E cover so you may, like us, want to arrange some medical insurance to cover any children during the period of time leading up to your residency being approved. Yes

Finally have a nice day in London it might be your last for a while! We ended up with a picnic in St James Park, a walk around Westminster, up and down the Mall, Buck House and cucumber sandwiches with QEII.....a corgi pee'd on my shoe....a sign of affection I'm told!! Nutcase

Good Luck

Regards Karl

ruthj · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:18 am Post subject:

Hi Karl

Thanks for the quick response and good advice. Our train is 06.15 in Cumbria and gets in Euston about 10ish - so timing should be OK.

I will take everything I can think of with us and extra evidence of being married 24 years!!!!!! We have had medicals redone and are applying for the 3 year visa so will get full health cover.

My job offer letter asks for a start of 12 March or before - I haven't yet booked flights - have you already booked yours and if not, what did you put in the section for "what arrangements made for going out to NZ?" Don't know whether to put a provisional flight date in or not???

Also, we don't have an address as yet - will just book into a motel initially then rent/buy - what did you put??

Sorry to ask all these things - just want to get it right and get there. Seems to have been going on sooo long but, hey, we're nearly there Karl.!!!

Thanks again
Ruth

karltsmith · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:38 am Post subject:

Hi Ruth,

We put 'arranging travel to NZ mid March once visa is approved' This is yet another chicken and egg situation....you cant fill in the form with travel arrangements until you have a flight planned...you cant plan a flight until you have a visa!!! The imigration officers understand this so just put in 12th March if you like it will speed things up for you! There is a flight NZ1 to LAX/Auckland on 12th March departing Heathrow at 14:30 pm, Air New Zealand.

NZIS London are working on March depature dates NOW so your timing couldn't be better. Ask the immigration officer if your job start date will be compromised awaiting the visa...they will probably say that they will give it to a case officer woking on March depatures. Thet will also say 6-8 weeks to process your application but don't be alarmed by this. If all your paperwork is in order 2-3 weeks is more likely!

We didn't give them an address in NZ they didn't ask for one! I have friends who are looking for a rental place for us on the North Shore, East Coast Bays which we shall use for about 3 months.

Where are you headed? Motels are expensive so try not to use them for too long!! I can give you some links for rental properties if you like? In Auckland this can be NZD 250 to 600 per week depending on size and location!

Cheers Karl

Silversmith · I'll Hang Around A Little Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 32

Hope all goes well with your applications. I feel thankful im in a fortunate position when it comes to this application malarky, just by hearing the trials and stories coming from you guys. For us it will be a lot easier, just 2 medicals, and police report, both of which are under way and then hand the form in. I realise it has become a lot harder to apply and as we have all seen the numbers are dropping like a stone, plus there is the issue with the dollar - where are those days of $3 = £1??? Anyway, enough doom and gloom, it sounds like for the rest of you things are begining to pick up and there is life in Wellington for all your EOI's.
So here's a big cheesy good luck thumbs up! Nice One

ruthj · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 7:02 am Post subject:

Hi Karl

Thanks for the info again.

We are headed to Dunedin nad all our contacts are in Auckland and Northland, so no-one to stay with initially!

If you have some rental links, it would be useful.
Thanks
Cheers
Ruth