The New Points Table

Gregg H · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 7:19 pm Post subject: The New Points Table

Unless somebody beats me to it, it looks as if I'm going to be the first would be migrant to make a post.

First of all well done to Emigrate NZ. I've been keeping an eye on this website for a few months now after we holidayed in New Zealand last year. We did a car tour of the South Island, Christchurch, Kaiakoura, Blenheim, Picton, Handmer Springs, Oamaru, Timara, Dunedin and Invercargill. Spent some time cycling in the country outside Christchurch. Flat and hardly any traffic on the backroads. A brilliant experience which left me and my wife wanting to emigrate from Britain and we've really appreciated the info on the ENZ website. Its great to see a forum added now.

I do'nt know how other people feel but the new points system looks great for me and my family. I've worked as a carpenter and joiner on building sites for 20 years but never got a trade qualification so under the old points table I could'nt qualify. The new table looks really good for me. I reckon I'll be able to score like this:

Current employment in NZ for 12 months or more (ongoing) = 60 pts
Or
Offer of employment in New Zealand or current employment in NZ for less than 12 months (but minimum of 3 months) = 50pts
Region outside Auckland = 10pts
Relevant work experience = 30pts
???? Bonus points for absolute skill shortage 5pts ??????? Carpenter/Joiner
Age 30-39 25pts

The total comes out at 115 to 130 and you need 100 to apply.

I have'nt got a job offer yet but from what I've heard on my travels getting building work for a few months should be easy so I plan to come over myself on holiday, get a job offer, go back to Britain and apply to emigrate.

I know strictly speaking you should'nt look for work while on holiday but I've heard its worked for other people.

Will this work? I'd be grateful for anyone elses comments.

Gregg H.

Angela Banks · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2003 11:01 pm Post subject:

Hi Gregg. An electrician who my brother knows went out to New Zealand on a 'holiday' a couple of years ago, found work and was able to get residence. So what you're saying definitely sounds possible. I hope it turns out well for you.

Stuart Mac · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:36 am Post subject:

Hi Gregg. I'm pleased that events have worked in your favour. For my own part I wonder if there will be any legal action against the NZIS for once again cutting people off just as they were about to apply?

For my part, it looks as if I might be able to apply successfully. Assuming my qualifications and work experience are not in an 'area of absolute shortage' I get:

50 for qualifications (a degree)
25 for age (33)
25 for work experience (9 years)
10 for spouse/partner qualifications

So with 110 points I'm just above the initial passmark of 100! Therefore I should make the 'pool'. The question is will I be 'invited' to apply for residence? I suppose if I'm competing with lots of people who have job offers I could be in trouble. Oh well.........I suppose I could join in the legal action Wink

.

Under the 'old' system at the beginnning of the year I scored:

10 for qualifications
4 for work experience
8 for age
2 for assets
1 for spouse qualifications

25 points would have enabled me to qualify for a 'job search visa' giving me 6 months in New Zealand to find work. I would then have upgraded my visa to permanent residence. Will similar numbers of people apply under the new system as were applying under the old? If they do, I suspect my 110 points might not be enough. Unlike the old system, it looks like there will be no 'legal' means of visiting New Zealand on 'job search' to get extra points. Anyone else fancy a 'holiday' in New Zealand Wink

?

martwend · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2003 6:53 am Post subject: Points system

Hi!

Re the change in the points system. We had all our papers ready to apply for residence and were just waiting for professional registration papers to arrive from NZ when the system changed last week. It looks as if we will now have to redo the whole lot which is bad timing as we have just sold our house and were about to book flights.

As we now have to be invited to apply for residence, we have decided to go for work permits and study visas for the kids as I, (Martin) have a job to go to and then we can apply for residence without holding up departure. It is all very frustrating as our application has been ready for a few months and has even been checked over by Immigration and oked. If the professional registration had just been a bit quicker we would be booking flights by now!

We are moving to Napier in February (visas permitting) and would be happy to hear from other emigrants.

Martin 8)

Stuart Mac · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:18 am Post subject:

Hi Martin,

Does this sort of thing appeal? A few acres of land in an eco-village near Napier? :) Some nice pictures in the gallery but I don't think the price of the plots is mentioned anywhere.

http://www.otanui.orcon.net.nz/

martwend · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:45 am Post subject:

It looks just like the thing for us and I have asked to be put on the mailing list. Thanks for the info.

Wendy :D

John Miller · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 12:42 pm Post subject:

Here's part of NZAMI's view of the new points system.

Cautious Welcome for Immigration Changes

The umbrella body for New Zealand’s immigration consultants has given a cautious welcome to the new points system for skilled migrants announced yesterday.

But the New Zealand Association for Migration & Investment has also sharply criticised the sudden closure of the Interim General Skills Category (IGSC) for migrants.

“There are undoubtedly good things about the new points system. For example, the way points are allocated should make residence easier to achieve for many who are strong on practical experience but short on tertiary qualifications. Our economy can only benefit from this more flexible approach,” says the NZAMI’s Chairman, Bill Milnes.

“We also welcome aspects of the new system which will encourage settlement outside Auckland, although we’re disappointed that no additional points will go to those who have family members already in New Zealand. This omission is surprising given Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel’s oft-repeated concern over settlement outcomes and the importance of family networks in facilitating settlement.

“Despite reservations over specifics, we believe the new points system can help meet some of New Zealand’s immediate economic needs. We also hope the system’s adoption will mark the start of a new era of stability in immigration policy after many years of rapid-fire and often politically-driven policy turnarounds, which have dented our overseas reputation,” he adds.

Mr Milnes says, however, that large numbers of would-be immigrants will now be left in the lurch by the sudden closure of the IGSC.

“We understand from the Minister that those who lodged applications before mid-day yesterday will still be considered under the IGSC rules. But there will be many others who have devoted considerable amounts of time and money to achieving the medical and other types of certification required for lodging an application, albeit that their applications have not yet been received by the relevant offices of the New Zealand Immigration Service. Most of these people will now join the long list of disappointed would-be New Zealanders caught in the backwash of peremptory and over-hasty policy change” he says.

Bill Milnes describes as “simply not good enough”, the Minister’s explanation that no warning was given of the IGSC category closure, because she was anxious to prevent a sudden rush of applications under the old rules.

“Administrative convenience is not a sufficient reason for denying people their rights or for failing to meet legitimate and reasonable expectations. The Minister is certainly aware of the huge costs that can be required for medical examinations, let alone for other steps required before applying to come here. She should have allowed for this by providing adequate notice to potential applicants.

“The IGSC category was introduced when the government announced its comprehensive immigration policy revamp in July this year. Despite its temporary status it was firmly part of our country’s immigration policy and thousands have pursued their goal of relocating here in good faith on the basis of this policy,” he says.

“The sudden manner of the IGSC’s disappearance will boost the perception that our government lacks humanity, probity and reliability in immigration matters. Whether or not that perception is justified, its existence cannot be good for New Zealand,” he says.

ENZ · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:16 pm Post subject:

I believe the NZAMI statement is a good summary of the way most people associated with immigration feel about the government's actions.

It's great to see that Gregg H. and many others for whom immigration was made impossible by the tertiary qualification requirement will now get a fair chance. The fact that the changes are once again applied with immediate effect is nothing short of a disgrace, leaving many people on the verge of applying under the old system feeling jilted at the alter. As NZAMI says, the NZ government looks like it lacks humanity, probity and reliability in immigration matters.

I am also surprised that no points are being allocated under the new points system for:

a. Bringing funds to NZ and
b. For having relatives already legally resident in NZ.

Clearly both of these factors are important in allowing people to settle in easily.

ENZ · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 3:30 pm Post subject:

Part of the problem of being an 'unreliable' migration country is that people simply stop applying. The NZIS figures up to October 2003 show:

* Total applications received were down by 20% compared with last year and acceptances down by nearer one third.

* Applications for Long Term Business Visas were down by 69% in the last 6 months of the year, compared to first 6 months of the year. The Investor Category is down by 61%.

I hope that the government will now calm down and allow people to apply with confidence. Fingers crossed. Hmmm

Gregg H · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:27 pm Post subject:

Hey thanks for the advice and kind words everyone. I think I'm going to book a 'holiday'. does anyone know how long a work permit or residence takes if youve got a job offer.

Cheers

Gregg H.

ruthj · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 8:53 am Post subject:

Hi

Just thought I would post - I was one of the unfortunates who actually turned up in person at NZ House in London to submit my app for PR under Interim Skills on the day it closed!!! Sad

!!
Had job offer letter delayed in UK postal strike; employer then sent it by DHL so down I went with all documents, medical etc etc. Even checked the NZIS website the evening before and set off on the 7am train from Cumbria and arrived at NZ House at 11.55 hours. Just an A4 piece of paper on wall next to Visa desk saying category closed at 12noon - panic Confused

then reread and realised it said 12noon NZ time 12 Nov. Absolute heartsink; felt like crying then became so angry inside. Could have spit feathers!!!

It does no good, I know but if only there hadn't been a postal strike - I would have had the job offer a week earlier and submitted before 12 Nov.and I would now be on my way as I had over the required 29 points.

Anyway, employer being excellent and holding on for me. Under new points, I think we should be OK as I think I come in at 175 so both me & "employer to be" hope I will be asked to apply. But, one thing for sure, there is nothing damn well certain, in this world - if not invited to apply, then it will have to be work permit and hope to get PR once in NZ.

Anyway, good luck to us all
Cheers
Ruth Nice One

citizensmith · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2003 5:47 am Post subject:

I think that's terrible ruthj. Come the glorious day whoever is responsible for this shambles will be first against the wall. I feel really sorry for you being put to all that trouble for nothing. At least with 175 points you must be certain of acceptance with the new set up. Wendy was good enough to answer a couple of my questions about work permits in another thread. It sounds like if your employer is willing to wait for you it's much better use the job offer to apply for Skilled Migrant Category. Then you do not have to worry about permits for spouses and kids as they all get permanent residence automatically. We are still at the dreaming stage or maybe a little further on than that as we are trying to put together some sort of strategy for a move. Good luck.

Wolfie

goldwheels · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2003 8:50 am Post subject:

I see you have been inundated with replies. I know myself what it is like to try and get a job offer from the UK. It has taken about 6 months then opportunities NZ expo was on in London. I went down and was offered a job through an agency representing the Dunedin area. I was just about to lodge my application for general skilled category to residence and NZIS closed the old system down so the new one can be up and running for mid December. What I have had to do is apply for a work visa for myself and visitor visas for my wife and kids, and then when I am in NZ I will lodge a new application in for the new skilled system for residence. This can be done as NZIS have confirmed this with me. So when you are on holiday next and get offered a job you could do all the necessary paper work there, i.e. apply for a work visa then put your application in for residence in the mean time. I hope this is any use to you.

Gregg H · Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2003 6:57 pm Post subject:

Thanks goldwheels thats top class info. Would you happen to know how long it'll take to get the work visa and if it would take as long if you were in New zealand?

JCM · Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 11:13 am Post subject:

Gregg, the work permit situation in New Zealand works something like this:

Let's say you come to New Zealand on 'holiday' for a few weeks and decide you love it here. You find yourself with a job offer. If you take all of the required paperwork along to an Immigration Dept. office in the same locality as you've been offered the job, it is possible to have a work permit issued on the spot. This is most likely to happen if the offered job is on the Occupational Shortage List or Priority Occupations List.

If the offered job is not on one of these lists, your employer-to-be will almost certainly have to submit a "Labourmarket Check" to establish with the Dept. of Immigration that they have advertised the job and there is no New Zealander able to do it. If you're lucky, the employer will already have had the labourmarket check carried out. If they haven't, they have to send off paperwork to WINZ, for WINZ to carry out the check. This will take 2 -3 weeks. Your employer-to-be can then pass the labourmarket-check paperwork on to you to enable you to get a work permit.

It should be said that many smaller employers are reluctant to do the paperwork, etc, required for a labourmarket check and would much prefer to find someone that they don't need to do all this for.

N.B. If you arrive here 'on holiday' and turn up at a Dept of Immigration office within a few days with job offer and all of your paperwork filled in, they will almost certainly doubt that your true purpose in coming to NZ was a holiday. This might cause problems.