Now We're in NZ. What's Next?

There are few things to take care of when you first arrive in NZ. Having the following checklist and getting them done early on will save you time and energy:

• Secure an IRD number.
• Open a bank account.
• Get the Section49 condition removed (check your passport if you have this).
• Open a credit card account (to establish credit history).
• Apply to WINZ if needing settlement support.
• Connect with local groups or organisations in the community.
• For basic necessities, check out stores (or online stores) for clearance or closing down sales.
• Find schools for your kids.
• Find a GP (General Practitioner).
• Get a driver's license.

More info on my succeeding posts! :-)

Why NZ?

This question is usually asked during phone interviews with a case officer to make sure you have good and realistic reasons why you are leaving your beloved country for NZ.  Asking ourselves this question also helps us in making goals somehow clearer  and in defining what we really want.  Ending up in a disaster and with regret is the last thing that we want to happen when we decide on something without clear objectives especially if we have a partner or a family. It also helps in knowing if NZ is the right place for you.

To answer this question, an intensive research is crucial. In our case, we took advantage of the internet.  Great articles about this country are found on NZ government sites. But if you want to know the good, the bad and the ugly, you have to read reviews, visit forums and blogs, join online organisations created by NZ immigrants themselves and ask friends, if any, who are already in NZ for honest feedback. This way, your expectations will be set accordingly.

My husband and I have several reasons for choosing NZ as our second home:

1.  Laid-back lifestyle
         - Indeed, NZ has  this characteristic especially in the suburbs.
2.  Safety and security
        - Yes, NZ is one of the safest places in the world.
3.  Career growth
        - My husband is in the software development industry which belongs to NZ's Long Term Skill Shortage List.

Most Kiwis are family-oriented.  Employees in most companies are allowed to have flexible work schedule especially those with families.  As one Kiwi boss puts it, "If you want to get rich, go to UK or Australia. If you want to be happy, stay in NZ."
     

New Zealand's National Sport

NZ experience is never complete without having to witness a rugby game. 

Don't get scared or wonder when one evening NZ's CBD area momentarily looks like a ghost town.  Then after about an hour you'd see people wearing black (some with face paint) coming out from nowhere and buses and trains getting full with drivers accommodating standing passengers.  That just means the national rugby team "All Blacks" just hit the arena for a game.

So glad we got the chance to watch the September 13 game between All Blacks and South Africa. My husband won the tickets with jersey shirts and rugby balls during Pak'nSave's Father's Day raffle draw.  Instead of selling, we decided to keep and use them since we don't see ourselves setting money aside to be able to watch such a game event. 

Here's my little angel cheering for the unbeatable team after the game. 

Steps We Took in Applying for Resident Visa under Skilled Migrant Category

Though the following information can be found on the INZ website, I have outlined the steps to give you an overview of what you'll need to go through. I will be tackling specifically on how to get a resident visa under Skilled Migrant Category which is the visa type we applied for, not to mention the subject I am familiar with.

Step 1- Check Visa Options 

• Go to:  https://visaoptions.immigration.govt.nz/Home/Landing.aspx
• Then: https://visaoptions.immigration.govt.nz/Home/CommonPersonal.aspx 

Step 2 - Check eligibility (succeeding steps and links are specific to SMC)

• Quick Check  - minimum criteria for health, character and English ability ->   
• http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/caniapply/
• Compute total points (points threshold is 100) 
• Calculator-> https://www.immigration.govt.nz/pointsindicator/
• How points are assigned-> http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/caniapply/points/default.htm
• Proceed to the next step if total number of points equals 100 or above

Step 3 - Submit EOI

• Read details here -> 
• https://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/apply/
• For online EOI, create account here-> 
• https://www.immigration.govt.nz/secure/default.htm
• No need to complete online EOI all at once. As indicated on the site, you can save it and come back to it anytime you want. It is better to have all the documents and requirements ready before finally submitting your EOI so you don't get pressured completing everything down the road once deadlines are set by INZ. 
• Check requirements here-> http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/apply/evidence/

Step 4 - Wait for notification. If EOI is selected from the pool, you'll get notified  and receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and a form that includes all information you indicated on your EOI. Check for discrepancies and inform the processing staff immediately if there's any.

Step 5 - Within 4 months upon receiving the ITA, send the hardcopy of the ITA application form, all relevant documents, proofs, evidences and application fee to INZ. Fees are subject to change so make sure you check the INZ site before making payments.

Step 6 - Allocation to case officer. A notification will be received in 1 to 2 months about allocation of your application to a case officer. This is under normal circumstances. Complexity of your case or availability of case officer might affect the turnaround time.

Step 7 - Interview with case officer over the phone. This will take several months depending on the complexity of your case or availability of CO. Ours took 9 months before interview was scheduled since our CO took a medical leave from work and was not endorsed to another CO. 

Step 8 - Wait for Approval. Within 1 to 3 months, you'll receive an invitation to apply for Job Search Visa (JSV), sometimes referred to as Work-to-Residence (WTR) or a Resident Visa (RV) if you're one of those lucky applicants. All requirements should be submitted within 3 months before the given expiration date. 

Step 9 - Send forms (JSV or RV), passports, and fees to  INZ for labelling or stamping. We paid 40 USD ($30 courier fee +  $10 bank fee). Labelling takes 10 working days.

Step 10 - Wait for your passport with visa stamp. We got our passports back with visa labels/stamps after 9 days.

* Steps above do not include other assessments (e.g., PAR, NZQA).

If JSV is granted instead of RV, another set of requirements have to be submitted. Check this post for the details: http://rovingfeet.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/from-job-search-visa-to-residence-visa.html.

Telephone Interview Questions (NZ Visa - Skilled Migrant Category)

Following are the questions asked during our phone interview with our case officer based in Shanghai branch:

For the principal applicant (my husband):

• Have you ever been to New Zealand before? 
• In the instance you are granted a visa, when would you be looking at making the move to New Zealand?
• Can you tell me about why you decided on New Zealand as a place to migrate to?
• Have you given thought to where in New Zealand you might like to settle? Why this area in particular?
• What kind of industry would you like to work in NZ?
• What kind of position are you interested in?
• What do you know about the opportunities under current labour market for this type of work in New Zealand?
• Are there specific websites you have used to look for employment?
• Have you contacted any recruitment agencies?
• How long have you been investigating employment in NZ?
• Are there any employers in NZ that particularly interest you?
• Have you got any good response from them?
• Is it your intention to find full time or part time employment?
• Are you familiar with salary range for your occupation in NZ?
• Do you think you will encounter any difficulties or barriers in finding skilled employment in New Zealand?
• From when you enter New Zealand, how long do you expect it will take you to obtain skilled employment?
• Socially speaking, have you given any thought to how you might integrate and settle?
• Apart from Philippines, have you ever lived in any other country? How about travelling?
• What do you know about housing market in NZ?
• What do you know about the general cost of living in NZ?
• Do you have any friends or family in NZ?
• What support do you expect to gain from them?
• Are any of these people able to offer you support in finding skilled employment in New Zealand?
• Do you intend to stay with friends when you first arrive in NZ?

For me:

• Madam, do you work now?
• Where did you work before?
• Do you intend to work in NZ?
• What sort of employment would you be looking for?
• Have you investigated employment opportunities in NZ?
• Is it your intention to work full time or part time in NZ?
• Apart from Philippines, have you ever lived in any other countries?
• What do you know about education system in NZ?

The interview lasted around 45 to 50 minutes.

For interview tips and overview, please check this link.

Overview, Description & Tips: Interview Questions (NZ Visa - Skilled Migrant Category)

Who gets interviewed?
     - applicants who do not have job offer in NZ

Purpose of the interview
     - for the immigration to have an idea of the applicants' preparedness for migration and to check that expectations for their move to NZ are realistic

Focus of the interview
    - employment prospects in NZ and ability to gain skilled employment

Duration of the interview

   - 30 to 45 minutes

Description:

Part 1 - Identity Questions

     This is just to ensure the case officer is talking to the right person. These include birthplace, educational attainment and birthdate.

Part 2 - Introduction

     You will be asked if you've been to New Zealand and when do you plan to move if granted a visa.

Part 3 - Familiarity with NZ

     Make sure you do your homework by researching about New Zealand. You should also be able to provide your reason for choosing NZ.

Part 4 - Principal Applicant’s Employment Prospects
     Questions such as the industry you like to work in and the position you plan to apply for should be carefully answered with consistency. The interviewer will check for attempts made to see if you are really interested to get a job in NZ. Be ready to give realistic answers when asked about expected barriers/challenges in finding work.

Part 5 - Preparedness of family (questions for principal applicant)
     They also want to know if you already experienced living in other countries. Readiness to settle in NZ will also be checked. Make sure to research about cost of living in NZ and come up with estimated weekly expenses.

Part 6 - Linkages and support
     Mention the full names, relationship, position and company where your relatives or friends are currently working for. Be specific with the details.

Part 7 - Partner’s Employment Prospects 
     Taxpayers as preferred so your partner's or spouse's employability is also taken into account.

Part 8 - Preparedness of family (questions for partner)
     Partner will also be asked about any experience living in other countries. If you have children, research and familiarise yourself about education system in NZ.

For detailed questions asked during our interview, please refer to this link.

Getting a New Zealand Visa

The process in applying for a visa varies depending on the type of visa you want to apply for and the visa type you want will greatly depend on your current situation and your purpose. 
Questions have to be answered before starting with your application. Do you just want to tour around NZ or work here for a specific period? Do you want to study in NZ? Are you a businessman and wants to put up your own business here? Are you a  skilled worker? Do you want to migrate to NZ?

There are many options to get an NZ visa and the first step we took was to visit the Immigration NZ website. The site's interface made it easier for us to process our application. In our case, we applied directly to INZ since having an agency to take care of an application costs more.  The INZ website is pretty much direct and the instructions are generally easy to understand and follow. With the help of our friends who already made it to NZ, friends assisted by agencies and NZ visa-related forums, we got those gray areas answered and clarified. 

If you plan to work and live in NZ, a resident visa under Skilled Migrant Category is a great option if you don't have or can't get a job offer. This is the visa type we applied for which took us around 1 year and 9 months to process. Definitely, getting a job offer will expedite the entire process. It is important to check the skill shortages before proceeding with your application. See http://skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz  for more details. 

Keep posted for more info about getting an SMC visa.

Applying for Visitor Visa with Deferred RV

'If my spouse and son would join me in traveling to New Zealand, can they temporarily get a Tourist/Visitor's visa?  Will it not cancel their application for residence?'

We asked our case officer this question and here was her answer:

"Your spouse and child can try to apply for a visitor visa separately through your nearest INZ Branch. But there is no guarantee that it would be approved. Anyway, it won’t affect your residence visa application."

We asked this question when we were contemplating on whether to join my husband in going to NZ or stay in PH while waiting for him to get settled.  We applied for Residence Visa (RV) but was granted Work To Residence (WTR) or Job Search Visa (JSV).  If this is the case, only the primary applicant gets a JSV. The RV application will be deferred until the main applicant obtains a skilled employment and gets approval of the original application for RV.

So that's what we did as opting for a separate visa application will cause us more stress. We waited for my husband to obtain skilled employment and get settled here in NZ then we continued with our original application for RV which was finally approved a month after my husband signed a job offer and and lodged our requirements. 

From Job Search Visa to Residence Visa

I'm holding a Job Search Visa.  As soon as I obtain skilled employment in New Zealand, what steps should I take to get my Residence Visa (RV) approved?

We were told by our case officer that once my husband obtained a skilled employment in NZ and worked in that employment for 3 months, we need to send her copies of  the following for further assessment:

• Employer’s at least 2 years financial statements
• Two party signed job contract 
• Reference letter with detailed job functions
• IRD reports for at least 3 months
• Payment slips

Right after my husband signed a job offer - yes, he did it on the same day; no need to wait for 3 months and that required meeting certain conditions which I will explain in another post - he submitted the following documents to Immigration NZ (INZ) Auckland:  Cover Letter and Employment Agreement together with the Amendments and Job Functions (signed by him and his employer). 

He flew to Wellington to get started with his job. After few weeks, he made several follow ups with Wellington and Auckland branches but our application was not making any progress at all.  We decided to contact our case officer in Shanghai via email after 27 days. She responded and asked us to send her the scan copy of employment reference letter, contract, and first month payment slips/IRD report for her reference. She said they wanted to process it there to save time for us. She also called my husband's boss for a short interview. Glad to know that my husband's Kiwi boss has been very supportive that he sent all the needed employer requirements to our CO on the same day.


The following day, our case officer called to ask for a proof of partnership since our last record was provided a long time ago.  Fortunately, we have our credit card statements under my name since I'm the principal cardholder. My husband got his supplementary card and since he made several purchases too, his name also appears on those statements. So we sent her 2 of those with different dates. In the afternoon, my husband checked our application status online and it changed from "Pending" to "Approved". After 3 days, we received an email notification of our RV application approval. So instead of waiting for another 3 months, it only took us 1 month to get our RV application processed.

New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Residence Visa Processing Time

The time frame varies depending on several factors such as completeness of the application, your and the processing staff's response time during verification, etc.  Ours took approximately 1 year and 9 months from the time we submitted our Expression of Interest (EOI) until we got our Job Search Visa (JSV) or Work to Residence (WTR) visa.

I have listed below the dates and turnaround time for each step taken during the process:

March 17, 2012  -  Submitted EOI application online

March 21, 2012  -  EOI Selected (4 days after submission of EOI)

April 12, 2012  -  Invitation to Apply (ITA) received via email which would expire after 4 months, that would be August 13

June 29, 2012  -   Submitted ITA form and all requirements (took us almost 3 months)

September 6, 2012   -  Allocated to CO (after 2 months & several days)

June 13, 2013  -     Interview via phone (after around 9 months)

September 18, 2013  - Received ITA for SMC JSV; expiration after 3 months, that would be December 18

November 19, 2013  -  Submitted requirements & passports for visa labelling (took us 2 months)

November 28, 2013  -  Granted JSV; visa date reflects on passport (after 9 days)

If you have all the resources and can shorten the time to complete all documents or if your  application requirements are already complete prior to submitting an EOI online (which is possible) and there will be no need for further verification whatsoever, processing time can be reduced to 1 or 1.5 years. Following up with the processing staff also helps.

Since we got JSV instead of Resident Visa (RV), we decided that my husband would go first to NZ while my son and I would stay with my parents until he'd get settled in NZ.

February 24, 2014  -  My husband flew and arrived NZ

April 10, 2014  -  He signed a job offer; job based in Wellington; sent documents to INZ Auckland branch for RV
                          approval (after 1.5 months); made follow up with INZ Auckland & Wellington

May 9, 2014 - Got RV approval (after 29 days) after making follow up with our case officer 

May 15, 2014 - Submitted our passports for visa labelling and paid Migrant Levy fee

May 19, 2014 - Got our RV stamp on our passports

June 8, 2014 - Our son and I flew to NZ….And we lived happily ever after :-)

Will do my best to discuss each step in detail, the challenges we faced, and how we got them resolved in the process.

Hope these help.

'How much did it cost you to process your NZ visa?'

Some may find this question quite personal but this is one of the most frequently asked questions we received when our friends learned about our plan to move to New Zealand.  Glad we're able to dig up our records. :-)

For a brief background, we applied  for NZ residency under Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) directly through Immigration New Zealand, no agency. My husband is the principal applicant; I am his partner/spouse with our 2-year-old child as dependent. 

For those interested, hope you'll find this information helpful.

• NZ$440 - online Expression of Interest (EOI) fee submitted on March 2012; this is per application so that covers the three of us; credit card needed; now, online EOI costs a fee of NZ$510.00 and paper-based EOI costs a fee of NZ$650
• US$1890 - visa fee paid upon lodgement of requirements together with the accomplished Invitation to Apply (ITA) form; we used electronic transfer through Bank of the Philippine Island; breakdown->1845 app fee, 30 postage, 15 bank charges
• PHP19000 - medical fees; approximate amount for 3 heads (only around 2000 for our 2-year-old); costs depend on which accredited hospital or clinic you go to 
• US$50 - return courier fee paid upon sending of passports for visa labelling/stamping+docstamps
• NZ$775 - migrant levy fees for 3 heads (NZ$310 for 5 years old or over; NZ$155 for under 5 years old); paid at NZ immigration office; we used debit card; credit card can also be used
• PHP1200 - PDOS registration fee (Filipino applicants)

These give us a ballpark figure of PHP151,000 equivalent to NZ$3,974 or US$3,512 at 38 NZD and 43 USD exchange rates, respectively.

Please note that the figures above do not include the passport renewals, processing and shipping expenses for supporting documents, proofs and evidences.  Other necessary assessments will incur additional expenses (See http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/international-qualifications/get-international-qualifications-recognised-for-immigration/).

Check this link to calculate fees or visit http://www.immigration.govt.nz for more info.

Thanks!

Why Travel?

Traveling provides a very enjoyable and beneficial experience whether we go on vacation, join an outreach program, or go on adventure trip. I have listed several reasons why everyone should consider this activity.  

First, traveling widens our perspective, and we usually come back a completely different person. When I go to a new place, I always make sure that I get to meet a lot of people. I have been to extremely poor and rich countries, and during one of my trips, I realized that there really is a big world out there. The cultural diversity is amazingly interesting. People are so different, and we all come from various backgrounds with different lifestyles, social status, and personalities.  


Second, traveling is a great stress-relieving activity. When we feel happy as we look at the magnificent beauty of creation, our body releases endorphins, the natural hormones that combat stress; as a result, we feel more relaxed and invigorated. It is also one great way to create unforgettable memories alone, with our loved ones, or friends. On the other hand, witnessing the sufferings of the less fortunate makes us less preoccupied with our own problems making us realize further that we are luckier or far more blessed than most people.

Third, it is one of the best ways to learn things that are not taught in schools or found in books.  Since we get to learn about other cultures, we can acquire other people's best practices for self-improvement.  

Finally, it is an avenue for us to share about our country and our own culture. Exchanging of ideas and beliefs is inevitable as we get to meet a lot more people, so being open and receptive helps. Interacting with different kinds of people during my previous trips, I have met some broadminded, non-racist, easy to get along with, and friendly individuals, and I would eventually find out that these people are well-traveled. They know how to respect other people's culture and beliefs which is very admirable.  Indeed, there are those who have not traveled, nor have they met people of different race, yet they also possess these good traits and characteristics, but I am convinced that travel experiences are usually life-changing; consequently, traveling makes one a better person.