davetapson

We've (well our agent) has put in our EOI. They have said to us tho that we should get new police clearances as if anything gets delayed, our clearances will expire while the ITA is being processed. How best to get SA Police clearances from here? Fingerprints at post shop then courier those with certified copy of passport to someone in SA who can drop off / pick up from police station or police clearance place in SA?

Yeah - late 90's I had the opportunity to walk into the States (more than a few of my colleagues did) but I went for Ancestral visa in UK. By the time I got the citizenship, I loathed the UK and the US option was gone. Not sure what I was thinking.

Two questions for those that know, please: 1. Interview attire - I'm assuming something like collared shirt, chinos and leather shoes? My understanding is that workplaces tend to dress fairly informally? 2. Beer. Outside of Steinlager, what's good to drink? Until I'm earning, I can't work my way through the beer fridge...

My missus spent 1998 in Whakatane and looks back on it as one of her best times, and nicest places to have lived. I think that if she were given a re-go at some life decisions, she may well still be there. Now we both have occupations that require us to live in cities, so it's not much of an option. But strongly considering places like that to retire to, esp if Auckland property prices prove outside our reach.

Yeah, because I'm such a unreconstructed racist that I had a chat to them as to how they prepare/eat their kina?

I know nothing about NZ yet, but Auckland is not shabby. And that freedom thing, it counts. Ironically, went down to the local marine reserve whilst arbing around getting to know the place, and who's poaching the sea-urchins (kina) and octopus? Yep, the earlier inhabitants. Seems some things never change. Asked them what they do with them. 'Eat them raw mate, or best on a slice of toast. Here, try one.' So I've eaten raw, poached sea urchin within three days of arriving in the country...

Yep - we paying $840 for short term rental in nice 4 bed. Would probably be more for long term. We needed to get kids into school so couldn't hang around waiting for something else to come around. House is on the market for $2.2M. Probably will get $1.9M o.O Reading the posts above, I'm thinking 'People can buy houses in AKL..?!'

Ja, that's the fancy version. If you have a continuous flow water heater that provides a temp of >55 C then you need tempering valves (that automatically limit max temp according to where the tap is.) The less fancy version is that most household heaters are limited to 50 C with an option of adding an extra 5 C if you have a licenced plumber do it. If you use the controller, my understanding is that the max most controllers will allow is 55 C. I fiddled around with ours, set the heater to allow 65 C but the controller would not go above 55 C and and the water was even colder than normal at that setting. So I disconnected the controller, set the heater dip switches to 65C (because I'm a licenced plumber cough cough) and the water is sort of ok. Not startlingly hot. There is contradiction in the law - max household setting is limited to 55 C but apparently sinks are supposed to have 60C for hygiene purposes (also by law). And that's not mentioning Legionnaires which apparently is not much bothered by 60C. I thought that continuous flow gas heaters were what you used on your beach / bush / mountain shack because they are cheap and cheerful but not efficient. Here they reckon they are more efficient that geysers. Sorry, water cylinders.

You're spot on. 100% of the two houses we've stayed in so far had luke hot water coming out of the hot tap. Was about to get on to the agent and complain that the hot water doesn't work but did some googling. There are all sorts of rules and regs about what temp can come out of what tap as Patches says. Our controller has been disconnected and that sets heater to default to 55 C which by the time out hits the tap doesn't feel much like 55 C - i.e. not hot baths and dish water not hot enough to cut grease. I figured out how to change the default temp and jacked it up to 60 (I suspect breaking a couple of laws in the process). Still doesn't quite cut it so will jack it up again but try and get the controller working at the same time.

I'm struggling to deal with the Kiwi concept of 'hot' water.

"SARS gives clarity on e-filing collapse"Yes, but not in the way SABC intended. That said I had a buddy who worked in IT at SARS about when e-filing was set up and he says you just don't want to know. So if it's worse...

I don't have a degree in the field I work in, but would still have enough points if I had a job offer - so you could probably too. This being for NZ. Plan is you get your docs together, ready for submission, then fly out, find job, submit docs. Will pm agent.

I'd like to be able to get my parents out here (x2 - divorced [emoji19] ). Got to get myself sorted out first tho.

Apply for the visa. When you are at a stage where all you need is the job, come over, get job, finalise visa. If you are in something mainstream (full stack incl one or other js framework?) or something unique in some way, you could get job by Skype. But you need to have the paperwork lined up before you start if you intend to be taken seriously.

I'm currently contributing to feeding old age pensioners in Zim who "didn't do it all again" and life and African economics happened to them. Given a redo of their choices I suspect they might choose to have done it differently. My folks came down from Zim in 1981 with $1500 to their name (all they were allowed to take) and I doubt they regret their decision...

Visas finally through - mine got hooked up on medical review, took about two weeks longer than expected. Flights booked for Monday...

Had a business account with FNB that I had never really used. They called me up and ask me to close it, I said fine, close it. They said you need to go to branch you opened it at and close it there. No thanks said I. Repeated this conversation periodically for about 4 years until they finally closed it by themselves but you could tell that it caused about 3kg paper work and 2 months of sleepless nights on their part to do it. Completely flpn (by which I mean fkn) stupid.

Anyone imported or know anyone who has imported a firearm with them when immigrating? And air rifle. Looking for some advice.

So, I got a response. Refund changed from R9k odd to me owing them R300, no change in income Vs costs, so not sure how that came about, and a letter telling me that what they have on record doesn't match my docs. Please will I send my docs. So what am I supposed to do - magic up docs that match what they have..? What a fxcking joke.

Yes, that's how I know to the day that I should get a response from SARS...[emoji16] If you have simple tax, it's pretty good, not sure if your tax is complicated.

SARS needs to respond to my return by tomorrow for my 2016 tax and Weds for my 2017 tax... Waiting with baited breath to see what they get up to...

The missus is telling me she's been told we need to get the bikes steam cleaned. I'm telling her we don't, they just need to be clean. Can anyone provide some insight?

But where's his safety gear!!?? No eye protection, steel cap boots, safety vest, men at work sign and Heath and Safety sign pegged to the wall where everyone can see it...?! And a smokers cough to fit a king... ;-)

Haven't read this thread after first post because I loathe SARS and would blow a blood vessel. Main problem is they have 21 day turnaround SLA and if they don't want to pay you your refund or otherwise address your account, they just give you some meaningless task so that they can click the switch for another 21 day turnaround. For me it was: SARS "We need documents" Me "Which ones, you have them all. Tell me what you need and I will supply" Them "Documents" Me "Which ones" Them "Your documents" Me "You have them all, tell me which ones you need and I will supply them" Them "We can't say. You need to send your documents" So first time submitted them online. Then again online. Then went to Alberton and handed them all in again. Was so angry by the time it finished I didn't do the next 3 yrs returns as paying R1250 fine per year was cheaper than a stroke. Now emigrating so have submitted 2016 and 17, been audited, submitted docs online and waiting for the "We need your documents" "Which ones?" "Can't say" routine. 2018 waiting to click the button once 2017 refund payed. Or just prior to close of tax season, whichever comes first.

It sounded unlikely when I first heard it, but seems that it is the case. I think that when Uncle Pravin was in charge of SARS we could all kid ourselves that even if the fringes were fraying, that the core was solid. Seems that wasn't the case, and the country is in a really bad state, more so than is readily apparent (and what is apparent is not that great in the first case.)