New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[l4y3rcake]

So my wife and I have started exploring the possibility of moving down to NZ. My BIL lives in Wellington and brother is busy getting document ready for a move to Auckland. 

 

I am in the ITC department of THE infamous television company but I don't have a formal qualification. My current title is Senior Architect for Process Systems. I specialise in high level solution providing and 4IR. I work on a lot of automation, AI and cloud projects and manage requirement analysis, interface mapping and roadmap management. I'm basically a glorified Business Analyst on a slightly higher accountability and responsibility ladder. I see that Business Analysis is on the LTSSL but having an ITC degree is a requirement.

 

My wife has a Bcom Accounting degree but didn't do her Honours. She worked in Auditing for 4/5 years and then moved to financial services for 9 years where she is still based. She is responsible for bookkeeping for multiple international companies doing general management accounts, PAYE and payroll for these businesses.

 

My question here is, has anyone gone over into ITC without a degree?

 

Do you think it's possible to go over on my wife's qualifications?

 

edit -  Is it worth it to use an agent for your visa applications? This basically means double the amount for visa applications if I do the math right.

Edited January 13, 2020 by l4y3rcake

[DawieO]

any hikers around? Need some advice on family friendly overnight hikes.

 

North island because i spent all my money in Brisbane

Yup and a beautiful peaceful campground. Walking and mtb trails are separate and marked (and the horse trails also).

 

Facilities are basic, loo and water only, place is heavenly.

[Honkdonk]

Been in Dunedin for just on a week now visiting my kids. First impressions of NZ are that it feels like a nature sanctuary with an economy that lives for keep things pure. Strict biosecurity measures to protect the indigenous. Very refreshing. A country that works for itself in harmony with what gives it life.

 

Down here in the South, the pace of life is very slow compared to the chaos that is Jhb, but the surroundings are just breathtaking, but then so is the rest of NZ from what I hear. Pity I wont get a chance to take in any other sights.

Scenery/Architecture reminds me of Wilderness/KZN midlands area with a bit of George/Fishhoek thrown into the mix.

Weather is a bit *** - 17c in mid summer?? But hey.. I'll take it.

Its a little pricey overall compared to SA, but then where isn't? I priced some running shoes yesterday and they seem on a par with SA. Food and drink - R90 a pint and R250 for fish and chips at the local pub! But, I saved to spend, so who cares!

 

The flight over was long - 30hrs and 3 stops (Dubai, Bali, Auckland), but I set my watch to NZ time as soon as I got on the plane in Dubai, 2 whiskeys, sleeping tab and a melatonin capsule and all was well come 5h30 when we landed in Auckland.

 

Now comes the part of the 'could I move here?' debate.

[patches]

So my wife and I have started exploring the possibility of moving down to NZ. My BIL lives in Wellington and brother is busy getting document ready for a move to Auckland. 

 

I am in the ITC department of THE infamous television company but I don't have a formal qualification. My current title is Senior Architect for Process Systems. I specialise in high level solution providing and 4IR. I work on a lot of automation, AI and cloud projects and manage requirement analysis, interface mapping and roadmap management. I'm basically a glorified Business Analyst on a slightly higher accountability and responsibility ladder. I see that Business Analysis is on the LTSSL but having an ITC degree is a requirement.

 

My wife has a Bcom Accounting degree but didn't do her Honours. She worked in Auditing for 4/5 years and then moved to financial services for 9 years where she is still based. She is responsible for bookkeeping for multiple international companies doing general management accounts, PAYE and payroll for these businesses.

 

My question here is, has anyone gone over into ITC without a degree?

 

Do you think it's possible to go over on my wife's qualifications?

 

edit -  Is it worth it to use an agent for your visa applications? This basically means double the amount for visa applications if I do the math right.

 

Without going too in-depth (more detailed answers can be found in previous posts on this thread), but basically yes, you can get in without a degree.

 

Supply and demand. If a company on the accredited employer list wants someone with your skills and is willing to pay you the minimum required salary ($79,000pa) or above then viola! You can get a Talent - Accredited Employer Visa. No points counting, no agencies, no English tests, and your wife will be on the same visa but with less restriction (no minimum salary or need to work for an accredited employer). After 2yrs on this visa you can apply for residency.

 

The agencies and degree thing typically apply to one of the other visa types (Skilled Migrant Resident Visa). This is where English tests, points calculators and all that come into play.

 

There are pro's and cons to each visa type.

 

You can read more about them in this previous post

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/155527-new-zealand-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/page-170?do=findComment&comment=3322290

[patches]

This may be of help to those worried about the SA tax law coming into affect 1 March 2020.

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/149692-time-to-get-the-hell-out-of-here/?p=3599332

[NixM]

good on you Nix !!!

 

ummmm no mention of your bicycle collection ....

Down to 3 bikes each at the moment so at least 4 to be packed in the container.

 

On that note what shipping companies can people recommend? I want one with NZ experience, the biosecurity looks hectic.

[GrahamS2]

Down to 3 bikes each at the moment so at least 4 to be packed in the container.

 

On that note what shipping companies can people recommend? I want one with NZ experience, the biosecurity looks hectic.

Don't rely on the shipping company to clean your bikes, rather do it yourself and pack them yourself. When cleaning focus on area under the fork crown and in the headtube. They white glove test that on every bike that comes through

 

I used Execumove, to Australia, and they were really good. PM me if you need a contact person there.

Edited January 14, 2020 by GrahamS2

[l4y3rcake]

Without going too in-depth (more detailed answers can be found in previous posts on this thread), but basically yes, you can get in without a degree.

 

Supply and demand. If a company on the accredited employer list wants someone with your skills and is willing to pay you the minimum required salary ($79,000pa) or above then viola! You can get a Talent - Accredited Employer Visa. No points counting, no agencies, no English tests, and your wife will be on the same visa but with less restriction (no minimum salary or need to work for an accredited employer). After 2yrs on this visa you can apply for residency.

 

The agencies and degree thing typically apply to one of the other visa types (Skilled Migrant Resident Visa). This is where English tests, points calculators and all that come into play.

 

There are pro's and cons to each visa type.

 

You can read more about them in this previous post

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/155527-new-zealand-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/page-170?do=findComment&comment=3322290

 

Thanks Patch

[davetapson]

Down to 3 bikes each at the moment so at least 4 to be packed in the container.

 

On that note what shipping companies can people recommend? I want one with NZ experience, the biosecurity looks hectic.

Don't stress about biosecurity.  Just clean everything that will catch attention (i.e. stuff that touches the ground outdoors - bikes/camping gear) properly clean.  That's all it takes, not hard, just tedious.

 

You can bring in carvings etc as long as you sling a coat of varnish/sealer on them.

 

British Internatonal moved us, but I'm not sure that we'd recommend them - although they may have been less worse than others we've heard of.

 

[davetapson]

edit -  Is it worth it to use an agent for your visa applications? This basically means double the amount for visa applications if I do the math right.

 

We used agents - not cheap but it gets done right, and quick.  They would be able to advise you on how best to emigrate.  We ended coming in on my wife's qualifications as suggested by them.

 

I doubt not having a qualification will stop you getting a job - they're pretty pragmatic, but they do love giving strange little tests for you to do in the hopes of figuring out if you can do what you say you can do.

[l4y3rcake]

We used agents - not cheap but it gets done right, and quick.  They would be able to advise you on how best to emigrate.  We ended coming in on my wife's qualifications as suggested by them.

 

I doubt not having a qualification will stop you getting a job - they're pretty pragmatic, but they do love giving strange little tests for you to do in the hopes of figuring out if you can do what you say you can do.

Thanks Dave

 

We have a meeting with an agent on 6 Feb. Which agents did you use and how much were the agent costs?

 

We are getting quotes from all the agents and the prices vary immensely.

[W@nted]

We are using NZ Shores. Cheaper than most and we have had good service so far (busy job hunting). Looking at about R55k agent fees to residency status for a family of 4. Way cheaper than our first consultation with immigration migration, which would have been over R100k agent fees

[l4y3rcake]

We are using NZ Shores. Cheaper than most and we have had good service so far (busy job hunting). Looking at about R55k agent fees to residency status for a family of 4. Way cheaper than our first consultation with immigration migration, which would have been over R100k agent fees

 

Those are the guys we are seeing in Feb

[l4y3rcake]

We also checked out Eagle migration and they are way cheaper than everyone. Waiting for quotes fron New Zealand Shores and Flair Migration. Network Migration quoted R86k

[Wayne Potgieter]

We also checked out Eagle migration and they are way cheaper than everyone. Waiting for quotes fron New Zealand Shores and Flair Migration. Network Migration quoted R86k

i have a really good friend that works at eagle.

[l4y3rcake]

i have a really good friend that works at eagle.

 

 

 

And how are their services compared to the rest? I see some of the guys are willing to help with your CV and job search. Eagle don't seem to offer these services.