Anyone ever applied for emigration to New Zealand?

[DaddyCoolNippingAtYourNose]

namely the skilled migration route.

We've finally sold the house or at least we've been made an offer and accepted it. the plan was to go to canada (my country, so very easy. we just go) but DW has asked me to look into New Zealand as well.

It looks like:

1. the bar is slightly lower than oz and they are more in need of skilled people.

2. the application process is long and full of major red tape so the application takes at least 6 months from beginning to end.

the time concerns me because we need to jet off in May.

Anyone with useful advice or have done this before?

My friends did it - they went for skilled migration and it was painful and tortuous, as you say. They ended up buying a company instead.

Good luck - I didn't realise you were leaving the UK. What's your main reasons for going?

sorry flashingnose. i didn't check the thread till later.....

we need a change and canada is the easy option because i'm canadian so we just pack up and leave and apply for dw and ds's residence when we get there.

we were thinking oz but it works out expensive to apply for and its quite far away. i didn't know if NZ had a cheaper, more straight forward process but it doesn't look like it does.

we didn't want to lay out too much money as we only want to 'test the waters' for a year or two.

it looks like canada now. i best get all my sh*t together. it looks like we're going in 5 months!

I came here in the family category and found it hideously expensive, but quick once I'd got all my bits of paper in order, been to doctor, got police check etc - Sent application on Monday - got passport back on Thursday type quick.

I have a pupil who came on a 2 year work visa and are applying whilst here for skilled migration. It's a pain for her as she can't be self employed, but at least she is here while the paperwork is being done.

Do you or DW have a job we are desperate for more people in?

I'm an accountant. the market looks pretty buoyant but I'm not sure if they are desperate for us.

I think its going to be canada. I spoke to dw last night and she doesn't want to fork out the initial outlay. I think she wants to see how she gets on away from home for a year or two and then we may take the extra step before ds starts school and apply to go to oz or nz if she feels confident that she can stay away from the UK permanently.

I'll go anywhere. I'm always up for a big move or change and I've got no other ties other than dw and ds.

I don't think they are desperate - but I do think that you might be able to find a big firm to sponsor you, which might pay some of your fare and sort out your visa quickly.

Might be worth a few emails.