Ffs Nz!

[Mikkel]

Ok, bear with me for a shortish rant here...

I've come to understand that NZ is lacking skilled workers, mainly due to the fact that wages in NZ are rather low compared to what one can get elsewhere in this globalised world.

Now, don't get me wrong here, I bloody well love the place! The nature is fantastic and >95% of the people are bloody awesome (better than the 90% which seems to be the global average ). Which is why I would like to stay or at least be able to come back and settle down later.

Thus, my partner and I have applied for residency earlier this year. And this is the process: first you file an expression of interest, which cost $400, to have your case evaluated and the cost for the rest of the procedure is at least $2,200 (per person?) - so this lovely bureaucrazy doesn't come for free... Add to that the fact that there's a bit of research and work to be done in filling out the application.

So we did that and sent in the application about 8 weeks ago... And we didn't hear a thing until today. But no, today in the mail we got a letter from Immigration NZ. One of their 'Immigration Officers' had considered our application and she must have had a rather shitty day I think. Anyway, the fact of the matter is that they are:

-Not willing to acknowledge that a danish Ph.D. in Phamachology and 5 years of working experience is an advanced qualification unless we run it past the 'New Zealand Qualification Authority' (NZQA) for evaluation (it's pretty cheap $450 :sarcasm and probably only has a processing time of 2 months +/- 4 months. (In comparison, let say you held a bachelor of arts from ZIMBABVE or ROMANIA you'd be home-free no f*cking questions asked).

-Thinking that the University of Otago would employ a post-doc without her meeting the professional criteria (a Ph.D. comparable to the NZ level).

Add to that the fact that the letter was formulated in a rather condescending manner (no matter what you might think of myself, you have to give me that I should at least be able to get that right...).

Anyway, this lovely 'immigration officer' has given us 2 weeks (they just took 8...) to throw a shitload of money at NZQA and get our exam papers (the original copy, mind you) assessed. Just to exemplify how stupid this system is, you have to pay extra and 'tick a box' to get your papers sent back to you ($46), the original paper FFS... If you hold a Masters degree and a Ph.D. you have to pay for BOTH to get them evaluated...

Is it just me, or does this clash with how NZ would like to absorb more skilled immigrants?

Eez 'cos I iz white eezn't it?

[Bren]

Ya hit the nail on the head...its sorta like reverse racisim here....If you are from an ethnic background other than caucasian then the system loves ya, but if you are an average whitie then the system shits on ya!

[Cr1MiNaL]

Its fucking bullshit bro, along with a lot of other things that go down over here... I long for the day when NZ looks around and realises that theres more to the world than Australia... U've just seen 1 problem stick around for a bit longer if you dare... fukin malls shut at 5... nothing open past 9... streets dead after 10pm... the only nightlife is clustered... when uve been to other countries NZ just doesnt cut it. Get what u need and get out is my advise to you.

[Tank]

Eez 'cos I iz white eezn't it?

Hang on - you're white ?

[mstriumph]

i didn't know he was ..... white

[P38]

Ok, bear with me for a shortish rant here...

I've come to understand that NZ is lacking skilled workers, mainly due to the fact that wages in NZ are rather low compared to what one can get elsewhere in this globalised world.

Now, don't get me wrong here, I bloody well love the place! The nature is fantastic and >95% of the people are bloody awesome (better than the 90% which seems to be the global average ). Which is why I would like to stay or at least be able to come back and settle down later.

Thus, my partner and I have applied for residency earlier this year. And this is the process: first you file an expression of interest, which cost $400, to have your case evaluated and the cost for the rest of the procedure is at least $2,200 (per person?) - so this lovely bureaucrazy doesn't come for free... Add to that the fact that there's a bit of research and work to be done in filling out the application.

So we did that and sent in the application about 8 weeks ago... And we didn't hear a thing until today. But no, today in the mail we got a letter from Immigration NZ. One of their 'Immigration Officers' had considered our application and she must have had a rather shitty day I think. Anyway, the fact of the matter is that they are:

-Not willing to acknowledge that a danish Ph.D. in Phamachology and 5 years of working experience is an advanced qualification unless we run it past the 'New Zealand Qualification Authority' (NZQA) for evaluation (it's pretty cheap $450 :sarcasm and probably only has a processing time of 2 months +/- 4 months. (In comparison, let say you held a bachelor of arts from ZIMBABVE or ROMANIA you'd be home-free no f*cking questions asked).

-Thinking that the University of Otago would employ a post-doc without her meeting the professional criteria (a Ph.D. comparable to the NZ level).

Add to that the fact that the letter was formulated in a rather condescending manner (no matter what you might think of myself, you have to give me that I should at least be able to get that right...).

Anyway, this lovely 'immigration officer' has given us 2 weeks (they just took 8...) to throw a shitload of money at NZQA and get our exam papers (the original copy, mind you) assessed. Just to exemplify how stupid this system is, you have to pay extra and 'tick a box' to get your papers sent back to you ($46), the original paper FFS... If you hold a Masters degree and a Ph.D. you have to pay for BOTH to get them evaluated...

Is it just me, or does this clash with how NZ would like to absorb more skilled immigrants?

Eez 'cos I iz white eezn't it?

Mate ya shoulda applied a couple hundred years ago.

Was easy to get in then.

Or maybe you should have traveled here on a false passport, dumped it in the shitter and claimed your $Mill + from legal aid to finance a legal battle to enable you and your family to stay.

Seriously though
I hear your pain..... we are desparately short of trades here in Hawkes Bay. So much so that we regulary advertise overseas.

Our Goverment should make it easy for the people we want/need... instead they make it easy for those that we dont... Achmed Zaoui for instance.

[Cr1MiNaL]

Fuck the government lol Bring on National.

[Number One]

Sounds to me that they consider extensive study and 5 years experience not highly enough rated in terms of how badly NZ needs those particlar skills?

I know lots of 'skilled migrants' that haven't had to jump through those hoops and expenses you describe (these were recent too). Maybe we aren't as hard up here for what it is that you do...

[jrandom]

Our Goverment should make it easy for the people we want/need...

danish Ph.D. in Phamachology

Maybe they don't think we need people with PhDs who can't spell the subject they took them in?



Mikkel, how many countries have you emigrated to before? Is NZ's immigration bureaucracy better, worse, or more or less the same as others?

I wouldn't know, I've never tried to leave.

[fridayflash]

crazy man!! when helping an employee of mine get a work visa, i dished up a few 'kia oras' and 'tena koe' in my letter as a bit of cultural leverage.
duno if it helped or not but we were successful.
its a pity to have to stoop to such measures

[jrandom]

fukin malls shut at 5... nothing open past 9... streets dead after 10pm... the only nightlife is clustered... when uve been to other countries NZ just doesnt cut it.

Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Apu.

[Mom]

Eez 'cos I iz white eezn't it?

among other things...LOL

[Cr1MiNaL]

Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out, Apu.

I'm not goin to b the last to turn the lights off, thats for bloody sure... while I'm here I'll make the most of the amazin blonds/brunettes/redheads anyway... gorgeous naughty women everywhere...

[Dave-]

what's her name? address? employee number?

don't worry mike, I'll write a letter of recommendation for ya, my diploma in 3d animation should stir up the office at immigration

ah the sucks dude, but I'm so chuffed that you'd want to stay...little ol' NZ...I'm so proud...

[nodrog:Me]

maybe you should have studied something usefull then