AuroRaman
Chris Armstrong
I think I'm just writing this because I need to put it into words and let off steam, rather than requesting any advice (although anyone that has been in this situation will be willingly listened to!)
Anyway, as some of you may already be aware, my missus and I moved to New Zealand from London a couple of years ago. It's one of, if not the best decision I've ever made in my life. The way of life here is fantastic, we are no more than 20 minutes away from a beach/rainforest/area of natural wonder and a couple of hours away from skiing/snowboarding.
We arrived on a working holiday visa, which was valid for twelve months and has the option to extend for 23 months. We've extended and the current visa runs out in October. So we've decided to apply for full residency here, which to be honest, we naively thought would be a foregone conclusion to be accepted.
It turns out, being a successful broadcast and events cameraman, as well as a minorly successful musician on the live scene (with what seemed like a decent shot of actually making it as a full-time label recording artist judging by feedback) and my partner being a television and film visual effects producer with Hollywood credits, 'doesn't meet the criteria' for automatic selection from the residency application pool.
So even though we both speak perfect English, have decent qualifications and professions and have built a life out here whilst paying taxes etc etc and contributing to NZ, it looks like we will be kicked out of the country come October.
Without a full-time job offer (in our professions, there is no such thing as 'full-time' work, it is all contracted) in a skills-shortage area (media profession comes under a fledgling industry. Having watched NZ telly, I can tell you there is a massive fudging skills shortage in that area) it doesn't look like we will get picked out of the pool.
I'm feeling quite bitter about all this, mainly because we have built a perfect little life out here. I have temped at Auckland Council for a while inbetween projects and I can tell you, I work harder than 95% of the Kiwi workforce there. My missus worked on the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony and has worked for some of the top VFX companies out here. Also, we are both British citizens which is supposed to be a 'bonus'.
I mean, what fudging more does Immigration want?? We are PERFECT candidates for Residency! And to top it off (I feel I should mention that I am Indian right now), I have noticed that a lot of Asians and Indians are getting residency status (of whom I've talked to anyway) even though they cannot speak much English and their biggest skill to offer NZ is how quickly they can toss a McDonalds hamburger. I promise I'm not getting all Nick Griffin on you, but when the criteria for Residency is to speak English as a first language and offer up a skilled profession of value to NZ, surely we should be getting a look in before these guys?
Apologies for the long post, I don't even mind if this thread dies without reply, just need to vent.... ](*,)
Anyway, as some of you may already be aware, my missus and I moved to New Zealand from London a couple of years ago. It's one of, if not the best decision I've ever made in my life. The way of life here is fantastic, we are no more than 20 minutes away from a beach/rainforest/area of natural wonder and a couple of hours away from skiing/snowboarding.
We arrived on a working holiday visa, which was valid for twelve months and has the option to extend for 23 months. We've extended and the current visa runs out in October. So we've decided to apply for full residency here, which to be honest, we naively thought would be a foregone conclusion to be accepted.
It turns out, being a successful broadcast and events cameraman, as well as a minorly successful musician on the live scene (with what seemed like a decent shot of actually making it as a full-time label recording artist judging by feedback) and my partner being a television and film visual effects producer with Hollywood credits, 'doesn't meet the criteria' for automatic selection from the residency application pool.
So even though we both speak perfect English, have decent qualifications and professions and have built a life out here whilst paying taxes etc etc and contributing to NZ, it looks like we will be kicked out of the country come October.
Without a full-time job offer (in our professions, there is no such thing as 'full-time' work, it is all contracted) in a skills-shortage area (media profession comes under a fledgling industry. Having watched NZ telly, I can tell you there is a massive fudging skills shortage in that area) it doesn't look like we will get picked out of the pool.
I'm feeling quite bitter about all this, mainly because we have built a perfect little life out here. I have temped at Auckland Council for a while inbetween projects and I can tell you, I work harder than 95% of the Kiwi workforce there. My missus worked on the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony and has worked for some of the top VFX companies out here. Also, we are both British citizens which is supposed to be a 'bonus'.
I mean, what fudging more does Immigration want?? We are PERFECT candidates for Residency! And to top it off (I feel I should mention that I am Indian right now), I have noticed that a lot of Asians and Indians are getting residency status (of whom I've talked to anyway) even though they cannot speak much English and their biggest skill to offer NZ is how quickly they can toss a McDonalds hamburger. I promise I'm not getting all Nick Griffin on you, but when the criteria for Residency is to speak English as a first language and offer up a skilled profession of value to NZ, surely we should be getting a look in before these guys?
Apologies for the long post, I don't even mind if this thread dies without reply, just need to vent.... ](*,)
