[SteelCity]

I am a 25 year old man from the US. I am considering a possible move to New Zealand in December of 2009. I started college this past spring and should have earned an Associates Degree by December 2009. Prior to college i served and received an honorable discharge with the USMC Infantry.

I have been in contact with the RNZN for about two months and i am exploring the possibility of enlisting from overseas. While the Navy staff has been both helpful and encouraging, it has been hard to sustain a regular correspondence with them, sometimes taking up to 3 weeks to hear back from them. I know that they have many more important tasks to complete than to keep checking their emails for a response from someone on the other side of the globe, therefor i am grateful for any reply i do receive from them.

I am in the process of sending them my USMC Military record for a possible transfer of skills. However, since my skills are more applicable to the NZ Army(i have no desire to be a grunt again)and the overseas applicant process is selective, I doubt very much that i will be selected for transfer. The Navy website says to apply as a skilled migrant, I am hesitant to do this though, for if not selected for transfer i will not have a job offer when that time of the process arrives. Now that you have some of my background here are my questions.

-Although i realize that there are no guarantees of enlistment, even if i am denied a transfer i will still only be 26 and willing to enlist as an entry level recruit. Could i fly to New Zealand with enough money on hand to live for a month or so, walk into a Navy recruiting office express interest in enlistment and let them deal with the immigration process?

-If this is not a possibility( which i am almost certain it is not) what is the minimum immigration status i would need to obtain to be able to enlist?What type of Visa or status should i try to obtain beforehand?

-Will i receive any special treatment(speedy application process, Waived fees, etc.) if i express a desire to join the NZDF?

-Does it help me at all that my father is a British Citizen?

-Does it help or hurt me that i plan to do this alone with no wife, no kids?

-Is it worth contacting a law firm that advertises help with immigration?

While i know that it might be better to just wait for responses from the RNZN, i have to admit that i am very eager to learn if this is going to be a real possibility for me and want to do all i can to help with the process. Just trying to figure out the best place to start. Any Responses are welcomed and look forward to. Thanks.