which consultant?

[stan]

we are thinking of using a migration consultant to help with our visa appliction.can anyone recommend a good one?

Hi Stan,

Choosing an agent can be a risky business. There is no way of gauging level of service by price. Some of the reputable agencies charge anywhere between NZ$6000 to NZ$10000, which as you will agree, is a lot of money!

If you are feeling a little brave, and fancy going it alone, in approximately 2 weeks time this site will be launching the D-I-Y immigration service. Although it is do it yourself, you wont strictly be on your own as you will be helped all the way, just without the massive fees of an agent! There is a small charge for this (which hasnt been set yet, but will probably be in the region of ?50 / US$99), but it comes with a money back guarantee if you are not happy with the information provided (a REAL money back guarantee!! One where you actually get it ALL back!). We dont like charging for these things, but its costly to run so we have to.

All the best

[LouLou]

Hi Taffy

What a great idea, I have found everything sooo confusing any help is greatly received with or without a money back guarentee.

Louise

Which is now available! (Ahead of schedule!!)

Hi Stan,

I agree with Taffy here... We have chosen the route to go via an immigration consultant about 3 years ago and found out it was a terrible waste of our money... What they did was printing out almost all info that was available from the NZIS on their own letterhead paper and send this to us (as if we have not looked on their website anyway!). I remember thinking, is this what we are paying them all that money to do?? Something I could have done myself??

We initially indeed did not know where to start, but now we have done quite a lot of research ourselves (and this forum has proven to be very informative, great job Taffy!) and now we are ready to go NEXT WEEK already...!! Don't worry Stan, I'm sure, like us, you will get there eventually as well...


Good luck!
Hafi

Consultants only take on people they think have a very good chance of getting a visa... and then still require you to do all the legwork and collect the necessary paperwork/certificates etc.

As you are going to have to do this anyway you might as well complete the application process yourself - whilst keeping a copy of the NZIS operations manual to hand to ensure you know what they are looking for.

I was quoted ?13,000 for the help of a consultancy in obtaining a Business visa - and they even wanted over ?4,000 for a skilled migrant visa!

I figured I would do the (admittedly more complex) Business visa paperwork myself and if I am successful then no doubt I'll write a guide on how to do it!

If I were you I would take up a consultant's offer for a free initial consultancy (they use this to assess your chances and their risk...) - if they are happy to take you on then you should take that as a signal that you will probably be OK doing it yourself.


Alan.

thanks for your thoughts guys, I am tempted to have a crack at the application myself but I have come across a problem. I am an electrian by trade and in order to use my qualifications to gain points I need provisional registration with the electrical workers registration board in NZ. However,when I e-mailed the board they tell me I cannot apply from outside NZ ?? I appear to be in a catch 22. Any ideas?

This is a typical case of the old 'catch 22' that so many people encounter. Maybe your best course of action would be to go on a work permit, apply for registration when you get there and when this is all processed, apply for immigration that way. Depending on how long it takes to process registration, you may find that if you turn up on the door of an employer, they will take you on subject to registration and then, you also have ajob to gain more points!

NZIS seem to encourage the risk takers of the world by creating these trials for us. Its getting so that you most certainly HAVE to be in NZ before you can get anything done.

It's messing with peoples lives and I dont like or agree with it, but its the way they like it and, to be honest, unless you are a total plank with no chance of meeting criteria as long as there is a sun in the sky, you should be ok.

Read the article in the NZ Herald (featuring me!) and you will see that when an immigration officer was interviewed, he stated that 'They are looking for the self starter, someone who will come to NZ for a holiday and sort it all out while they are there' or words to that effect.

Stan,

Why not jump on a plane and go down for a week and sort in all out and get your application in?

There comes a point when it is so much easier, quicker and probably cheaper to whiz down for a short while and sort it all out - and get to know the country a little better too. If you choose carefully you'll get a flight for just over ?500.

Alan.