So how do you get a visa?

Kia Ora,

I want to start by thanking the thousands of people who read our blogs over the past week, almost 11,000 of you!  The response has been amazing and thanks for all the great questions and comments.  We would love to reply to all the comments but Jenny and I make sure we read every one.  Some of the comments ask the same question, so we will use your comments to help create future blogs.  Do let us know if there is any topic in particular you’d like to see on our blog and Jenny and I will do our best to include that in one of our posts.

Jenny’s blog about how to write a CV was hugely popular.  Please don’t send your CV’s to us. There is much more involved in the immigration process than sending your CV to an employer or recruiter. One of the most frequent comments we had was “How can I get a visa and can you help me?”  So in today’s blog I am going to give you some information to help you plan your move.

The visa and the job offer are obviously 2 very important factors to focus on when making the move.  But there is so much more involved.  One of the first things you need to do is get accurate answers to important these important questions:

• What type of visa’s am I eligible for?
• What are my employment prospects?
• Do I need a job offer to secure a visa or can I apply without a job offer?

You can only make an effective plan if you know the answers to these questions.

Other things you need to know:

• How much money will I need?
• How long will it take?

The answer is that every move is different. We help hundreds of people move to Australia and New Zealand each year and every application is unique.

Communication is crucial to the whole process.  English language ability is tested if English is not your first language and employers will want to know that you have excellent communication skills.  You may be able to move to New Zealand or Australia within a couple of months of securing a job offer but if you are applying for jobs now, are you ready to catch that plane and start work?

So, here is how Working In Visas help people make the journey:

• Complete our online migration map questionnaire, find out if you are eligible to migrate http://www.workingin-visa.com/visa-assessment/free/stage-1
• If eligible; you may be invited to talk to one of our experienced consultants who will answer all your questions and outline your migration options
• You will be assigned your own Migration Agent to manage your move and be given all the tools and support you need to search and apply for jobs
• Your visa application will be lodged so that it meets current Immigration Policy

Many applications are declined, simply because the migrant involved do not get accurate advice about their move, right at the start of the process.  Emigrating is one of the most life changing events you can undertake and so it is critical to make sure you make a plan.  If you are eligible to migrate and meet the immigration criteria then we may be able to help you.

On a lighter note it is Friday here in Auckland and we are just hours away from the highly anticipated Rugby World Cup 2011 Opening Ceremony!! I have my All Blacks shirt on and will be heading up to Parnell to watch New Zealand’s largest firework display and then off to watch the big game.  It makes me feel even luckier than usual to be able to live here right now – New Zealand as a whole has come alive, and with 90,000 international fans here to watch the rugby, the world really has come to play – It is fantastic!!  Check out the coverage if you get a chance it will also give you an insight into our culture http://www.tvnz.co.nz

Ka Kite (bye for now),

Paul

Where have we been?

Hi Everyone,

sorry it has been so long since our last post but as you know we were over in the UK at our Expos in Leeds and London and the interest was even higher than expected. Over 5000 people attended and we were flat out busy. Jenny and I are now back safely in the New Zealand office (well, actually Jenny is taking a well deserved break in Fiji) and I just wanted to let you know how things have moved on already for some of the people we met at the expo.

The employers and recruiters who flew over from Australia and New Zealand were all really pleased with the quality of the people they met in the UK. Many have already offered jobs to the people they met who are ready to move and they are busy following up on the hundreds of others whose skills are needed.

The key thing to remember here is that when you come to an expo the exhibitors will be talking to a lot of people and they will be focusing very closely on those people who are ready to make the move. Coming to the expos and being able to show how committed you are will put you ahead of the others who are researching the move. Although employers and recruiters have flown thousands of miles to meet you they are still looking for the best quality people who are committed to making the move.

Of course we have lots of people who come along to the expos because they are researching the move and they want to know the best way to proceed. I personally met thousands of people who attended our working in seminars on Australia and New Zealand and hopefully got to speak to most of you. If you are not sure of the best way for you and your family to migrate then the best thing to do at the expo is sign up for our migration map and hundreds of people did this and we are now busy having consultations with these people giving them all the information they need to be able to proceed and that information is tailored to them and their circumstances.

Of course it’s not all work and it was good to spend some time in Leeds as I hadn’t been there in years and any down time in London is always fun. There is a lot of meeting and mingling with all the exhibitors at these events and this is where we have a unique position compared to other immigration companies. Not only do we organise the expos but we also exhibit at them and build relationships with all the other exhibitors and are in constant touch with them making those relationships work for our visa clients.

So if you did come along to the expo I would love to hear from you so please leave a comment. We are already getting busy organising our Canadian, South Africa and next round of UK expos due to take place in November.

I’ll be giving you some insider tips on how to make the most of the expo and even running some competitions so you can win some free tickets so do interact with us on this blog and we will respond to all comments.

We aim to blog more frequently (well when Jen gets back from FIJI, can you tell I’m jealous) so do keep checking in and tell your friends.

For those of you looking for jobs in New Zealand or Australia here are some handy tips to help you on your way.

A Positive attitude – You need to come across to employers as committed to the move with an upbeat positive flexible attitude. If you can also show commitment to the move by visits you have made to Australia or New Zealand or show engagement with a company such as workingin visas this can also add to your appeal

A Good CV – It is very important to have your CV formatted in a way that suits the employers. This could be very different to how you currently format your CV. Grammar and spelling is crucial and your CV should be tailored to each application

Understand your potential employer – Read the job description carefully. What are they looking for? Who are they and what do they do? You need to do as much research as possible before applying

Be Proactive – Follow up your job applications with phone calls as well as emails. Phone calls show motivation and are the best way to make contact. Keep track of your applications and even follow up the rejections with a request for feedback.

Know your timeframes – This is essential. Do not apply for jobs unless you are able to move. Some employers will wait months but most will want you to start work ASAP.

Leave your comments we want to hear from you

Ka Kite (bye for now)

Paul Goddard

IAA license 201001948

London and Manchester Expo update

Well it’s time for our first expos in London and Manchester and my bags are packed, ready for that long flight from New Zealand to the UK. It’s funny, but it seems to get longer every time I do it! I’ve selected the films I’m going to try to watch and booked a nice quiet seat at the back of the plane in preparation.

We are constantly looking for ways to improve the expo experience for our visitors and exhibitors and this year we have added more seminars and worked on reducing queues. This will mean you can get all the information you need to be able to take that next step to actually starting a new life in Australia, New Zealand or Canada. We have more exhibitors this year, reflecting the booming Australian economy and looming skills shortages.

We will also be updating you on what’s happening in Christchurch and how it is going to affect the New Zealand economy. No new buildings will be built for the next 6 months, but once the rebuild does begin it will give a well needed boost to the construction industry and the economy. The reserve bank in New Zealand has just cut interest rates, but has stated that this is just a temporary measure and interest rates will increase next year as the rebuild starts.  We have also experienced some internal migration since the quake with over 10,000 people moving from Christchurch to Auckland and thousands moving to Dunedin, Nelson and the cities that surround Christchurch.

Another new option at our expos is to upgrade your entrance ticket to VIP status. This is for those of you who are determined to make the move and want to get expert advice so that you can actually make the move a reality. I know how daunting this can be. Emigrating is one of the most life changing things you will ever do. I can also tell you that once you do commit to the move you will become more focused and can experience the peace of mind that comes with having people who have made the move help you do the same. The VIP tickets are limited and there are only a few left so to get yours just click here www.expo-newzealand.com

Some Expo Tips

The expos can get busy, do take your time and make the most of your visit. Most of the exhibitors have flown from Australia, New Zealand and Canada to attend these events so they do want to talk to you. Make sure you visit all the stands, even if you are not sure if they can help you. They will have lots of information to share even if it is just about what the weather is like in Perth!

Check out the seminar timetable as soon as you arrive and make sure you visit as many seminars as possible. We have added more seminars this year with even  more information. You will hear about what it’s like to live and work in these countries and also get tips and advice on how to apply for jobs and secure visas.

If you’ve ever run a business before and are interested in running a business in New Zealand or Australia, then make sure you attend our business seminar on the Saturday of the expo in London and Manchester. I will be explaining how I moved to NZ on a business visa and how we can help you do the same.

Well its time to change some dollars to pounds, buy myself a coat and say goodbye to New Zealand for a few weeks. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible while I am in the UK and helping you make a move down under.

See you at the expos

Paul Goddard