Son's Passport 2

I went to Martha Street in Glasgow (where the records of Births, Marriages and Deaths are kept) where the staff informed that as the ex-wife was born in England I would have to contact the Government Records Office in Southport on a local call rate number.

I held for 25 mins and then they dropped the call! I am seriously unchuffed. Another 28 minute wait to do 3 minutes work.

I can't get the birth certificate on line as I do not know the witches, sorry ex-mother-in-laws, maiden name.

Todays Costs: birth certificate £11.50 ;fares £1.45; telephone calls £2
Total costs: £283.25

My sons passport

Oh deep joy. The passport office said that my ex-wife has to sign for my sons passport. Given she is about as reasonable as a kick in the teeth, that isn't going to happen.

I had to prove that I had sole responsibility for him using the decree nisi but I still have to provide her birth certificate! I have to go down to Martha Street tomorrow and see about getting a copy of the ex-wifes' birth certificate.

No new costs incurred today.

Contacting Agencies

I got an e-mail last week from a school who had interviewed me but wanted someone who could start immediately. The sender gave me some good contacts so I e-mailed a series of employments agencies in NZ who deal with placing teachers. The e-mail said that the schools pay for the placement (as is normal in the UK) so you shouldn't have to pay any fees.

I have only had a reply from one agency as I went through their website to contact them. I stayed up till silly o'clock last night (well really this morning) e-mailing, as the agency said that they would like to telephone me as to my intentions. I also replied with a very quick synopsis of where I was at.

No change in costs.

University transcripts

The NZQA and the Teachers Council both want original transcripts so I have been a busy little boy today going round West Central Scotland arranging for the transcripts. I am getting 3 copies of each transcript so I don't have to mess about.

Transport costs: £1.35 for train into and out of Glasgow, £1.90 for a discovery ticket for the underground and £3.05 for a Cheap day return to Paisley from Glasgow.

Started at Stratchclyde Uni where 3 transcipts are supplied for £10.

Into Glasgow Uni where it costs £10 for the first transcript and £1 for each subsequent transcript.

Paisley Uni, now the University of the West of Scotland in Paisley, where the transcripts are free! Woot and result!

Costs today: Transport £6.30, Transcripts £23
Running total £239+£29.30=£268.30

Police Clearance

I forgot that I had done this already. NZ Immigration Service and the NZTC wants to be sure that they are not going to let into NZ or licence a convicted drug dealing axe murderer. (not that I have done either of these.)



For Brits you have to apply to the Metroplitan Police but they do not do this online. This is a snail mail only service that costs £10. I can't locate it now but I downloaded a form from the Met website, filled it in and sent it off to a an address in London (Lille House IIRC).

Costs Incurred:£10
Total Costs to date: £239

First Passport Arrives!

My passport has just arrived. Mine was the easiest and quickest as it was a re-issue.

My son's passport application is in but will take 2-6 weeks as it is a first issue.

My wife's passport application is going in about an hours time. It too will take 2-6 weeks as it is a first issue.

Todays Spend: £72 (passport) +£7 (Check and send service )=£79
Total Spend: £150+£79=£229

New Zealand Teachers Council

The NZTC is the professional registration body for teachers in NZ. It does the same role as the GTC(S) and the GTC(E).

For an overseas teacher you have to first register using a TC1. The link for this is below.

http://www.teacherscouncil.govt.nz/registration/how/forms.stm

This will cost you NZ$120.

Once you have met the requirements of the NZTC you can move to full registration which is done using a TC2. Download from the same place as the TC1. This will cost you NZ$80.

You normally need two years teaching experience so those who have done the Scottish system and a year of supply afterwards will qualify.

Costs Paid this post: Nil
Running Total of Costs: £150

The expression of interest and points

This is the form that tells the New Zealand government that you want to emigrate to there. It costs NZ$400 (about £160) to submit it so you have to get it right. I am applying as a "Skilled Worker" but without a job I have about 120 points. 140 points is the usual breakpoint for automatic entry. With a job offer I am at 175 points.

To fill in this online form: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/default.htm
Now register for the online services and you can fill in the form. The form says it will take 2 hours. Try 6 hours. The older you are, the more you have to enter like children, qualifications, family etc etc etc. This form is saved for you can have as many versions of it on the go at the same time but you can only submit one expression of interest, so make sure you get it right before you submit it.

I have worked out that I can get another 100 points if the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) to assess my postgraduate qualifications which will be another fee. They have to assess my degree too and pass this onto the NZ Teachers Council (the teachers professional registration body) to ensure that I get paid at the correct rate. Guess what. That is another fee .

Luckily the NZ government has a scheme that if you take up employment as a teacher within 3 months of arriving, you get $4000 (about £1600).
To claim this money: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/web/downloadable/dl5015_v1/2005-aug-international-relocation-grant-form.doc

I have to go to my various universities and get transcripts of every qualification.

Costs in this post : Nil
Running total : £150

Background

I am a teacher of Mathematics and Physics that is fed up of irregular income on supply.

To this end, my wife and I have decided that we will try to emigrate to New Zealand for a fresh start. I am using this blog to list the hassles, hiccups and successes on the way.

The process started back in Spetember 2007 with me looking at where I could go to get permanent work and balancing it with quality of life. This led me to looking at New Zealand.

One of the things I will be doing is keeping a running cost of the move just to gove other families a guide to how much it will cost them. Maybe it will also allow people to not make the mistakes which I know I will make.

Well I have my passport applied for, our sons passport applied for but I am going to have to rewrite my wifes passport application as her countersignator can't seem to sign within the box.

Costs in this post: £150 (Passports)
Costs Running total: £150.