Way overdue update

OK, I had nearly given up ever emigrating due to the medical advisor moving the goalposts, again.

I was given a list of things to do prove in Jan 2011 and I have been working at this showing no diabetic retinopathy, lack of liver disease etc.

Maybe I will have done enough to allow me to get my clearance to enter NZ, so I can be there for Jan 2012. Four years after I initally started the process.

I will now also have to reregister with the NZTC. I am e-mailing them over this after I have checked their website for details.

AAAUUUUGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

Now that I have the Linus van Pelt moment out of the way. (For those born after the 1970's google for "Peanuts" "Charlie Brown" and "Snoopy")

When I handed in the application I had the NZQA assessment of my qualifications in the pack thinking that it would cover everything. Not so. If you are claiming educational points they want to see either the original or a certified copy of the qualification certificates that you are claiming for.

Learn from this. That cost me another £1.09 for the envelope, £1.94 in postage and £0.60 in parking.

Old Total=£2683.43
New Costs=£3.63
Total Costs=£2687.06

NZIS, 80 Haymarket, London

Well yesterday I handed the ITA in.

I got there at 0930hrs for them to say that the Immigration doesn't open until 1000hrs. I went for a coffee in the little arcade behind the NZ Embassy and the coffee was foul. I thought the purpose of coffee was to have layers of flavour not just be bitter.

I went back to the Embassy, climbed the stairs to the Immigration Section and took a ticket for the Residency queue. (There is also a temporary visa queue). I had one couple in front of me who took 45 minutes to be processed. I got in and the man at the desk was obviously irritated with the couple in front. I turns out the couple in front took so long as they were highly disorganised. From start to finish it took 25 minutes for me.

Coming back on the train I had to suffer the disjointed ramblings of an alcoholic as far as Crewe. This did not impress me. Also the screaming sinus headache I had, induced by the pollution in London, did not help matters

Transport around London £6.80
Old Total=£2676.63
Total Costs=£2683.43

Handing in the ITA

I have everything so I have decided to hand in my ITA personally. Just don't drop it as it will either break someones foot or the floorboards, depending on what it hits first!

I will travel down by train on Monday afternoon into evening, staying overnight in a hotel, handing the ITA on Tuesday and then travelling back. The reason for this being is the cost! £200+ for getting there and back by plane on short notice.

Using a Virgin Credit Card I got rail return to and from London from my hometown for £72:90.

I spent an hour on the phone calling hotels in London and eventually got one with a single room vacancy for Monday night at for a (mere) £70. This still comes in cheaper than flights.

I might as well include it now, the cost of the ITA submission. £685.00 Mr Credit Card is taking a hammering.

New Costs=£70+£72:90+£685=£827.90
Old Total=£1848:73
Total Costs=£2676.63

Teacher Registration-Great News

I called the NZTC on Sunday night to find that the Council had not sent the letter saying that I used to work for them. Monday morning I speak to the bloke who I had spoken to a week before and he expressed surprise that the letter hadn't been done as he had passed it onto a worker to do. I went down to the council offices and got the letter on Monday afternoon, went to my parents house and used their fax machine to send the letter to NZ. I will post it later today.

This morning I got an e-mail from the NZTC stating that I had been approved! They are faxing the certificate to my parents house tonight and posting me the original.

I now have to arrange a quick trip to London and New Zealand house.

Costs to date=£1847:73
New Costs=£1.00 (Parking)
Total Costs=£1848:73

NZQA Return of Documents and my confusion

I have just had the documents I sent to the NZQA returned to me along with their document. According to that my PGDE is rated at level 7, my degree at level 7 but my Engineering Postgrad at Level 8. So why is the NZTC saying that I have a level 7 entry point?

I have checked the rules specifically paragraph 4.1.1 of the teachers collective agreement. As I have two subject specialist qualifications, Physics and Mathematics I thought I would be at level 8.

I have asked the school about this and I am waiting to see what they say.

Reference News

Well I got through tho someone at the Local Authority who wasn't a muppet. (An achievement in itself.) They are writing a letter a need for the NZTC and will fax it direct to them, post it to me so I can see what has been said and then I'll post it to NZ.

I've posted the two letters but they were so light only £1.24 for the pair.

Total so far=£1846:39
Costs=£1.24
Total Costs=£1847:73

Accomodation News

Ok if you are a teacher in a rural school in NZ you may be offered a Ministry of Education rental house to live in. We were offered a two bed apartment at NZ$100 p/w or a 3 bed bungalow at NZ$135 p/w. Mrs Smidsy works in house rentals and she has all the horror stories of living in a flat so she told me that the bunglaow was the only option. Also we have been told that the rental is literally a five minute walk from the school so there will be no need to drive to work.

These rentals are subsidised but if you leave teaching you pay the non-subsidised rate and can be given 42 days notice to leave if a teacher requires the house.

I'll be sending letters tomorrow so that will be more expense (about £1.56 per C4 envelope by airmail.)

Total Costs=£1846:39

NZQA News!

I got the reference from the Depute Headmaster today and faxed it to the NZTC. They have sent me a confirmation of receipt along with a little good/bad news.

Good News, the NZQA have pulled their fingers out and assessed my qualifications.

Bad News, they have only awarded level 7 not the level 8 I was expecting with two postgrads (one teaching one in design). That has cost me about $2000 a year (£800ish)

Now I just need to get the letter from the Council and I'm sorted out for the last piece of paper required to get the visa. Stress anybody? I've got lots I could share out.

I'll have to post the hard copy of the reference letter tomorrow.

Total Costs=£1846:39

I could cheerfully throttle a bureaucrat today.

Well the NZTC got back to me demanding more information so I sent them more. They want info that I was approved to work with children. Needless to say I am well narked off with them.

They demanded information from the Principal (Headmaster). Well it is a real pity that the headmaster has retired and the info they want wouldn't have even been available to him as it was a matter that is dealt with at local authority level in Scotland. GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I got onto the Personnel Section of the Education Department of the local authority that was my employer and asked them to provide the info. Guess what- we can't help you with that as we don't have a form letter! The Personnel Section of the Education Department are the people that approved me to work so surely they can say if they approved me. Is that difficult logic. I then did the usual trick,

Me:"I'd like to speak to the head of your department please."
B/Crat: "But she's out."
Me: "OK, I'll speak to her boss"
B/Crat: "That's the Director of Education"
Me: "Good, can you connect me please?"
2 mins later B/Crat "Her line is engaged"
Me: "Can I have the direct dial number then?"
B/Crat: "umm, OK"

I called the Director and got her PA. I explained the situation and she said that the personnel were being idiots and my request was perfectly reasonable. Now either she was playing me like a fiddle or being genuine. I hope the latter. I will call back tomorrow to see what progress she has made.

Banking in New Zealand

I've mentioned in an earlier post that I had opened a bank account in New Zealand via the ANZ Migrant Services. In this post I will point out some of the things I have found out about banking in NZ.

I searches Wises Directory (http://www.wises.co.nz/) for banks in the town I am going to. I think having a local branch is important as I will not have free time, or the transport initially, to travel long distances to do some banking. I discovered that there are two banks in the town, one I had heard of and had seen at the migrant fair and one I have only ever seen through shirt sponsorship of NZ Rugby clubs. Both were much of a muchness but once I get over I will ask the locals which bank they think is the better for service etc.

With the banks I have looked at, those that have branches in the town I will be living and working in, there is a monthly charge for having the account, normally NZ$5. This doesn't start until you are actually in country and using the account as you have to take the letter stating that you have a holding account along to the branch to activate the account.

NZTC Development & Admin

I e-mailed the NZTC last night and CC'd it to the Principal, Vice Principal and the Principal's Secretary. I asked where my application was and told them there was a time critical element. This has had an effect.

Guess what, they are making a decision about the teacher registration tomorrow.

I've also sent my income tax registration form to the school along with some documents that they wanted to do with starting at the school.

The Police Forms have arrived and I have picked up the letter from my doc stating that my diabetes control is spot on and I have a chance of a long life so long as I keep the control up!


Costs to date: £1845:83
New Costs: £1.56
Total Costs=£1846:39

Follow up to last post

Well I spoke to my own doctor and she, a diabetes specialist, says that the elevated sugar level in the morning can be indicative of a condition that is common in diabetics. The abnormal liver function is due to my statin medications to reduce cholesterol which are essential as diabetics run a four times greater risk of heart attack/stroke than the rest of the population. On the upside she said my last HBA1C figures were excellent and she is awaiting the new HBA1C figure with bated breath. If I get a similar figure she will be pleased. Put simply, HBA1C is a measure of your average blood sugar over the last three months. She is writing a letter to say that my sugar control is excellent and so long as I keep this up my risk of long term complications is low.

I sent an e-mail to the London Branch of the NZIS. I asked about teacher registration, whether I need the certificate or just the registration number. To be a complete PITA, they want the form and not just the number. This could delay my leaving as I am now at the mercy of the NZQA who make glacial creep seem unnecessarily hurried and rushed.

I also asked about flights. I had seen all the information saying that I had to book return flights, which frankly doesn't make sense for someone who is emigrating. They NZIS rep said that as I was going for residence I only needed to book a one way ticket. Yippee!!!! That should save a few pounds.

Invitation To Apply (ITA), Medicals and Teacher Reg number

Well exactly as described by the London Branch of the NZIS timetable, one day shy of two weeks after the selection of the EOI, the ITA arrives on my doorstep. Or rather a thick C4 envelope I have to sign for arrives.

The ITA looks suspiciously identical to the EOI you submit but wuth a different title.

Common sense has prevailed, as an English speaker, educated in Britain, I don't have to prove English language ability.

More Photos are required along with the police checks, the medical certs etc etc etc.

The ITA take 4-6 weeks to process. EEEk- That is cutting it fine.

I had to go to the doctor today as some of my liver function figures were not great and one of the other tests showed abnormal but given my medical history, they are to be expected. The doctor has to produce a letter stating a prognosis and she has told me she is going to be honest but that honesty will actually help as one of my other blood tests shows that my medical condition is under tight control.

I now have a teacher registration number. I will e-mail my immigration contact and see if that satisfies his requirements.

I will also ask him the seemingly stupid question. As someone going for residence, I am assuming I can buy one way tickets not returns as in those getting tourist visas.

More Police Checks

I forgot to post this last week but now that it has come off the bank account it has reminded me.

Both the Wife and I need Police Checks. For me this is another copy, I really should have asked for two copies the last time I sent for one. The one I have has gone to the NZ Teacher Registration Board so I can't really use that for the NZIS.

Luckily as SmidsyJr is 16, he doesn't require a Police Check (he would if he was 17) so that saves us a tenner.


Costs to date=£1825.30
New Costs= £20.53
Total Costs=£1845:83

Transportation & Banking

I have had a few quotes in the past week for moving our stuff to NZ.

Most are coming in at £2200ish +3%-3.5% of goods value for insurance.

Given that we are moving £10k+ of kit which we would otherwise be selling off at bargain basement prices, this represents a huge saving.

I checked the town we are moving to and saw it only had two banks. Now call me picky but I want to be able to bank with a company that has a branch I can get to at lunch time and has enough international clout that it could also transfer my capital (depending on costs/exchange rate as compared to an international money transfer company).

I have set up bank accounts with one of these banks which will become active one I present the branch with the paperwork they have sent me and my passport.

Medicals or how to spend money FAST!

The EOI should have been accepted but remember I am dealing with a bureaucracy so action to reaction may take two weeks.

Call it jumping the gun but I have had the medicals and it is EXPENSIVE.

Firstly I had to download the correct medical form.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/formsandfees/formsandguides/healthcharacter.htm

I had to go to two different places to get all the medicals done. One place did the chest x-rays, to prove that none of us has TB, (£240) and the doctor did the health exam including bloods. N.B. If you have a BMI of 35+, or are diabetic, etc you will require more test and this starts racking up the costs FAST. For three of us the cost came to £859! The Doctor actually apologised for the cost. Parking cost us another £4.30


Costs to date = £722.00
New Costs = £240+£859+£4.30=£1103.30
Total costs=£1825.30 YOWSER!

The Job Offer

The job offer has come through, by e-mail. I have to print it off and send it by snail mail to NZ but one of the nice things it has on it is "Do you require school accomodation?".



The job is to start on 21 July 2008. Start of term 3, so I had better send in my TC1.



I submitted my EOI as soon as I had the e-mail as I needed some details from the offer e-mail, (like the headies surname for starters). That was NZ$400, about £160.



The job is to be governed by the PPTA agreement. I think it is this one here



http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=12323&indexid=1014&indexparentid=1013

I am going to have to get some flights together.

Running costs=£160
Total costs = £722.00

A JOB!!!!!

Call this the best progress that you can have.

I was in the house on Sunday afternoon and I thought "Seems I have my application into the NZQA, lets check what jobs are out there", so I logged onto the NZ Education Gazette website.

To find the NZ equivalent of the TES website vacancy pages use this:

http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancy.php


I looked under physics and only saw a few jobs and none in places I wanted to work (all decile 1 i.e. bottom 10% of the country for affluence and highest deprivation or decile 10 private schools, a sector that I think I am not suited to). I looked under Mathematics and saw a screed of work. So 12 e-mails with c.v. and covering letters later I thought "Job done" wrap it up.

Monday evening rolls round and I am sitting doing nothing much when the phone rings. I answer it and it is a call from a rural school I'd sent my c.v. to the day before. One instant interview with the headteacher later he told me the head of Mathematics would be calling me the next night.

Tuesday night roll round and the Glaswegian, like myself, head of Mathematics calls me and interviews me for the post. Turns out that he supports the same football team as me! We get to the end of the interview and he informs me that I am going to be his recommendation for the post. You could have knocked me down with a feather at that point.

11pm Wednesday night I am just getting in the door when the phone rings. It is only the headmaster calling to give me the job. Add to that the offer of subsidised school owned rental housing. I opted for the 2 bed flat at NZ$100 per week as this is all I really need for the moment.

Needless to say I am well made up!

e-mail from the NZQA

I've just got back from a week in France and found an e-mail from the NZQA acknowledging that they have received my application!

The text of the e-mail was

"Application for evaluation of overseas qualificationsThank you for your application for the evaluation of your (or client's) qualifications.Qualifications Assessment Process from hereThe documents and information that you have provided in support of your application will be checked to ensure your application is complete and no further information is required.If this is the case your application will proceed, or you will receive a letter from your evaluator telling you what further information is required.

Please note that the time does not start when your assessment fee is drawn from your account.It is important to note that the processing time for your application will commence:* after full payment has been processed, * the application form has been correctly completed * all required documentation has been received. Once we have confirmed that your application has been accepted your qualification(s) will be assessed to a learning outcome of a qualification on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.

AT TIMES WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH VOLUMES OF APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED, THESE TIMEFRAMES ARE LIKELY TO BE EXTENDED.

Verification Process
Your application may be subject to verification, this will occur through a random selection process. NZQA will verify the status of an awarding institution and/or the information you provide to ensure that it is accurate, or NZQA may need more information about a particular course or training. When verification is sought, NZQA will issue you with a Verification Hold letter, as this will extend the time taken to evaluate your application. Some institutions charge a fee for verifying documents. If this occurs, you will be notified and asked to make payment directly to the organisation concerned. Once NZQA has received the required verification, it can continue with the evaluation. If you are submitting an application for the purpose(s) of Teacher Registration your application will automatically be verified as per the Memorandum of Understanding between the New Zealand Teachers Council and the Qualifications Recognition Service.

If you change your contact detailsNZQA must receive written and signed confirmation, by fax or post, of your:
a) change of address details (this may be signed by either the applicant or your nominated agent); or
b) change of your nominated agent (this must be signed by the applicant).
Yours sincerely
Qualification Recognition Services
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Website: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/
125 The Terrace
PO Box 160"


Progress at last!