More Medicals!!!

Well, it has been a while since I last posted, mostly because I didn't have much to say.

Since the last posting I have had a series of blood tests and I am now beginning to feel like a pin cushion. My liver function tests were out of kilter so I had them done again, after coming off statins which lower my cholesterol.

I went to see a specialist, at the behest of the NZIS medical adviser, which cost me £120 at a private hospital. I could not get an NHS appointment as it was not "urgent". Well it depend on your definition of urgent!

A week after seeing the specialist I had the repeat tests done, which showed that my liver function tests results had dropped significantly. These results I took to the specialist and he has written a letter stating that the abnormality was statin related! YIPPPPPPPPPPEEEE!!

Now I have to speak to my doc as the Urine Protein test came back abnormal, so she upped my medication which will pull this back in line but I will need a note to say this. I must impress on her that it she has to put "Specialist" into the letter otherwise the NZIS might ignore her!

Old Costs=£2687.06
New Costs=£120.00
Total Costs=£2807.06

Frustration

I am not the only person getting frustrated with the glacial speed that the NZIS processes applications at.

The school are getting rather upset that I can't take up the post that I was supposed to have started in Mid-July. I have had to explain to the school that I applied for residency rather than "work to residency" as both take the same time at this end and the work to residency scheme involves too much bureaucracy once you are in NZ.

I don't want to hack the case worker off by asking when it will be finished with in case he gets petty on me and jacks my application straight into the circular file.

The reason I have been keeping quiet is that I frankly can't afford to lose the huge sum of money shown below.


Total Costs=£2687.06 (Approx NZ$6717.65)

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

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.

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

Visa issues

Ok this is where you start to get a sore head.

As a British national I can travel to NZ without a visa if I am going on holiday but this doesn't apply to me.

I need to go on a Business Visitor Visa as I am (hopefully going to get interviews).

From the e-mail reply to the enquiry I made

"If you are travelling to New Zealand on business (eg. to attend a conference, research and negotiate business opportunities, attend interviews with potential New Zealand employers, etc.) and are not receiving any gain or reward during your stay (payment or benefit that can be valued in terms of money, such as board and lodging, goods (eg, food or clothing) and services (eg, transport)), you must obtain a Business Visitor visa prior to your travel. For a step by step application process, please follow this link:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/visitors/process/ ".

Also my letter stating that I did my teacher training in the English language arrived today.

Well no new costs today either.