As the title says, all the medical information has been sent to New Zealand House. This was done on Thursday at the main Post Office in the City Centre.
My GP did write me a quick letter stating what I wanted and I am just waiting to see if this will post muster with the Medical Adviser. My GP is a specialist in the treatment of diabetics so that should carry some weight.
I am now including a currency conversion in my Costs to give any Kiwis reading this the idea of the financial committment that has to be made to get to NZ. This value below would be approximately 1/7th of a years wage for me in NZ and 1/12th of my UK wage, if I was working full time.
Total Costs=£2807.06 (NZ$ 7872.70 at today's rate £1.00=NZ$2.80).
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
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
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
Friday, 15 August 2008
Cultural Sensitivities
I was speaking to a Kiwi teacher earlier and I asked about cultural dos and dont's associated with the Maori.
Dont
The head is seen as sacred, the backside is "unclean" (the nearest translation).
So:
Sit on a pillow. Scatter Cushions are OK but pillows for sleeping on is a huge no-no.
Sit on any table. Food goes on table and to put your rear end on the table "pollutes" the table. I can see the reason for this and it seems to make sense.
Beckon a child with a finger. This is a deadly insult as you are beckoning as you would a dog.
With some of the Pasifika cultures the hair is seen as sacred so never touch a childs head, especially the hair.
Do:
Take your shoes off when you enter someone elses house.
Get advice from the Maori culture teacher in the school as to the local peculiarities.
This post will be added to if and when I find out more information.
Dont
The head is seen as sacred, the backside is "unclean" (the nearest translation).
So:
Sit on a pillow. Scatter Cushions are OK but pillows for sleeping on is a huge no-no.
Sit on any table. Food goes on table and to put your rear end on the table "pollutes" the table. I can see the reason for this and it seems to make sense.
Beckon a child with a finger. This is a deadly insult as you are beckoning as you would a dog.
With some of the Pasifika cultures the hair is seen as sacred so never touch a childs head, especially the hair.
Do:
Take your shoes off when you enter someone elses house.
Get advice from the Maori culture teacher in the school as to the local peculiarities.
This post will be added to if and when I find out more information.
Friday, 8 August 2008
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)
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)
Friday, 25 July 2008
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
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
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
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
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
Thursday, 10 July 2008
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
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
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