I finally heard from a childcare centre willing to give me a skype interview. I phoned just so they could hear my voice and see my seriousness. She seemed positive, but did mention normally they like people to come into their centres. I offered to fly, but she said no it wasn't necessary. The next morning the email gave a preliminary date for a skype interview for next Wednesday (much later than I hoped), but also mentioned how nervous the managers were about hiring someone they never met. I went from being on a high for having a possible chance to feeling so sad. It doesn't mean my chance is over as until they say no I feel I have a chance, but still, not a good note. I am hoping I can convince them through the skype that it is a good decision (and that's of course since I know I'll do a good job). I wrote an email back offering again to fly saying I would hate to lose the opportunity due to a flight, but I haven't gotten a response and it's a bit too late to fly now since I go back to work soon.
Another childcare centre said they'd get back to me next week if they still have a position I can pursue. A third childcare centre said they couldn't offer me an early interview as I requested one earlier than their deadline for applying, but said they would offer me a skype interview. Now the longer this takes, the longer it will take for a visa to get issued which I don't mind, but these places are looking for someone now.
On a good note, John got into the correct teaching test on August 13th. He was on standby and got in. So at least if a job offer comes through for me, he will have the correct results by the 26th of August - close to our deadline for the visa application, but again it's the job offer that's more important. Hopefully, we could get an extension if I had the job offer, but his results weren't back yet.
I'm just crossing my nervous legs and fingers and it's so tough being on a holiday without having access to my own internet and worrying if someone will write. We're supposed to be going to the country on Saturday for a week with no internet access. Obviously I'd have to get back into town if I will be having an interview by skype next Wednesday, but I still need to be able to check my mail in case other places reply as well.
I'm hoping one of these times I write, I will have secured a job offer and be able to move to New Zealand. Time is ticking on our visa and I can't imagine not being able to make it into NZ.
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Saturday, 30 July 2011
ok .... hypothetically
Well I've spent the past week spending I don't know how many hours a day sending my cv, rewriting to people who had given positive feedback and I made a few calls .... not many, but a few.
We have spent the past week discussing the student visa, but OH's writing score is 2 points below the mark to get into the teaching degree at the universities and he doesn't want to go under the one the university suggested since it's not a teaching degree, but would qualify him subject wise in one subject. I tried to suggest he switch out once we get settled or to retake the correct test which would also be the correct test for immigration anyways.
I'm more for going for the student visa since I can get a working visa out of it, but OH feels it's too much money to fork out and not worth it. He's also afraid we won't have enough money to show immigration. Apparently we would need to pay the 1st year fees of university (international fees) and he has to show 10000 per year the degree is so roughly another 30000 (if it's the 3 year degree) and then it's questionable how much money he has to show for me. We've called immigration two times and can't get an answer on what we should calculate for. I guess they don't really want to put a number on it and decide it individually, but we can't afford to pay the school fee and then not get the visa. We might just make the bare mark, but I think we'd make it. I even thought if I could go on a student visa and do the one year ECE degree which then qualifies me in the correct category this time, but then what will OH do for that year?
Putting aside the student visa for a bit, I did hear from two Early Childhood Centres. One wrote and asked me to send copies of my NZQA assessment and NZTC registration. I took that as a good sign, but maybe it's common they ask for all applicants. I scanned them and emailed them directly back. Then I decided to follow up with a phone call that I felt went well, but it wasn't this lady hiring. She did ask a lot of questions though which might be good. Apparently the area is in the middle of nowhere, but I said we'd be happy with that (which we would - we won't dare complain if we can get any offer), and it seems to have a great benefit package. She did ask when I could move as their teacher was leaving in August. Well that sure is a tricky question for me. I said possibly the end of August as I know that's how long our ITA has been extended to in order to give us more time. The tricky part is I already am a teacher in a job with 3 months notice I have to give. I am not sure they would really let me go with such short notice. The only part I might have on my side is if I get an answer if I get the job before I actually get the class I'm supposed to teach because I know my job would probably me rather not start teaching a class if there's a chance I leave in the middle, but then again they might not care. So I'd be at the mercy of my boss and would have to beg to leave. Of course I'd also try to see how long the employer would hold out, but it seems August was the date they were talking about. Of course this is all hypotetical. I got no indication they were seriously considering me. I did write in my letter that if I was a serious candidate and all it took was to meet me to make a decision I would fly there.
Now we're off on holidays tomorrow running the risk a job comes through asking me to fly there. I'm willing of course to do it if that's the deciding point, but of course then comes the worry how I get out of my contract here. I even started thinking (of course not seriously, but still it ran through my head in a panic), can they chase me out of the country if I just leave?
The other Early Childcare centre is better located - Wellington. They asked me to fill in an application pack which I received or saw in my mail today with an apology note it was late. Well I didn't know it was late as I'm sent my cv to so many places I can't keep track. I figured I'd read thoroughly up on them if they show an interest in interviewing me. Of course I've read up on the teaching curriculum since that's my area for any job I've applied for. So I sent the package back, again scanned in and emailed with a letter explaining why I would be good for their organisation. I wrote a reminder if I could hear from them during the week if I was a serious candidate I would gladly fly there, but I'd have to do it before I went back to work and I gave the date.
So there's lots of worries in this process - worries what if I do get called to go on an interview as I will be going by myself, what if I get the job how do I manage to tell my boss I've been given this ultimatum with the visa and hope he can understand and let me go, what if I do go and don't get the job the amount of money that was spent which could have been put towards the studying visa, etc, etc.
When OH and I first discussed the student visa the plan was I'd go in and ask my boss to take a leave of absence for one year in January or in worse case June. Then we started calculating and we're not sure we can show immigration we have enough funds. Like I said I know OH is also thinking the course is simply too much.
You know I even looked at Australia thinking what if I can get in there and later move to New Zealand even though NZ is where we want. But no, apparently there's only two choices on their application which doesn't allow you to go further and that was when it came to work experience. Again, I have the points, but there you must be in this category and primary school teachers are not it.
So we're off tomorrow for what is supposed to be a 12 day trip and I don't know whether to hope a job asks me to fly to NZ or not. I don't know if it's rude to and ask (that is if I'm asked to fly) if I'm a candidate that they want to hire and this is the deciding factor, because then I'll gladly do it, but if I'm just one in a bunch of applicants they already have and it's procedure then it's too much money to fork out for a last minute trip. I might not have to even worry about making this kind of decision - who knows.
By the time I go back to work any mails that come asking me to come for an interview just won't be possible to follow up on since I can't ask for time off work. Well I could, but I think I'll have to see if I can get OH to go for the student visa instead. Our other thought was ask tell my boss now that our plan for next summer is to visit NZ and since we are considering to live there, I want to look for a job. Then to ask permission if I found a job would he consider letting me out of my contract "early." This way he's being told a year in advance what we want to do and can have a heads up. Not sure. Either way I have to come up with something since I wrote a mail asking if he was working the days before work began in August and we have to figure out if I'm supposed to ask him anything or not.
I probably at this point need something to calm me down. I would say I don't think I've ever been this stressed, but that's a lie. Part of my nature makes me chase things down that I want and not give up until there's clearly no hope. Then if it doesn't go my way I get very frustrated. My grandmother told me I seem persistent and if you want to make it work, it'll work. Funny she used the word "persistent." She's the exact same way! I guess that word runs in the family.
We have spent the past week discussing the student visa, but OH's writing score is 2 points below the mark to get into the teaching degree at the universities and he doesn't want to go under the one the university suggested since it's not a teaching degree, but would qualify him subject wise in one subject. I tried to suggest he switch out once we get settled or to retake the correct test which would also be the correct test for immigration anyways.
I'm more for going for the student visa since I can get a working visa out of it, but OH feels it's too much money to fork out and not worth it. He's also afraid we won't have enough money to show immigration. Apparently we would need to pay the 1st year fees of university (international fees) and he has to show 10000 per year the degree is so roughly another 30000 (if it's the 3 year degree) and then it's questionable how much money he has to show for me. We've called immigration two times and can't get an answer on what we should calculate for. I guess they don't really want to put a number on it and decide it individually, but we can't afford to pay the school fee and then not get the visa. We might just make the bare mark, but I think we'd make it. I even thought if I could go on a student visa and do the one year ECE degree which then qualifies me in the correct category this time, but then what will OH do for that year?
Putting aside the student visa for a bit, I did hear from two Early Childhood Centres. One wrote and asked me to send copies of my NZQA assessment and NZTC registration. I took that as a good sign, but maybe it's common they ask for all applicants. I scanned them and emailed them directly back. Then I decided to follow up with a phone call that I felt went well, but it wasn't this lady hiring. She did ask a lot of questions though which might be good. Apparently the area is in the middle of nowhere, but I said we'd be happy with that (which we would - we won't dare complain if we can get any offer), and it seems to have a great benefit package. She did ask when I could move as their teacher was leaving in August. Well that sure is a tricky question for me. I said possibly the end of August as I know that's how long our ITA has been extended to in order to give us more time. The tricky part is I already am a teacher in a job with 3 months notice I have to give. I am not sure they would really let me go with such short notice. The only part I might have on my side is if I get an answer if I get the job before I actually get the class I'm supposed to teach because I know my job would probably me rather not start teaching a class if there's a chance I leave in the middle, but then again they might not care. So I'd be at the mercy of my boss and would have to beg to leave. Of course I'd also try to see how long the employer would hold out, but it seems August was the date they were talking about. Of course this is all hypotetical. I got no indication they were seriously considering me. I did write in my letter that if I was a serious candidate and all it took was to meet me to make a decision I would fly there.
Now we're off on holidays tomorrow running the risk a job comes through asking me to fly there. I'm willing of course to do it if that's the deciding point, but of course then comes the worry how I get out of my contract here. I even started thinking (of course not seriously, but still it ran through my head in a panic), can they chase me out of the country if I just leave?
The other Early Childcare centre is better located - Wellington. They asked me to fill in an application pack which I received or saw in my mail today with an apology note it was late. Well I didn't know it was late as I'm sent my cv to so many places I can't keep track. I figured I'd read thoroughly up on them if they show an interest in interviewing me. Of course I've read up on the teaching curriculum since that's my area for any job I've applied for. So I sent the package back, again scanned in and emailed with a letter explaining why I would be good for their organisation. I wrote a reminder if I could hear from them during the week if I was a serious candidate I would gladly fly there, but I'd have to do it before I went back to work and I gave the date.
So there's lots of worries in this process - worries what if I do get called to go on an interview as I will be going by myself, what if I get the job how do I manage to tell my boss I've been given this ultimatum with the visa and hope he can understand and let me go, what if I do go and don't get the job the amount of money that was spent which could have been put towards the studying visa, etc, etc.
When OH and I first discussed the student visa the plan was I'd go in and ask my boss to take a leave of absence for one year in January or in worse case June. Then we started calculating and we're not sure we can show immigration we have enough funds. Like I said I know OH is also thinking the course is simply too much.
You know I even looked at Australia thinking what if I can get in there and later move to New Zealand even though NZ is where we want. But no, apparently there's only two choices on their application which doesn't allow you to go further and that was when it came to work experience. Again, I have the points, but there you must be in this category and primary school teachers are not it.
So we're off tomorrow for what is supposed to be a 12 day trip and I don't know whether to hope a job asks me to fly to NZ or not. I don't know if it's rude to and ask (that is if I'm asked to fly) if I'm a candidate that they want to hire and this is the deciding factor, because then I'll gladly do it, but if I'm just one in a bunch of applicants they already have and it's procedure then it's too much money to fork out for a last minute trip. I might not have to even worry about making this kind of decision - who knows.
By the time I go back to work any mails that come asking me to come for an interview just won't be possible to follow up on since I can't ask for time off work. Well I could, but I think I'll have to see if I can get OH to go for the student visa instead. Our other thought was ask tell my boss now that our plan for next summer is to visit NZ and since we are considering to live there, I want to look for a job. Then to ask permission if I found a job would he consider letting me out of my contract "early." This way he's being told a year in advance what we want to do and can have a heads up. Not sure. Either way I have to come up with something since I wrote a mail asking if he was working the days before work began in August and we have to figure out if I'm supposed to ask him anything or not.
I probably at this point need something to calm me down. I would say I don't think I've ever been this stressed, but that's a lie. Part of my nature makes me chase things down that I want and not give up until there's clearly no hope. Then if it doesn't go my way I get very frustrated. My grandmother told me I seem persistent and if you want to make it work, it'll work. Funny she used the word "persistent." She's the exact same way! I guess that word runs in the family.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Well.... the inevitable happened
We received our case worker and it wasn't long before we were told our points don't match up. I do not have an Early Childhood degree or Early Childhood working experience, therefore, I cannot claim the bonus points and we don't have enough points without a job offer to get a visa to New Zealand. We are now being given until the end of August to obtain a job offer or get declined officially. I have sent my cv around the entire of New Zealand to those looking for teachers and those who are not in the hopes someone will want me. I'm following up on old leads explaining the situation. I've also offered to start work if need be immediately and I've no idea realistically how that will work with my current employer. I do plan to talk to them if I get an offer and I have a solution - doesn't mean they will like it, but any chance of employment gets us the visa and I can't turn it down.
The other option we are looking at right now is OH applying for a student visa which is going to cost a fortune. Not the visa itself is the cost, but having to prove we have the funds for living and pay the first year of university at international costs which are a fortune. We can do it, it's not fully impossible, but takes away our safety net of savings we have built up the past three and a half years. I would expect to get a job once there, dropping OH down to domestic fees for second year. The main problem with this is I would have to ask for time off in the middle of the year from my job, but I suppose I'm at least following my contract and they will get their minimum three months notice. We're just very worried since we can't get an answer from immigration how much we need to prove we actually have. OH is also very hesistant to apply for this visa at all since it's simply too much money.
I will keep applying for jobs in the meantime and hope someone wants to meet me before I have to go back to work, otherwise, our dream will have to lie on ice permanently it feels like. So I am so sad and this is all I can think of. I think we've exhausted every possible option we have and can afford.
The other option we are looking at right now is OH applying for a student visa which is going to cost a fortune. Not the visa itself is the cost, but having to prove we have the funds for living and pay the first year of university at international costs which are a fortune. We can do it, it's not fully impossible, but takes away our safety net of savings we have built up the past three and a half years. I would expect to get a job once there, dropping OH down to domestic fees for second year. The main problem with this is I would have to ask for time off in the middle of the year from my job, but I suppose I'm at least following my contract and they will get their minimum three months notice. We're just very worried since we can't get an answer from immigration how much we need to prove we actually have. OH is also very hesistant to apply for this visa at all since it's simply too much money.
I will keep applying for jobs in the meantime and hope someone wants to meet me before I have to go back to work, otherwise, our dream will have to lie on ice permanently it feels like. So I am so sad and this is all I can think of. I think we've exhausted every possible option we have and can afford.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Waiting for post
The same day we got the letter from INZ I called the police of my country of citizenship and I asked them how to go about getting the letter of good citizenship or whatever it is and they told me what I needed to do. I faxed them all the information and posted the original. Hopefully with the fax they start the process and when they get my originals they post out my form. OH will pick up the radiologist reports on Monday and we're off on our holidays on Friday so I'm not sure if my police report will arrive before then. Feels like it would be too good to be true, but I am hoping. We haven't heard from our case worker yet, but that's ok because I'd like to have these other forms in my hand so if she asks for more info we can send it all to her in one envelope. I would love to speed this process up, but again as long as they are still considering us and not denying us based on points, I'm happy to wait (or happy is an exaggeration, but I'm willing :p)
We had a night out with friends last night which was fun. Beautiful weather leaving their place at 3am! It was a beautiful evening and so hard to believe that was Stockholm. So it's a lazy day for us today - movie and no mails to be expecting :)
We had a night out with friends last night which was fun. Beautiful weather leaving their place at 3am! It was a beautiful evening and so hard to believe that was Stockholm. So it's a lazy day for us today - movie and no mails to be expecting :)
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Arggg
Ok so today after coming home from having coffee with a friend there is a letter from INZ on my table which my husband had opened. It says "further information required." It says we are missing two radiologist reports, but pointing out that in addition to the forms it's supposed to be a separate letter on the radiologists letterhead! It doesn't say that anywhere on the medical forms otherwise I would have requested that when I went there not five months later. In addition, I don't know the lab office will even do that for us, but we did fax them the request and hope that tomorrow the lady will be able to help us.
Then I needed to request a police certificate. Ok, that part was my fault. I thought I was only supposed to supply for countries I lived for more than 12 months in the past ten years. I didn't realise I was supposed to send one from my country of citizenship too. So spend a good 30 minutes trying to contact them and tell them my request. They were very nice so I faxed them my request and sent the original as well. I'm not sure we'll get this paper before we go on holidays next Friday, but I can always hope.
I'm finding it strange I even got assigned a CO if there was paperwork missing. I wonder if she's aware of these requests as well. In the meantime, I'm going to try get this lab paper to avoid any delay on our application.
If we get this visa, I'm never moving to another country again. It is very stressful not having phone contact to be able to ask questions directly and then email sometimes gets misunderstood and waiting days for a response is frustrating. Again, breath and patience - neither of which I have :p
Then I needed to request a police certificate. Ok, that part was my fault. I thought I was only supposed to supply for countries I lived for more than 12 months in the past ten years. I didn't realise I was supposed to send one from my country of citizenship too. So spend a good 30 minutes trying to contact them and tell them my request. They were very nice so I faxed them my request and sent the original as well. I'm not sure we'll get this paper before we go on holidays next Friday, but I can always hope.
I'm finding it strange I even got assigned a CO if there was paperwork missing. I wonder if she's aware of these requests as well. In the meantime, I'm going to try get this lab paper to avoid any delay on our application.
If we get this visa, I'm never moving to another country again. It is very stressful not having phone contact to be able to ask questions directly and then email sometimes gets misunderstood and waiting days for a response is frustrating. Again, breath and patience - neither of which I have :p
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
We have been assigned our CO!!!
Wow, now it's a bit more exciting. We've been assigned a CO who wrote to us explaining she is expecting to go through our application within the next ten days and to please allow her the 10 days before contacting her. After the ten days we are to feel free to write an email. Since we are going on holidays before the 10 working days we are taking every bit of paperwork we think we might be asked for. For example, more proof of our living together at the same address, original copy of my Teaching Council papers, original copy of OH's TOEFL results, joint bank account (although we only have a savings account together and it's me that does all the transfers into it, but both our names are at least on the savings account) and I will even print off copies of jobs I have applied for all showing interest in me, but stating that I need to be in New Zealand first and with the correct visa. Crossing our fingers now that anything else we need to provide can be asked for before we go on holidays so as not to hold up our application any longer.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
officially lodged
Our application is now officially lodged on the homepage for INZ. I just wonder how long it will take now to get a case officer to deal with our application. I'm genuinely hoping that we can get an answer before I have to go back to work in August. We are hoping we can move by December if we would be lucky enough to get a visa. In the meantime we're back from our first set of holidays and will be going on holidays again in a few weeks.
When we got home from our holidays yesterday OH's TOEFL papers had arrived finally and my papers from the Teaching Council also arrived so if we are now asked for originals we can send them off. So fingers still crossed for us - really hoping for something positive to come out of this whole process :)
When we got home from our holidays yesterday OH's TOEFL papers had arrived finally and my papers from the Teaching Council also arrived so if we are now asked for originals we can send them off. So fingers still crossed for us - really hoping for something positive to come out of this whole process :)
Friday, 8 July 2011
Nerve wrecking wait and we've only begun....
Of course after sending in our application, now the thoughts started going through my head "what happens if we get denied because I'm a primary school teacher and not an ECE teacher?" First we were hoping for permanent residency from the start. Now we're simply hoping to at least get the WTR visa since I know I can get a job without any trouble once in NZ. I sent my cv off for many jobs, but all reply with the same thing..... how great my cv looks and when I'm in NZ to contact them. The interest is big, but I can't get an offer from this side. Since my husband is studying, we are relying only on my salary so to give up my job and go for a holiday in the hopes to get a job and then apply for a visa isn't something we can do so to go there we do need to get approved for one of the types of visas so he can continue his studies at the domestic rate.
Well I know it's simply a waiting period and there isn't anything I can do about it ahead of time. I only hope I get the chance to get a case worker and show the replies I got from Early Childhood centres.
Well I know it's simply a waiting period and there isn't anything I can do about it ahead of time. I only hope I get the chance to get a case worker and show the replies I got from Early Childhood centres.
Friday, 1 July 2011
ITA officially sent in
Two papers or not, we took our chance and sent our ITA in anyway since we were going away on our holidays with proof printed out from TOEFL's homepage of OH's results and the date he ordered another copy. For my part I sent in email copies of my results from The Teaching Council so we are now officially waiting for a CO to be assigned and hopefully a positive answer shortly and hopefully the English paper that never arrived home before we went on holidays doesn't cause a problem.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Teaching Council approved!
Wohoo! I woke up this morning to an email saying my papers have been approved (finally) and they will be sending out the letter this week. Finally they are done and we're getting very close to being able to send in our entire package. The only thing is we're off on our holidays on Saturday and I don't think it this paper and OH's TOEFL paper will arrive before then so I guess we won't be sending our application off until the middle of July when we return home. I guess as long as both papers safely arrive, that's what counts more than me getting it sent off on the deadline I chose. We might even overnight the package when we do get it all together, but that isn't decided yet as here the post (in general) works really well and things get delivered pretty quickly anyway. So registered will probably work just fine.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
still waiting on two papers - the longest wait
Through this whole process I thought it was the waiting for immigration that should be difficult. I haven't even gotten to the waiting part for immigration because we're still waiting for OH's TOEFL paper result to come back and my Teaching Council registration to be finished. At least OH got in touch with Toefl who has agreed to send another copy to him at no additional charge today since it got sent from the States on the 13th of May. Who can believe the post can take that long? My auntie just sent me flip flops leaving the States last week and they've already arrived so I can't believe a paper can take this long. I'm beginning to question the postal system on this side since I also have a letter from within Sweden that should have arrived and didn't. Normally post here is next day delivery, max two days. We're heading off on our camping/hiking trip in Jylland, Denmark next Saturday so really really these papers need to arrive before our holiday so I can get it sent off. Otherwise, it'll be something I'm thinking about on our holiday and the first thing I'll be looking for when we get back from Denmark on the 15th of July. Doing lots of other things to keep myself busy, but of course this is the distraction I'm using to keep my mind off the other things. Really want things to be on our side or I should say my side since my husband is such a relaxed person anyway and doesn't get himself stressed at all compared to me. At least a lovely summer ahead of us with a camping/hiking trip in Denmark, some days back here in Sweden before we're off to Poland with some friends of ours and their lovely little girls whom I adore and who OH loves playing with too!
picture credit given to: http://leeweisong.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/holidays-courses-coming-up/
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Still waiting....and hoping....
With the last two papers to arrive, I come home each day hoping they have arrived, but of course they haven't. Our original goal was the end of May, first week in June. There is still hope, but I'm thinking with my luck they won't arrive for another few weeks. Deep down I was hoping if I got the papers sent off now, maybe, just maybe we could be picture from (30/05/2011)http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mind-my-money/200807/analyticalintuitive-thinking-part-iv-patience
assigned a CO and get an interview this summer holiday and know our answer. I go back to work teaching in August here, so would have been very nice knowing going back that I wouldn't have to be there an entire year. Of course I also need time to ask for a leave of absence which is my first plan so I can hold my benefits while moving.
I should probably add that immigration wrote a letter to the doctor's office explaining they are to release my records to me and that it is Australia that does not allow the records be released to their patients. The next work day the doctor's office called me and I went and picked up both of our medical records.
Monday, 23 May 2011
NZQA has finally arrived
I received my papers back from NZQA today. They have assessed my bachelor's to a level 7 - outcome: A bachelor degree at level 7 (360 credits). My master's was assessed to a level 8. Outcome. A qualifcation of level 8. (120 credits).
Comments: The Bachelor of Science degree contains core components of a New Zealand Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary Education).
Within the papers they typed up (keeping in mind, my original degree from the States is Elementary & Special Education beginning from pre-k -grade 6, respectively pre-k to grade 12), they mentioned that in NZ there is no initial teacher education qualifications in the area of special education. Specialist Education Teachers are, generally required to train first as teachers and then qualify in spcial education. So first they obtain a teaching qualification and then go into special education. So they didn't accept the special education part as being a qualified special ed. teacher as far as I can understand. But they also put "NZQA does, however, recognise that there are many components in your studies that are similiar to those taken in teacher education courses in NZ and has added a comment to your report that states you have core components of a NZ Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary Education) within the content of your qualification." I think that is really only confirming they agree my degree is as a primary school teacher?
Comments: The Bachelor of Science degree contains core components of a New Zealand Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary Education).
Within the papers they typed up (keeping in mind, my original degree from the States is Elementary & Special Education beginning from pre-k -grade 6, respectively pre-k to grade 12), they mentioned that in NZ there is no initial teacher education qualifications in the area of special education. Specialist Education Teachers are, generally required to train first as teachers and then qualify in spcial education. So first they obtain a teaching qualification and then go into special education. So they didn't accept the special education part as being a qualified special ed. teacher as far as I can understand. But they also put "NZQA does, however, recognise that there are many components in your studies that are similiar to those taken in teacher education courses in NZ and has added a comment to your report that states you have core components of a NZ Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary Education) within the content of your qualification." I think that is really only confirming they agree my degree is as a primary school teacher?
Now NZQA also attached a note saying that "from 1 Nov 2010, NZ qualified and registered primary teachers in ECE services can be counted for funding purposes. Overseas-trained teachers who have had their qualifications evaluated by NZQA as comparable to NZ primary qualification and who are then registered by NZTC are deemed to be NZ qualified adn registered primary teachers for the purposes of this initiative."
I am still waiting for my papers from the Teaching Council.
Now I wonder, with my degree now being assessed as a primary school teacher, yet I have applied under Early Childhood for immigration purposes, can immigration now take points away because on my application on question where I marked yes for:
"Are you claiming points for a qualification in one of the areas of absolute skills shortage?"
If that is the case will they still make a decision based on all my other paperwork sent in or can they send my case back to the pool even though I've already been sent an ITA from them and will be sending it back? The first time immigration denied me those points, but I sent a paper back from my school showing it does cover Early Childhood ages as well so it got accepted.
The new law in NZ allows primary school teachers to work in ECE so I am allowed to apply for jobs in ECE.
According to the Ministry of Education homepage they have written the following regarding primary school teachers. I suppose I can use this to help my case if it becomes a problem with immigration?
"The Government is committed to recognising the broad range of skills and knowledge primary qualified teachers can bring to early childhood education (ECE). These changes ensure that these teachers will be recognised through funding to ECE services.
The Government has set aside $19.5 million over four years to cover the additional cost of recognising New Zealand qualified and registered primary teachers in ECE services for funding purposes. From 1 November 2010, New Zealand qualified and registered primary teachers in ECE services can be counted for funding purposes. This means that registered primary teachers can be included in the staff hour count. An ECE service that employs a New Zealand qualified and registered primary teacher may be eligible for higher funding rates."
I know I can sit and wonder and until my ITA gets sent back to immigration, I won't know the definite answer.
__________________
Submitted EOI: 05/04/2011
EOI selected: 06/04/2011
EOI Decision Successful: 28/04/2011
Invitation to apply: arrived in post 29/04/2011
NZQA submitted: 12/04/2011
Submitted EOI: 05/04/2011
EOI selected: 06/04/2011
EOI Decision Successful: 28/04/2011
Invitation to apply: arrived in post 29/04/2011
NZQA submitted: 12/04/2011
NZQA received: 23/05/2011
Sunday, 22 May 2011
NZQA/passports/medical
Well my papers are on the way back from New Zealand and I'm expecting them to arrive this week. I've also written to the Teaching Council since I had received a mail saying they confirmed receiving my application the 10th of May, to see if there's any chance of getting my papers back sooner from them rather than the 4-6 weeks their standard letter says.
I picked up my I passport this past Friday. Another document that's been out of my hand for weeks since I needed to update my name change on it since getting married so I couldn't wait to get it back. I still hadn't received the phone call from the embassy when finished work to say it had arrived so I decided to go wait in the embassy until DHL arrived, but turned out when I got off the bus, I got the call from the embassy to say it had arrived! While there I even made sure to get a certified copy so I can send that off with our ITA application - didn't even need to pay for it!
The medical process itself was easy, painless and quick ..... until I told them I need my papers back to send in with my application. The doctor's office has refused saying they will post them directly to immigration as they "always" do. I knew they had no experience with NZ since first they had an address in Germany where they were going to post the medicals and second they kept mentioning Australia. I tried forwarding an email I got from immigration confirming it was me that was supposed to send back the medicals, but no that didn't seem to work. I wrote to immigration (in London) to explain the problem I am having getting my medicals back and they have now written a nice letter to the doctor/office explaining it's Australia where the papers are not to be returned to the patients, not NZ. They requested the doctor to get in touch with me and return my medicals. So tomorrow I'll see if the doctor's agrees. It's not a big worry in itself because in worse case senario, I can take my application when it's complete to the doctor's office and let them put the medicals in their and watch them post it. Still, I'd really like to just get them myself and post them.
I'm so excited and can't wait to get everything back so it can all be posted back and then the real waiting process begins!
I picked up my I passport this past Friday. Another document that's been out of my hand for weeks since I needed to update my name change on it since getting married so I couldn't wait to get it back. I still hadn't received the phone call from the embassy when finished work to say it had arrived so I decided to go wait in the embassy until DHL arrived, but turned out when I got off the bus, I got the call from the embassy to say it had arrived! While there I even made sure to get a certified copy so I can send that off with our ITA application - didn't even need to pay for it!
The medical process itself was easy, painless and quick ..... until I told them I need my papers back to send in with my application. The doctor's office has refused saying they will post them directly to immigration as they "always" do. I knew they had no experience with NZ since first they had an address in Germany where they were going to post the medicals and second they kept mentioning Australia. I tried forwarding an email I got from immigration confirming it was me that was supposed to send back the medicals, but no that didn't seem to work. I wrote to immigration (in London) to explain the problem I am having getting my medicals back and they have now written a nice letter to the doctor/office explaining it's Australia where the papers are not to be returned to the patients, not NZ. They requested the doctor to get in touch with me and return my medicals. So tomorrow I'll see if the doctor's agrees. It's not a big worry in itself because in worse case senario, I can take my application when it's complete to the doctor's office and let them put the medicals in their and watch them post it. Still, I'd really like to just get them myself and post them.
I'm so excited and can't wait to get everything back so it can all be posted back and then the real waiting process begins!
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Family tree
When we made our decision to apply for the EOI (Expression of Interest) to New Zealand, we told my grandmother (my dad's mom). She said you have cousins who live there. I thought no way - she can't be right. I never heard of anyone in our family being from New Zealand. She got in touch with my grandfather's sister and true enough I have distant cousins living in New Zealand. I, of course, got in touch with one of them (JF) and soon enough, one of the others got in touch with me (YF). I was so excited. First I love knowing my family heritage especially going so far back and second it is so nice to have some sort of connection to where we want to move to! Well just like I'd already heard about all New Zealanders they are both so friendly, offering advice, saying anything they can do to help to let them know, etc. They were all open arms and welcoming and now looking forward to meeting us. So now we have at least two and maybe up to 11 family members to visit there. There are I believe 9 of them, with children and grandchildren. I've had contact with two of them so far. Here I was all worried my story would sound crazy when I made the call to JF the first time. Of course though when I started dropping names, she knew who I was talking about.
Now let's see if I can get the story written down properly. My grandfather's great grandparents (W.F. & M.D.) were relations to my cousins now living in New Zealand (JF & YF).
W.F. & M.D. had 4 children, 3 who went to New Zealand (P, M & Mi) and one who stayed in Ireland (J). M was JF & YF's great grandmother and J was my great great grandfather. Confused yet? Well, it might not be a direct connection, but what a small world it is and we are connected.
Now let's see if I can get the story written down properly. My grandfather's great grandparents (W.F. & M.D.) were relations to my cousins now living in New Zealand (JF & YF).
W.F. & M.D. had 4 children, 3 who went to New Zealand (P, M & Mi) and one who stayed in Ireland (J). M was JF & YF's great grandmother and J was my great great grandfather. Confused yet? Well, it might not be a direct connection, but what a small world it is and we are connected.
picture from: davidandcarole.info
Monday, 16 May 2011
Feelings of....
First excitement as we got our EOI chosen the day after sending it in.
Disappointment as they told us I calculated the points wrong that I sent in and we would be put back in the pool. I have a teaching degree Elementary School pre-k to grade 6 and Special Education pre-k to grade 12, but I applied under the Early Childhood Category which is considered 0-5 years of age in NZ. My degree starts in the middle of that. I sent in a letter from my university saying my degree was pre-k, etc. to London Branch to the guy who was saying we would be put back in the pool. OH is studying to be a teacher so no points collected on his part.
Shock/excitement as I received an email saying thank you for the letter (from the university) and they were pleased to send us an ITA (application to apply).
Excitement as all papers were sent off to NZQA - decided to get one of my passports updated with my name after getting married. Didn't realise it would take a long time (or at least feels that way).
Impatience as the NZQA is really taking the 35 working days they state (shouldn't shock me, but it does).
Scared as I'm finding out many things about Early Childhood and how there's a risk my degree doesn't get approved under that category since it starts in the middle and not from birth.
Worried - what if it doesn't get approved under the Early Childhood Category from NZQA - what will immigration do?
More impatience as I wonder - as long as immigration doesn't deny us some sort of visa whether it be WTR or even better PR we'll be grateful - we're sure we can make it work.
Yeah! 16/05/2011 - NZQA has completed the evaluation, now I just need to wait for their quality check and for them to sign off and notify me. Soon we can get the ball rolling for real....
Disappointment as they told us I calculated the points wrong that I sent in and we would be put back in the pool. I have a teaching degree Elementary School pre-k to grade 6 and Special Education pre-k to grade 12, but I applied under the Early Childhood Category which is considered 0-5 years of age in NZ. My degree starts in the middle of that. I sent in a letter from my university saying my degree was pre-k, etc. to London Branch to the guy who was saying we would be put back in the pool. OH is studying to be a teacher so no points collected on his part.
Shock/excitement as I received an email saying thank you for the letter (from the university) and they were pleased to send us an ITA (application to apply).
Excitement as all papers were sent off to NZQA - decided to get one of my passports updated with my name after getting married. Didn't realise it would take a long time (or at least feels that way).
Impatience as the NZQA is really taking the 35 working days they state (shouldn't shock me, but it does).
Scared as I'm finding out many things about Early Childhood and how there's a risk my degree doesn't get approved under that category since it starts in the middle and not from birth.
Worried - what if it doesn't get approved under the Early Childhood Category from NZQA - what will immigration do?
More impatience as I wonder - as long as immigration doesn't deny us some sort of visa whether it be WTR or even better PR we'll be grateful - we're sure we can make it work.
Yeah! 16/05/2011 - NZQA has completed the evaluation, now I just need to wait for their quality check and for them to sign off and notify me. Soon we can get the ball rolling for real....
Dates of Importance
Submitted EOI: 5 April 2011
EOI selected on: 6 April 2011
EOI Decision Successful: 28 April 2011
Invitation to apply: arrived in post 29 April 2011
NZQA submitted: 12 April 2011
NZQA received back: 23 May 2011
Teaching Council submitted: 10 May 2011 (too bad I didn't know to send it away sooner)
Teaching Council received back: ??
Medical completed by principal applicant: 09 May 2011
Medical completed by partner: 17 May 2011
Medicals received back:23 May 2011
ITA submitted: goal end of May, beginning of June 2011
ITA received on INZ's side: 28 June 2011
Medical completed on INZ's side: 14 July 2011
Received email from CO officer: 19 July 2011
Received what was needed to attach to ITA: September 2011
Approved in Principle: October 13, 2011
EOI selected on: 6 April 2011
EOI Decision Successful: 28 April 2011
Invitation to apply: arrived in post 29 April 2011
NZQA submitted: 12 April 2011
NZQA received back: 23 May 2011
Teaching Council submitted: 10 May 2011 (too bad I didn't know to send it away sooner)
Teaching Council received back: ??
Medical completed by principal applicant: 09 May 2011
Medical completed by partner: 17 May 2011
Medicals received back:23 May 2011
ITA submitted: goal end of May, beginning of June 2011
ITA received on INZ's side: 28 June 2011
Medical completed on INZ's side: 14 July 2011
Received email from CO officer: 19 July 2011
Received what was needed to attach to ITA: September 2011
Approved in Principle: October 13, 2011
picture from: http://www.kunskapsbloggen.se/2010/04/09/veckans-datum-i-historien/
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