Singaporean couple looking to migrate

[furyoo]

Hi,

I came across this site after surfing around to find out more about migrating to New Zealand. Me and my fiancée are really keen on making the move to New Zealand.

In short, we're both engineers who have worked in our respective industries for two years. I'm a 28 year old chemical engineer, my fiancée a 26 year old mechanical engineer.

We recently met with a migration specialist based in Auckland who told us as we're not living together, our score is 110 each. His advice was for us to plan 6-9 months in advance, get a ticket to New Zealand and source for a job in person. He mentioned that 70% of his clients went through this route and was confident we'd both land a job since we're in the long term skill shortage pool. He also did mention that it was important to be in the country physically as a lot of job offers aren't advertised and can only be found out through a phone call (hence the homework before flying over). I believe I read somewhere on this site too that most jobs are by word of mouth.

We have no reason not to believe him, but we'd like to hear more opinions on this and also others' experience in migrating.

We've also read horror stories about how migrants from certain Asian countries fly into New Zealand and cannot land good jobs despite their qualifications. Do Singaporeans face the same problem? Both my fiancée and me graduated from National University of Singapore (recognized under the Washington Accord) and would like to know if there is a good recognition of our qualifications in the country. We're not worried about taking a pay cut etc, but we'd like to stick to our professions and are concerned about having to work in a different, if not worse, vocation.

On a lighter note, I'm a chemical engineer and I understand most of the jobs for me are inTaranaki, which I've not been before. How does it compare to say, Taupo?

[JandM]

Hello and welcome. I expect you will get answers from people in NZ when they wake up a bit later on.

Incidentally, most people on this forum would tell you you can well manage the visa process without paying out a large amount of money by using an agent.

[mikeandcaroline]

Welcome to the forum

[heathernz]

Hi there, we just came from Singapore! It is not hard to do the visa by yourselves. Lots of paperwork and medicals but it is manageable. Don't spend money on an agent. You need the money for everything here. Prices of most things are similar to Singapore.

I recommend coming with the Silver Fern Visa and see how much you like it here first before applying for PR. To be offered a job outside NZ, you need to be very good at what you do and there is a serious shortage of talents in that field, or just plain lucky. Many people take the plunge and come to NZ then look for a job - it is possible with some financial planning and open mind.

Taranaki is a nice place but it is like Lim Chu Kang (with extra rolling hills, ocean, rivers, and lakes) all over. 5 hours drive each way to either Auckland or Wellington.

At this point, I gather there is a lot of planning and preparation you will be doing. If I were at your stage, I would:
- learn up all the great wonderful recipes of yummy Singapore food
- network with engineers association, Linked in groups, etc. in NZ
- talk to people who have migrated and get a feel of their life story
- save plenty of money
- ask yourselves why do you want to migrate. it is a very big move but it can be a good one when you are well prepared.

[fayevalentine]

Hey Heather,
Where about are you at in NZ.

Hi there, we just came from Singapore! It is not hard to do the visa by yourselves. Lots of paperwork and medicals but it is manageable. Don't spend money on an agent. You need the money for everything here. Prices of most things are similar to Singapore.

I recommend coming with the Silver Fern Visa and see how much you like it here first before applying for PR. To be offered a job outside NZ, you need to be very good at what you do and there is a serious shortage of talents in that field, or just plain lucky. Many people take the plunge and come to NZ then look for a job - it is possible with some financial planning and open mind.

Taranaki is a nice place but it is like Lim Chu Kang (with extra rolling hills, ocean, rivers, and lakes) all over. 5 hours drive each way to either Auckland or Wellington.

At this point, I gather there is a lot of planning and preparation you will be doing. If I were at your stage, I would:
- learn up all the great wonderful recipes of yummy Singapore food
- network with engineers association, Linked in groups, etc. in NZ
- talk to people who have migrated and get a feel of their life story
- save plenty of money
- ask yourselves why do you want to migrate. it is a very big move but it can be a good one when you are well prepared.

[heathernz]

On the visa note, going through it ourselves gave us a deeper appreciation of the journey and reality of migration. Many times we faced frustrations, e.g., like going to the medical clinic 6 times over a few weeks to get everything in, and 4 times to the embassy in Ngee Ann City with the expensive ERP and parking, then there was the shipping of belongings, the many queries on things, the waiting for the visa, the expensive flight tickets, etc. It seems trivial now but during that time it was enough to make us think twice.

Of course, doing this together with your fiance is meaningful and you will find out things about each other that you've never known before... like the patience s/he has (or the lack of!), the problem-solving ability, the decision-making process, etc. It is all skills you will later need during your time in NZ.

Meanwhile, enjoy the journey!

[fayevalentine]

Hiya! We are a Couple from Singapore too! Came over to Wellington with a residence visa but without a job offer 5 months ago.
So far, we've been extremely blessed. Hubby found job within a month in and I just started work 1 month ago.

Definitely apply for the visa on your own. It is a tedious process of gathering information, certs and police checks but it is so worth it at the end

[furyoo]

Hi all. Thanks so much for your inputs. Faye (you must be a fan of Cowboy Bebop), I had also written to you and your hubby and corresponded with him a bit over email. It's very heartening to know that the process is doable, even on our own. It's going to be the start of a long journey for my fiancée and me, let's hope all works out well!

Btw, I never got to try this when I was in NZ last year, what the heck is Singaporean noodles!?

[fayevalentine]

Yes I am a fan of cowboy bebop. Best Jap anime for me

Good luck to you both and if you guys are coming over, we can meet up. Oh and Singaporean noodles are nothing Singaporean...

Hi all. Thanks so much for your inputs. Faye (you must be a fan of Cowboy Bebop), I had also written to you and your hubby and corresponded with him a bit over email. It's very heartening to know that the process is doable, even on our own. It's going to be the start of a long journey for my fiancée and me, let's hope all works out well!

Btw, I never got to try this when I was in NZ last year, what the heck is Singaporean noodles!?

[larysa]

Hi, just share our experience, me and my hubby landed in Christchurch from Singapore more than a month ago. My hubby got a job in Wellington thru SEEK website so we moved to Wellington. We applied the NZ residency by ourselves, not thru agent.