Visa advice for emigrating civil engineer

[markgrange]

Hi,

I'm from the UK and am considering emigrating to NZ on a temporary basis, because I cant get a job in the UK and Uk and I love watersports .
I have recently graduated in civil engineering and believe this is a sought after profession in NZ due to the Christchurch earthquakes, this has been comfirmed by working professionals within NZ, current advice is they wouldnt go through the visa process but I would be OK if I "turn up at the offices"!!.

However in my case I think its impossible, I went back to uni as a mature student and I'm now 34 which is beyond the age limit for a working holiday visa!!
The requirements for a temporary work visa are a job offer from an employer, this would be impossible in the Uk and I dont know about NZ, are there any alternatives ??. Therefore are age exceptions ever granted for a working holiday visa or are there alternatives to an offer from an employer for a temporary working visa??

Another approach I have considered is to work as a tradesman (I'm an ex-bricklayer) enjoy the environment whilst I look for a civil engineering position but again I would require an offer from an employer and are you allowed to change jobs during your visa period??

Any advice will be gratefully recieved

Mark

[Manks]

Have a look at the Silver Fern visa that will allow you entry to NZ for up to 9 months to look for skilled work, then once you find work, allows you to get a Silver Fern practical experience visa to allow you to work in that job for up to two years.

There is a strict limit of 300 places per year and the applications normally fill up with about 30 minutes of opening (this year it opens at 10.00am (NZ time I think) on 27 April.

To be eligible you must be outside of New Zealand, be aged between 20 and 35 - so you fit into this category and may have a second chance next year if you miss out this year.

Once you've done two years on a Silver Fern visa, it's likely you'll have enough points to apply for Residence via the SMC route, or gain another work visa, should you wish to stay.

[ralf-nz]

There are several of us who did it like this: Apply from overseas here in NZ and get contacts. Most often in our sector employers insist on personal job interviews. So you come on a tourist visa and do these interviews, and a general recce along. If successful with a job offer you then apply for a work visa (BTW they all are temporary - often for two years) which is generally granted within a couple of weeks. Afterwards you can apply for permanent residence at your leisure.

[JandM]

Also, have a look at the BUNAC IEP visa - it's like a working holiday visa, but one which as a UK citizen you can get up to age 35. http://www.bunac.org/uk/worknewzealand/eligibility.aspx This would allow you to turn up at the door for ANY job in NZ, start work legally next day, then put in for Residence when you've secured the offer of a full-time skilled job.

[benandclare]

Welcome along Mark

[lothie]

Hi Mark - I am a civil engineer by education, environmental engineer in practice. I have lodged my ITA with a job offer. I did all of my job searching from the US. I wouldn't say it's impossible since I was able to do it. Now if I could just get that blue sticker....

[markgrange]

To ralf-nz
I sneaked a peek at your profile and see you are a civil engineer therefore can I pick your brains ?

Thanks for the info, building up contacts from the UK is the ideal route, but as a recent graduate with some experience whenever I contact a consultant in the UK I get no response. I have so far registered an interestwith companies but recieved no response, in contrast I have recieved advice from the geotechnical director of Beca who suggested I could readily find an entry level role but did not offer me a job:-(. Its back to the women scientists (HR) once I know about visa issues; I am willing to pay for my visa/flight).I hope the job offer will be the easy part!!

Do you mind if I ask your advice:
-what jobs should I befocusing on, I would be happy designing foundations and undertaking geotechnical site investigation for the rest of my life, but do many positions exist ?
-I am aware of index NZ but are there other consultancies and/or contractors that specialise in geotechnical engineering.
- I have also undertaken postgraduate study in Maritime Civil Engineering but I think thats a dream too far :-)

Any advice will be gratefully recieved

Mark

[ralf-nz]

When I was in this (similar) situation I have not contacted so much people in Europe (and UK) but more directly in NZ. So I looked at all those web sites down here; in particular seek NZ but also newspapers http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/nz.htm . Most of my contacts were various job agencies all over the country but also some (larger) companies.

What is about your degree? It is not necessary for working as an engineer but probably necessary for you to get enough points should you go via the skilled category.

Ah yes, check our IPENZ web site with comprehensive information especially here http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/employment/

[markgrange]

Hi all,

So I have spoke to a couple of companies who are keen to employ civil engineers who are in nz, but no job offer whilst I am still in the UK. This has given me the confidence to apply for a BUNAC Work Exchange Visa which entitles me to 12 months. So assuming all goes well in nz and I want to apply for a residence visa whilst in nz under the skilled migrant category how long does this process take ?? Say I decide to apply with 6 months remaining on my work exchange visa would the residence visa be granted before I had to leave nz ??

I've tried reading the guidance but it makes my head spin and says nothing about timescales.

Thanks

[JandM]

Nobody can predict this exactly. It depends on too many variables within the INZ system. If you have an application in, your existing visa is very near to running out, and they don't think you can be dealt with in time, they will normally tell you to apply for a work visa to cover the hiatus - but they do try very hard to sort things, as long as there isn't some difficulty like a doubt over the employer or the medical.