Hi all! This is my first post here, so I'd describe all from the start. Sorry for that.
Before starting the application process both me and my wife firstly we've made the whole process of NZQA certification. We both have been assessed for NZQA Level 7 (Bachelor degree).
After sending an EOI on 13th June of 2012, my Application has been selected with 125 points without Job offer on 3rd October 2012.
An ITA was received 22nd October of 2012.
We sent all required papers to London branch 17th January 2013 and the application was registered 21st January of 2013.
Health certificate has registration date 23th January of 2013. Since originally we're not from Argentina (our current country of residence) in March we've been requested to send Police certificates from other countries we're citizens of. The request has been made by Query Manager, not the CO. We successfully sent them 3rd April 2013 and since then my application is in Pending state. No further communications has been received from INZ since then.
I'd like to explain that we've prepared everything with NZQA beforehand because 700 dollars doesn't change anything but I didn't wanted to have any obstacles later during the SMC application process.
This is one part of the story. The second part is as follows. While we were doing all this, we've decided to go and see personally how is the life in NZ before sending all papers. It was in August of 2012. We've been to Australia before and my wife loved it but I didn't liked it so much. Since I have a very good income and a good job which would be a real shame to loose for nothing, before to make a final decision we've decided that firstly my wife will stay alone in NZ. Meanwhile I'll be supporting her from Argentina whether she decide to stay or return. She traveled to NZ in September of 2012. Almost immediately she received a skilled job offer with the help of HR contacts we made before from here. So in October of 2012 she already had her Work visa approved until the November of 2015.
I've decided to stay in our country a little bit more because of three reasons:
1. I've been supporting her financially since the NZ appeared to be expensive and pretty hard to settle down at start.
2. We've been transferring our accounts to NZ which is not easy to do since lately the Argentinean Govt. made any emigration process a little bit harder.
3. I had a job projects to finish in order to not loose money and quit my job without problems.
What we have in NZ already: savings and credit accounts with more than enough money initially required by INZ, gold credit cards, premium cars and a rented not shared with anyone house with a contract for two years in a good kiwi neighborhood. So I don't think there's any problem related to financial or settling issues. My wife pays all taxes, and has a full-time job contract.
Since we've sent and paid for the SMC application already I don't want to apply as a secondary applicant for her Work visa. My idea was to go there, take some time to look around and find a job that suits me. I have my savings that allow me to do all without rush. The problem is that no one contacted me yet. Until September 2013 I didn't even know if I have a CO assigned. I sent them mails before saying that if there're any updates they free to contact me anytime. No one responded to any of four mails sent. My wife called to INZ and they said that my application is already assigned to a CO and he/she will contact me in the case if they'd need something from us. It was two months ago. Almost ten months have passed since application lodgment.
So my question is: how should we proceed? Should I go there on visitors visa and wait for a decision? Apply for my wife's Work visa? Which seems a little bit ridiculous since I've already sent my own SMC application. Or just wait quietly? We have all set to move there but there's no contact from CO.
I have some kiwi friends who run their business' and two of them have offered send me a Letter with a Job offer. But it would be like cheating which I don't want to do. To be sincere, I just want to find a job by myself without any favors from anyone. I'm sending CVs and contacting firms from my country but it would be much easier to do find a job once I'm there. That's pretty much the whole story.
Sorry for so much info. It could be a little bit confusing because I've tried to explain it all in one post and also been writing in rush. Ask any questions if something isn't clear. I'd be happy to explain anything.
Looking forward for your answers.
Thanks in advance!