Hello all,
My name is Andrew. I am married, 32, from (and living in) the United Kingdom and have five years professional experience as a front-end developer. We have both spent time in NZ previously under the Working Holiday Visa.
My reason for posting this thread is to hopefully clarify our situation in regards to eligibility for eventual Residency in NZ with my wife under the LTSS of 'Web Developer'. I appreciate this sub-forum is about actual qualifications but it seems like the best fit for my question.
I have no formal qualifications, certainly not at degree level (though my wife does in Marketing & Advertising from the UK) but my understanding is that my five years experience can be 'converted' to an equivalent degree.
Based on this, I started to roughly calculate my points using the Points Calculator here https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/tools/points-indicator-smc-28aug but following a conversation with an immigration advisor it seems I was being a bit optimistic in my expectations around work experience being subsumed into a qualification.
It was explained to us that although my experience can be converted into an equivalent qualfication, this both negates the points you can then claim for work experience and also the actual points for the qualification itself. I do understand how the same work experience used for an equivalent qualification cannot be used as work experience points but I'm really confused by the converted qualification itself - it seems that although work experience can be converted, you then do not score points for the qualification - which seems to negate the point of having the conversion in the first place. It is this area in particular I am seeking clarification about. Can someone please explain how this area of equivalent qualifications works?
My calculations are largely hypothetical, assuming that by the time we apply for Residency the following will be true:
Age: 30pts
Skilled employment:
I've been offered Skilled Employment in New Zealand: 50pts
I've been offered work in an area of absolute skills shortage: 10pts
I've been offered work outside of Auckland: 30pts
Total: 90-120pts (depending on employment being in or out of Auckland)
I don't think this total, even at 120, is eligible for the Residency Visa. My wife scores better (140-170) as she has work experience (of around 1-2) years and a degree in Marketing so our understanding is that her situation is the more viable route to eventual Residency but I would like to understand more about my own position.
Thank you for your help!