JL

13 Jan 06 | Last modified 18 Mar 07 |

How different would it be, really, to live in New Zealand? A paradise, they all say. A beautiful country–with snow! And jobs! I watch them on television, those Pinoys in New Zealand. They could be in any European country, with snow.

Two officemates told me about the TV show, Pinoy Abroad, on channel 7 last Wednesday night. They’re featuring New Zealand, they said. It must be a sign.

Last year, channel 7 had another show on New Zealand, when they followed the Filipino mountaineers who were training there, in preparation for their 2007 Mount Everest climb. This time, they showed Filipinos actually living there. Lots of nurses, an office assistant, a politician, an architect. Most of the Filipinos are in Auckland. And there’s a small Rizal Reserve (at Wingate, Avondale, Auckland), courtesy of the Philippine Embassy and former President Estrada.

Last Friday, my Visa Officer told me that she “recommended my WTR Application for approval”. What does that mean? my wife asked. I’m not sure, I said, but it sounds positive. Processing was supposed to have taken two months, so I should have received my visa last November. Their new promise is end of February. Or earlier.

“Sayang,” said my friend, who’s now in Wellington. “There’s an immediate requirement in my company for a project manager.”

I would love to jump to the conclusion that we got it. But the wait has been too long and too agonizing for me to do any jumping. If I had my way, I should have been in Christchurch three months ago–that was the plan. I could have been there last December. That was the hope.

So I won’t believe anything until our passports are in our shaking hands, each with that infamous WTR visa.

Meanwhile, dozens of WTR Applicants have actually been approved and are now in New Zealand, mostly in Auckland. Some have jobs, some are still looking. Some have generously shared their experience at the Backpack New Zealand Forum on Immigration & Working.

Here are some things we learned from them for this final step:

1. Waiting Game

In most cases, if you have passed the interview and have been invited to apply for a Work To Residence visa, then all you have to do is to complete the application and wait.

For a lot of us, it has been a very long wait–so long that rumors about people who actually got a visa have been treated as urban legends. Always secondhand, thirdhand information. But in the last few months, one by one, members of our online forum began to share the news that they got their visa.

About ten people shared the key dates of their journey. Based on their experience, I came up with some averages. From interview to getting the WTR visa, it takes 194 days (six and half months). From submitting the WTR application to getting the visa, it takes 134 days (four and half months).

Applying this to my situation, I should have gotten my WTR visa somewhere between December 9 and 20, last year. Finally, a mathematical justification for my impatience.

2. Approval Letter

The WTR visa is a blue sticker, with specific details: valid for two (2) years, no restrictions on type of work, where you work or live, and no requirement for a return ticket.

When you receive your passports (via DHL), it will come with an approval letter, brochures, and info about your K.I.T. (keeping in touch) officer. Plus your bank certificates.

3. CFO Sticker

There have been questions whether the CFO sticker is required or not. One person even recommended not attending the one-day registration and orientation. But someone said that the immigration officer in our airport will look for this sticker before letting you board your plane. Another one said that Quantas Airways will give you a hefty 40-kilo baggage allowance if you have this sticker.

My opinion: get the sticker. This is proof that you are a migrant, if nothing else.

CFO stands of Commission on Filipinos Overseas, a government agency created in 1980 tasked to “promote the welfare and interests of Filipinos overseas”. They help Filipinos migrate to other countries. Therefore, before we buy our plane ticket and pack our luggage, we need to complete the CFO’s Pre-Departure Registration and Orientation Seminars:

“Filipino emigrants or those leaving the country to settle permanently abroad are required to register with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO). Part of its registration requirements is attendance in the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) to prepare them for settlement overseas.”

More:

“Country-specific pre-departure orientation seminars are conducted for departing Filipino emigrants to address their adjustment concerns in their destination countries…. CFO issues a counseling certificate as proof that the applicant has attended the guidance and counseling session.”

What you need to bring: passport with visa, approval letter, photocopies, a ball-point pen, and–just in case–ID photos.

4. Plane Ticket

Remember, it’s a one-way ticket.

Chantal Kreviazuk sang a memorable rendition of John Denver’s “Leaving On A Jet Plane” for the soundtrack of the 1998 Bruce Willis movie, Armageddon. For this step, you should also sing this song.

Four airlines offer flights from Manila to Auckland: Cathay Pacific (via Hongkong) and Qantas Airways (via Sydney, Singapore, or Hongkong), Singapore Airlines (via Singapore), Thai Airways (via Bangkok).

You can also go to Hongkong and get an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland.

Tickets will probably cost at about 500.00-650.00 USD pax. The trip can last anywhere between 12-26 hours, because of all the connecting flights.

5. Luggage

“All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go/I’m standin’ here outside your door/I hate to wake you up to say goodbye”

This is another topic with conflicting opinions: You can exceed by a few kilos, so long as your baggage meets the required size. You will pay 22.00 USD per kilo for excess baggage. Migrants are allowed an excess of 10 kilos. Airlines allows a maximum of 30 kilos, even if the stated limit is only 20 kilos.

In my case, I don’t plan on bringing a lot of things there at the beginning, because I plan to stay at cheap places, lugging my luggage. The lighter the better. 20 kilos is more than enough.

What you must bring to New Zealand:

- sweatshirts, long sleeves
- sandals, running shoes, nice shoes (for interviews)
- lots of sun block lotion
- pair of shades
- toothbrush, toothpaste
- nail cutter
- ear buds, cotton
- towels
- maintenance drugs or medication
- medical kit
- driver’s license
- 1×1, 2×2 photos
- original documents
- photocopies of your documents (size A4)
- CDs of my personal data files
- stationary supplies
- family photos
- contact numbers

6. Money and Banking

Everyone recommends ASB Bank, a very old bank, like our own BPI. Auckland Savings Bank, as it was previously named, was established in 1847. It is now completely owned by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. ASB is part of the Cirrus network, which is available in most ATM networks in Metro Manila.

You need 500.00 NZD to open a bank account. You do not need a permanent address to open a bank account. Credit cards are hard to get in New Zealand (ASB requires a 5,000.00 NZD deposit).

Everyone also recommends bringing New Zealand dollars instead of US dollars, to save on the currency conversion.

7. Mobile Phones

You will need two (2) mobiles phones. Dual band phones will work in New Zealand. One phone is for your Globe with international roaming, and the second phone is for a Vodafone Prepay SIM pack.

Do not get the Telecom SIM pack. Telecom does not allow text messaging to the Philippines.

Here’s how it works: Send text messages to the Philippines with the Vodafone, at 0.20 NZD per text message (about 8.00 PHP). Then receive text messages from the Philippines with the Globe phone, at 1.00 PHP per text message.

Your also need your Vodafone for your job hunting. Prospective employers will need to contact you on your Vodafone number.

8. PR Visa

Once you land in New Zealand, you have one goal: get your Permanent Resident visa.

First, you need to get a permanent address, so your KIT officer can update your profile in the NZIS database. Then you need a permanent job (ongoing skilled employment), not contractual work.

The approval letter states: “Once you are established in ongoing skilled employment for a period of at least three months you must let NZIS know. If your employment meets the criteria for Skilled Employment you will have demonstrated an ability to settle in and contribute to New Zealand and will have your application for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category approved. You do not need to wait for two years before having your residence application reassessed.”

An “ongoing skilled employment” needs proof:

- A letter advising the NZIS that you are in ongoing skilled employment and requesting that you be granted residence.

- A letter from your employer. This letter should confirm that you are employed by the firm, that your employment is not subject to any form of probationary period. It should also provide contact details and the physical address of your workplace.

- An employment contact.

- A job description.

- Pay slips for the last 3 months of your employment or equivalent evidence.

- A summary of your earnings in New Zealand from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for the last two years.

SALAMAT

Most of the information above was posted in the Backpack New Zealand Forum by snooze, corex, jpe, and kidra_tristal. I thank them for being generous with their experience. I hope to meet them one day.

I would also like to mention the names other forum members who have been helpful: allan, cathey, ella, han, jmpa3cio, jvic59, Kapamilya, lucie, parvo, rainman, romlet, tolitz, tslacsamana, vdycong. Magkita-kita tayo sa Aotearoa.