Immigration!

[kathy1]

do you have family over there or is your family in the states? i really wish you alot of luck in the move over there.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by kathy1

do you have family over there or is your family in the states? i really wish you alot of luck in the move over there.

Nope, just good friends. And they're better than family often times. My family was seemingly born for adversity.

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

We both want a slower way of life...where the focus isn't gimme gimme gimme...my my my...now now now...as America is. We're a spoiled, lucky nation compared to the rest of the world. I don't want my life to revolve around my job either. New Zealand is modernizing, yes, but its totally opposite of the States. It's not better...it's just different.

PS...plus NZ has some really great beers!

Congrats! However, I knew someone who moved to NZ and then returned to the New York area. The main reason given was that the cost of living was too high- and this is someone who came from NYC! . So if you're looking for a cheaper way of life, I am surprised that you would find it in NZ.

[kathy1]

what does your family think about you moving?

[Stew_Matthews]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

my new wife and I just filled out our immigration papers to move to New Zealand! You have to have a minimum of 100 points to even apply. We had 115 and thats without job offers! (We would have 165 points if we both had work offered)...so keeping my fingers crossed that we get in!

Anyone else moved to another country and had difficulties...? Or complete ease?

~brandon~

Good luck Brandon - I guess the key is to find work now to boost your points - you need to check out the US firms who have business interests there.

I emigrated in January from the UK to the US and hold permanent resident status (green card). I don't intend to go the whole way and secure US citizenship though they may grant me that in time. I originally applied on the basis of having a family member (my only family) resident in the US and that was 6 years ago. That was a waste of time and I wouldn't recommend it. I reached an agreement with US authorities about 4 years ago that in addition to owning a home in the US, if I deposited a sum of money in a US bank account I could stay in the US for up to 6 months a year (I think the limit was 2 months then). About two years ago I applied for permanent residence in the US on employment grounds. That was successful on the basis of being a civil engineer and holding a PHd (they did make me wait until January this year when the PHd was awarded). Marriage isn't really an option for the US or UK unless you can demonstrate that you have been 'together' for 2 years -(the US is less strict than the UK) it is part of both countries attempts to tackle 'marriages of convenience' - otherwise I might have tried that

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by Stew_Matthews

Good luck Brandon - I guess the key is to find work now to boost your points - you need to check out the US firms who have business interests there.

I emigrated in January from the UK to the US and hold permanent resident status (green card). I don't intend to go the whole way and secure US citizenship though they may grant me that in time. I originally applied on the basis of having a family member (my only family) resident in the US and that was 6 years ago. That was a waste of time and I wouldn't recommend it. I reached an agreement with US authorities about 4 years ago that in addition to owning a home in the US, if I deposited a sum of money in a US bank account I could stay in the US for up to 6 months a year (I think the limit was 2 months then). About two years ago I applied for permanent residence in the US on employment grounds. That was successful on the basis of being a civil engineer and holding a PHd (they did make me wait until January this year when the PHd was awarded). Marriage isn't really an option for the US or UK unless you can demonstrate that you have been 'together' for 2 years -(the US is less strict than the UK) it is part of both countries attempts to tackle 'marriages of convenience' - otherwise I might have tried that

Wow. Yeah I've heard it's a bitch to migrate to the USA. Glad you got in though, if thats what you wanted to do! =)

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by kathy1

what does your family think about you moving?

My family (brother and sister) are of the mind...if it makes you happy and its what you want for your life, then go for it. My mother--dont know what she thinks, not really concerned with it either. I wouldnt know about what the rest of the family thinks. We dont really keep in contact. Kinda sad. For example...out of the 70+ people at our wedding only 3 of them were MY family members.

[kathy1]

will you still be chatting on here in new zealand?

[kathy1]

what about concerts does anybody ever play over there? sorry about all the questions if you are tired of answering them i will stop asking them. please let me know either way.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by kathy1

will you still be chatting on here in new zealand?

Its all good Kath. Umm...I was on here every so often when I was in NZ before...I dont see that changing if I move there. They DO have internet, ya know! hahaha

They don't get a lot of shows...no. U2 came to play 2 nights in Auckland in 2006 when I was there and I think practically the whole country went to see them play. It was a big deal. People taking time off work, etc.

[Stew_Matthews]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

Wow. Yeah I've heard it's a bitch to migrate to the USA. Glad you got in though, if thats what you wanted to do! =)

Yeah it takes a long time and requires you to fill in loads of forms - thank god I speak English!

Other than China, I can't think of a better place to live and work than the US.

[skcin]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

We both want to be out of Florida...we were considering Tennessee..cheaper to live and a slower way of life (we're two old people in young bodies!).

You could just move into a retirement community & save yourself a lot of time, money & aggravation.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by skcin

You could just move into a retirement community & save yourself a lot of time, money & aggravation.

Well that sounds great...but I'm not quite ready to settle into a life that revolves around the excitement of BINGO! on Wednesday nights.

[rubytuesday]

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

Its all good Kath. Umm...I was on here every so often when I was in NZ before...I dont see that changing if I move there. They DO have internet, ya know! hahaha

They don't get a lot of shows...no. U2 came to play 2 nights in Auckland in 2006 when I was there and I think practically the whole country went to see them play. It was a big deal. People taking time off work, etc.

That's cool that your going. It wouldn't be a slower way of life if it was a part that all the big acts came to anyway. You can check out all the local acts too.

It should be cheaper there than in the US. I don't know why someone from new york would find it more expensive. Unless there was something to do with the market crash that caused a lot of New Zealanders to leave but that wouldn't be relevant now.

[mylittledemon]

Originally Posted by rubytuesday

That's cool that your going. It wouldn't be a slower way of life if it was a part that all the big acts came to anyway. You can check out all the local acts too.

It should be cheaper there than in the US. I don't know why someone from new york would find it more expensive. Unless there was something to do with the market crash that caused a lot of New Zealanders to leave but that wouldn't be relevant now.

Well NZ IS more expensive. If you are earning foreign currency and coverting it to NZ $, then you are ok. For example...here in town I can get two Jack and Cokes at a bar for $6. In NZ you'd pay $7-$8 for one. McDonalds value meals in NZ are nearly 1/3 more than what they are here. DVDs and CDs are about double what they cost in the US. Housing isn't cheap...especially in a city like Wellington.