Plan & Prepare

We talk a lot about planning and preparing in our business and that is because we believe those two things are the most important tools a migrant has in their toolkit. Having a clear and sensible plan, which covers your eligibility, the various visas you will need to apply for and then also takes account of any potential issues along the way, is your starting point. Within that plan you also need to build in some flexibility, because the rules can and do change, although usually for most skilled applicants those changes, don’t have a big impact.

Once the plan is in place and you know you can adapt where necessary, you need to commence the preparation phase and that involves understanding both what to prepare and when. Most of this is very logistical and administrative, but also crucial, because having all of the documentation in place, as well as understanding what needs to be done and when, during each step of the process, ensures that there are far fewer surprises or delays along the way.

While this is a topic I have written on many times, I thought it would be good to come back to it again, particularly in a world where Visa requirements change frequently and there is growing interest in the “Land of the Long White Cloud” from various parts of the world, particularly the US. Planning and preparing are always the first step we work through with anyone considering a move to New Zealand and so they deserve being talked about often.

Planning…

It might sound obvious, but having a clear understanding of your eligibility for a visa that is going to allow you to live in another country is pretty important. However, this step is often the one that is overlooked the most and by most applicants. People often assume a lot about the process, for example, that getting a job offer will get them Residence or that Work Visas all lead to a permanent stay in some way, shape or form. The reality is far different and there are so many things that can both support an application or derail it.

For anyone that approaches us, interested in the move, our first step is to ask questions - lots of them and usually in the form of a very detailed online questionnaire. That information then forms the basis for three things - 1) does that person (or family) meet the requirements to apply, 2) which visa options are going to work best for them and then 3) are they employable here, and will they be able to transition. You can have someone tick all of the boxes in the first part and second part, and none in the third. Eligibility is not just about whether you meet the rules, but also where you can actually make the move from a practical, financial and logistical perspective. Our initial assessment lays the groundwork for what follows.

A Failure To Plan

Planning your move, whilst being able to adapt to changes, is the single most effective tool you can have.

With all of that in mind, we then arrange to meet the applicant, usually online for either a brief discussion or a more detailed assessment - poking and prodding (nicely) to find out all the facts we need to know. There is a cost for that latter process usually, and that is because we are about to give that individual the benefit of decades of experience in charting out a course for their move.

This consultation process also lets us ask further questions to narrow down on the issues, explain the overall steps involved but also to reinforce with a potential applicant the risks and challenges. We don’t sell the dream here, because most applicants have already woken up with the realisation they want to move…we just bring some reality to that process, which we believe is a really important thing to do. We explain the issues, the challenges and the process to settle in, and that there will be some tough times in amongst all the good. We hope that gives our clients a better understanding of what to expect and how to face those challenges along the way.

It also pays to add some flexibility to your plan because as we mentioned earlier, the rules change. I can however also say that if you are a good quality, skilled and employable applicant those changes are likely to be a detour, rather than a cancellation. Having someone available to help you update your charts and reset the compass is incredibly useful and in many ways, why a lot of our clients chose to retain us.

With the plan set however, the next step is to work on preparing for each phase of the process and for some that might be an easier process than for others.

Preparing…

Preparing for the move entails a lot of different things, however our focus tends to be on the administrative side, whilst also encouraging applicants to think about all of the other logistics involved. The best way to illustrate how important preparation is, is by giving you an example of where someone hasn’t prepared and the process has come unstuck.

Imagine a family of four (mum, dad and two young children) who, after several years of discussion, have decided to make the move. The process requires one of the parents to secure a job offer in New Zealand and so that individual sets about securing that offer. They succeed and the employer sends through a proposal that will secure them temporary visas and residence - so far so good.

Ready, Set, Go.

With a plan hatched, getting yourself ready for the move and then preparing for each step that follows, comes next.

However, now imagine the employer wanting the applicant to secure their visas quickly, because they have a vacancy to fill and work to do. The applicant of course doesn’t have half of the information they need to apply and sets off trying to gather all of the missing pieces - some of which might take several weeks to obtain, before they can even click the submit button.

The employer gets twitchy and nervous…they really can’t wait much longer and they have other options for people who are ready to go now. The applicant is still working on those key items, but things take time. The employer pulls out and then rescinds the offer and goes with someone else - someone who had a plan and was prepared.

Sounds simple (and tragic) but it happens and it illustrates that understanding the order of events in this process is really important. Yes the job offer is crucial, but being able to apply quickly when the offer is received is just as important. I often consult with potential clients who tell me they will get back in touch when the job is in hand…I usually reply with “that might be too late”. Our goal in all of this is to get you ready before the offer lands, so that when it does, we can file the applications you need to file very swiftly. This keeps you happy but more importantly the employer engaged and on-board. Employers are less likely to pull out, if they know the application is at the very least, in process.

We recently assisted an American family to do just this. They engaged us in November 2024, we prepared them in the three months that followed, they landed the job at the end of that process, we quickly filed the application and only two weeks later, Resident Visas have been approved.

If there was ever an example of planning and preparation in practice, this was it.

Bringing It Together…

Now that we have the ingredients (planning and preparation), we can produce the perfect recipe for a successful migration - well almost. Bringing these two things together, and making them work properly requires one other element in the dish and that is the skills, knowledge and gut instinct an experienced adviser can offer. Having the ingredients is great, and having the recipe is better, but sometimes it just takes practice and experience to ensure your visa rises to the top.

Plan & Prepare

Have a good plan and then preparing well, wont make your migration process stress-free, but it helps!

A good adviser will know when to pull a client back on track, because it can be easy to go off the rails on the odd occasion (or to follow the metaphor, for some of the mix to escape the bowl).

We have no issues in telling our clients when we think they are doing just that, because if it means we might just rescue them from disaster, it is worth it. However for the most part clients appreciate that when they have paid for a service, they should obviously take advantage of it. Often is more about keeping the momentum going and ensuring that applicants follow the right steps in the process and in the right order.

Bringing together a good plan with some solid preparation is part science, part art and then part gut-feel, and when you have been doing this for as long as we have, that gut-feel can be invaluable.

Ready To Move Ahead?

For most clients, the decision to push ahead with a move to a new country (and a new life) takes time and can’t be rushed. You need to do your homework, establish the options available (planning) and then start working out how to make the process move forward (preparing). However doing this right, takes a bit more than just a website or a chat group.

The migration process is never linear and as much as it might look like an online form is about as complex as it gets, there are so many more moving parts to this process, that people often forget about. People are unique and not everyone will approach this process in the same way. That ‘minor’ medical issue you thought wouldn’t pop up, might be something that creates significant delays, think you have a job on the Green List, but dont meet the specific requirements, or you might not be able to document all of the elements of your application in exactly the right way.

There are a multitude of reasons for applications to go astray, but most of these are things that can and should be identified early on and then prepared for accordingly. Never underestimate how much value a good plan and some sound preparation can add to this most significant of undertakings.

And of course that is our specialty. We plan, prepare, plan again and then prepare again for our clients each and every day and we love it, because when the end result is a happy family, living their new life your little slice of the world…nothing compares.

Until next week…why not take a look at our more comprehensive guide, which covers a lot of the above detail.