The Best Laid Plans
I have been in the immigration industry for 16 years (if my memory serves me correctly) and over that time have helped thousands of people make the move to New Zealand - most of them permanently. I have travelled extensively across Asia, Africa and Europe to meet with would-be migrants, experiencing their worlds and helping them to carve out a new life in our little patch of paradise at the bottom of the earth (or middle-earth as some prefer to call it).
Over that time and through all of those applications, there are a few things that have become very obvious to me, but perhaps not so obvious to those contemplating embarking on the same journey. Of all those things, one word sticks out and that is ‘planning’.
I am still surprised, even in this age of unbridled access to vast sources of information, how ill-prepared many potential migrants can be. I sometimes wonder if it is the sheer volume of information that adds to that lack of preparedness. Sometimes too much information can be a bad thing and there is no shortage of absolute rubbish out there when it comes to the migration process. Often well-intentioned advice from those who have made the move can lead future applicants down a dangerous path. Everyone’s migration journey will be different and although the Visas are the same and the rules are the same, every person brings a unique and different twist to the same application process.
When I counsel prospective migrants on their plans to move, the word I continually repeat (perhaps too often) is that to be successful you have to have a plan. It will be a plan that adjusts as you go, but the start, middle and end-points are always the same. Build in to that plan some flexibility, realistic expectiations and a health dose of good advice and your chances of success improve substantially.
Here are some of my top tips when planning your move…
Start with the basics - never assume that the internet is going to give you the answer to whether you qualify for a Visa. If you want to make the move to New Zealand, the first step before you spend any significant time or effort on the project is to establish if you qualify and how. Don’t be afraid to open your wallet for this process. There are plenty of “free assessments” out there, but would you really want to scrimp on an assessment of whether you and your family can live in another country? Get good advice and be prepared to pay for it.
Establish a budget - moving countries is no small exercise and can include a number of costs. From shipping across the beloved family pet to paying the Government for the various pieces of paper you will need, the costs can add up. As part of your initial assessment a good adviser will give you a broad outline of what your costs will be. Work out if you can afford to do this and make sure you have a contingency.
Research your destination - now that you know you qualify and you can afford the move, spend a little time finding out about the place you will be moving to. You wont get the full picture but ask around (particularly friends who are already here) and be prepared for the good and the not-so good news stories. Be realistic about the lifestyle you will achieve and the fact that it takes time to adapt and integrate in to your new surroundings.
Be flexible with timeframes - the Visa process is never a fixed in time process and things can take longer than planned for a variety of reasons. There are some things you can control and therefore plan around in terms of timing and there are plenty you can’t. Accept it and work with it as best you can. Often your preferred timeframe to move will be dictated by when you secure a job or the Visa process - have a goal but be prepared to shift the post occassionally.
Stay focussed on the goal - now that you are underway and as the process unfolds, the realities and challenges of the move will start to become apparent. For many the dream of moving to New Zealand is a little different to the reality. No matter how tough it gets, stay focussed on the goal and the reasons why you decided to do this in the first place. For many it will be necessity for others it will be lifestyle - whatever the reason, write it down, keep it in your wallet and remind yourself every now and then.
Make it stick - often once the process is complete, Residence approved and your favourite chair has arrived by container, the hardest work begins. There is often a ‘honey-moon’ phase with any move where its a little like being on holiday. Then the routine sets in and you start to remember your old life in your old home - it is easy for feelings of being homesick to kick in. It’s okay, its normal. The trick is to keep busy and keep exploring this new life. Meet new people, socialise, attend sports events, get stuck in to your new job or just go exploring. Eventually your brain and your body settle in to your new surroundings and New Zealand does indeed become home.
Next to getting married, buying a house or having your first child, migrating is one of the biggest things you can do in life and sometimes I wonder if people appreciate that enough. Whenever I am discussing a potential move with a client, I am always quick to remind them of this because the more you consider it upfront, the less of a surprise it is when the process becomes real. Develop a good plan, be prepared and a world of opportunity and adventure awaits you.
If you would like some help with planning your move, get in touch and we can draw up a good set of blueprints for your move to New Zealand.
