Armed robbery - 19 March 2018 - Catalyst and final drawback making the answer a big YES to moving and leaving a country we love but don't see a future in.
Sorting out temp licenses etc and going on 2week leave.
Starting discussion and research on Canada -
After research, our points have dropped to about 350 with the EE pool being a min of 430 abouit for CRS points to get picked and get an ITA.
We, therefore, turn our attention to New Zealand (which wife and I agree why didn't we think about it in the first place) as we have 2 family friends that are in NZ now.
I am also visiting them in any case in June for a holiday to NZ so decided its a good time to also try and see some people.
Immediate residency applications are at a point level of 160 points, and we only come in at 130 points. We can obtain another 50 points for a job offer, another 5 points once living there for more then 2 years and another 20 points if working outside major areas.
We are therefore comfortable that once we there we can apply for residency and not have to return once our work visas expire.
So first step to looking to leave for any country is to get documents in place.
Checklist
Passports - DONE
ID's - DONE
unabridged birth certificates - DONE
unabridged marriage certificate - Not done - stupid DAH cant find the BI-30 form. So got a copy from our church that married us and hopefully that will resolve it)
Police clearance - DONE
Education Verifications - 1 DONE
Offical Start is thus
20 April
Applied for marriage certificates, unabridged birth certificates, passports, ID's (as they were stolen).
Left to do are sons and wife passport as they have to be physically present.
Police clearance once we have word that all is good to go.
Apply for visitors VISA to go visit friends with potential one or two interviews lined up.
Once visa approved I am heading over for 2weeks to NZ either in June or July.
COST RECORD
UPDATED 6 December 2018
Certificates (R75 per marriage/birth certificate) x 3 - R225
Passports (R600 for adult maxi and R400 for son) - R1600
In NZ professional CV and cover letter agency - $300 (R2700 out of the bank)
Toll Fees, Petrol etc to fetch passport -R500
Prelim flight book for NZ visit -R19,000 - I am fortunate enough to have friends over there that will lodge me for the 2weeks and allow me to use of their car)
So total cost for NZ visit in June was about R25,000
R42,000 paid for the shortfall on car settlement
VISA application fee's - R3,500
Passport verification Fee - R505
Agent Fees - R15,000
My Medicals - R3,000
Wife Police Clearance - R700
Wife medicals - R3,000
Son's Medical - R1,000
One way ticket to Wellington - R11,500
Doggies shots and chips - R1,900
First months living expenses - R20,000 (roughly $2,000, split to about $1,400 for airbnb and the rest food, train tickets, etc)
Rental house deposit, first-week rent, bond and letting (R34,400) fee - $3430
NZ driver license conversion - R250 ($25) but you can drive with your SA licence for up to a year as long as its valid
AA applications - R890 ($89)
Wife Visa fee's - R3,500
Son's Visa Fee's - R2,000
TALLY - R173, 260
*car rentals etc not added as it would work the same out as our car payments so irrelevant (no extra cost)
* have started buying some new stuff for the rental house (furniture, linen etc) but its more replacement so not part of immigration cost - roughly R30,000
Upcoming immediate future expenses
Wife degree verification - $1,300
Planned expenses
R50,000 - Dogs Relocation costs - R25,000 SA side for the transport and vet seal. 2,500 NZD on NZ side for 10 day quarantine
R30,000 - Family Airticket to NZ
R40,000 - Permanent residence applications
R3,500 IELTS test for me
R3,500IELTS test for my wife
To do:
Sell car - DONE
Sell Bike - 50% DONE
Sell house - in the market
Pack - 90% done
Topic: Life in New Zealand - The move has been made... (Read 102132 times)
