How much can an agent help you to emigrate?

[Elf]

Me again.

We're planning on moving to NZ.

My main concern at this moment is all the forms you have to fill in. You know how full life is with children, just living your normal life, without trying to sort out all the paperwork when you are exhausted in the evenings.

My question is, how much could anyone help with this anyway because surely only we can get photos done, get things certified etc. Or not?

Are there people out there who can take this hideousness off our hands, for a price of course?

[chloeb2002]

ello, i havent used an agency as such. i did consult a migration agent on our last trip but they will only do the immigration side of stuff. i think if you send them origingals they will ceryify etc. photos obviously need to be done by you..very expensive tho for the sake of an evening or two on the pc!

[sandcastles]

We used an immigration agent, mainly as we were unsure what visa to go for [we could have gone for 3] & also we were told that they can get the paperwork there & back quicker as they can do the main forms electronically.

We had to collect all the info to send to him. You will have to get stuff certified as you will have to take the originals to a solicitor, let him/her copy them & certify them.

You will still have to fill in forms, as you will need to tell the agent all he/she needs to know. You will have to have pictures done yourself & send them in. Ours had to be signed, as with passports pics. You will need medicals ec too.

There is alot of work to do, but most of it, only you can do, I'm afriad!

[AussieSim]

Where I have seen the benefit in my experience in HR in Australia/NZ is in the agent following up with the immigration department. It is not just a matter of filling in forms and providing documents, there is a certain amount of 'strategy' and buttering up the bureaucrats and paper pushers, that can make the whole process go a lot smoother and quicker.

When you are looking for an agent you should try to use one that has previously worked in the immigration department, so they know excactly how the place ticks and they have personal contacts.

An individuals/families requirements for this kind of service might vary depending on a few things - qualifications (very highly regarded in NZ - more so than Oz), the age of the applicants, if anyone in the family has a health issue, job prospects and where they want to settle in the new country. If a few thousand local dollars will not break the bank than it could well be worth it.

[sandcastles]

I can recommend ours if you are interested.

he is based in London, so no annoying time differences to contend with. He was recc to us & did a great job!

[ScienceTeacher]

We had a relocation agent when we moved to and from the US. They pretty much knew what we were allowed to do in line with DH's employers policies. The best thing they did was helped us find somewhere to live, enrol the children in school, set up utilities, hire car etc. They even met us at the airport when we arrived, and put a few things in the fridge.

As for visa forms, I'm assuming that New Zealand isn't much more complicated than anywhere else (but could be wrong). Basically, immigration authorities want biographical information from you name, dob etc. Only you can provide that. If you have a lawyer helping you, you have to provide the lawyer with the info too.

The main times to involve a lawyer is if you have something complicated in your history, such as a criminal record.

Is there stuff on the forms that you are finding particularly difficult to fill in?

[Elf]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts.

ScienceTeacher, no, so far, it is not difficult as such, just very time consuming, which we have very little of. And lots of sorting out of stuff.

I take on board people's thoughts about when it is worth it and when it isn't. Perhaps we should see how we get on alone a bit longer. We have decided to go through it little and often and hopefully get there in the end.

We also have an employment agency helping out in some areas so that may be of help.

I will read through all your posts again and have a think. Sandcastles, thank you - I may get back to you.

Thanks again everyone.