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To pinoy engineers in NZ

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jas

Joined: 23 Jan 2010
Posts: 3

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject: To pinoy engineers in NZ

To Pinoy Engineers in NZ! I am a chemical engineer in the Philippines and am seriously planning to immigrate to NZ. In the Long Term Skill Shortage List, under the category of Engineering Professionals, the agency requires that foreigners must be accredited in the APEC ENGINEER REGISTER?! There are only about 30 Pinoy in the APEC Engr register (most of them are CEO of companies). To be an APEC engineer requires very stringent qualifications, definitely I do not qualify... Did you undergo such accreditation? Im confused, after all, if there are only 30 APEC engr in the Phil, how come there are thousands of pinoy engrs in NZ? Or did the NZ gov't made their requirement today very stringent than when you were applying before? Please advice... Thanks. JAS

acfrancia

Joined: 26 Feb 2009
Posts: 38

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:28 pm Post subject:

Jas, With what I know; you need not to have an accreditation as an APEC engineer if you want to qualify for points with your submission of EOI. All you have to do is check if your degree has a registration requirement from NZ (for example; Architects in the Philippines can't be automatically Architects in NZ for they have a registering body to review if you qualify to practice your profession and they are very strict when it comes to the requirements as based from what I have read before). Before you submit your application though; check if your points are sufficient and after your EOI has been chosen from the pool and if they ask for specific requirements such as NZQA qualification (of which they determine the level of your qualification based on your university degree as compared to a NZ register); that is the time that you have to apply for an assessment to NZQA (pls. check their website) Having been able to have APEC engineer registration though will help you with a higher IPENZ membership or your qualification duly recognized by APEC countries (this includes NZ) thereby minimizing the requirements set up by the local professional engineering register on that particular country.

jas

Joined: 23 Jan 2010
Posts: 3

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:08 am Post subject:

Thanks a lot... I'm planning to do all these stuffs by myself. konti lang savings ko. ang mahal kasi ng pinapatong ng mga consultants. kaya medyo makulit po ako ha. Usually, how long does it take from submission of EOI until issuance of ITA? (assuming selected from pool). what else can you advice for us engineers aspiring residence in NZ? I'm 27 and single.

philidor

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 277

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:15 am Post subject:

jas wrote:

Thanks a lot...

I'm planning to do all these stuffs by myself. konti lang savings ko. ang mahal kasi ng pinapatong ng mga consultants. kaya medyo makulit po ako ha.

Usually, how long does it take from submission of EOI until issuance of ITA? (assuming selected from pool).

what else can you advice for us engineers aspiring residence in NZ?

I'm 27 and single.

you really want to apply as a chemical engineer? as in sa EOI mo balak mo ilagay yun? I suggest you read thru the posts.. most pinoy engineers na kilala ko eh technician ang inilagay para hindi pressured sa jobhunting kasi if ilagay mo sa eoi pa lang eh chemical engineer, dapat makuha mo na job eh as chemical engineer - i think that will be a tough task.

i've met ECE, CE, EE, COMP E, lahat sila technician dito sa NZ. isa pa lang na meet ko na Chem Eng, asa food sya pero technician din, kahit sa OZ, I know 2 pinoys with experience, and masteral degrees (UP Chem eng grads) na nahihirapan maghanap ng work, yung isa 11months na walang work, yung isa part-time lab tech.

pero syempre its up to you. am just giving examples of situations I know.

goodluck!

engr2008

Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Location: Auckland

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:58 am Post subject:

Di madali ang ChEngr dito. Lalo na kung BS graduate lang. Me kilala akong ChE dito na hindi na nagpa-practice as chemical engineer dahil hindi madaling magpa-register. Kahit ako na licensed ECE sa Pinas, di rin registered as engineer dito. I believe Level 7 rin ang makukuha mo sa NZQA Assessment and that's enough for qualification requirement. Work experience dapat related sa profession. Ang target position nalang ang dapat pag-isipan mo. Look for technician positions sa LTSSL. Ang importante di ka mahirapan makapasok sa NZ kaya make your application as simple as possible. With regards to the duration of application process, it depends on the applicant (qualification, documents, preparedness) and assigned officers. Application process can take at least a year.

levi

Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 1028
Location: Auckland Central, New Zealand

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:00 pm Post subject:

@Jas, From what I have read previously (and people can correct me on this) APEC registration is required for the new Silver Fern visa classification, which is available only to 25-35 year olds who have New Zealand education or equivalent intending to reside in New Zealand. What is required for engineers for the skilled migrant category, I think, is IPENZ registration or your country is a signatory to the Washington accord. This may be the reason why Philippine migrants who are Engineers only declare themselves to be 'technicians' on their EOI application, since the Philippines is not a signatory to the Washington accord. But this baffles me. Husband is an engineer in the Philippines and worked as an engineer in New Zealand, not a technician, not a CAD worker (although kiwis are amazed that my hubby and his friends know auto-cad and other drafting software when they have engineering degrees). His engineering buddies are engineers here in new zealand as well. Our close friends are engineers here too, and a lot of them are chemical engineers but all of them are not registered with IPENZ. They applied through the skilled migrant category as well (some direct hire), although they admittedly applied during the boom times when jobs were aplenty. I always asked them this question as to why they can be engineers in NZ without being registred in IPENZ and they merely shrug their shoulders. I even asked them if they are really engineers here (imagine the many raised eyebrows directed to me that time) and they confirmed that they are, some of them even doing the same job and same position (and one working in the same company) as they had in the Philippines. Have you tried Australia?

jas

Joined: 23 Jan 2010
Posts: 3

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:53 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone. Wud be wise nga if I apply for technician instead. Thanks for the advice. Ang priority ko ngayon ay masigurado na makakapag immigrate ako. Mas ok po ba na magpa assess na ako sa NZQA before submmiting my EOI, o intayin ko na lang ang notice ng VO after submission of EOI? Di ko pa na try ang australia. Mas maganda po ba dun 4 engineers?

wellingtonianbuddy

Joined: 02 May 2008
Posts: 926

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 10:25 am Post subject:

Quote:

this is good point. however one must be mindful of the fact that NZIS has been very stringent these days in granting PR for those under WTR and/or in renewing work visas. If a non-local (e.g. non-PR/non-NZ citizen)'downgrades' his/her job/skill/profession (and eventually gets a job along that 'downgraded' category) he/she risks the possibility of having a job that NZIS may not approve of for PR issuance purposes simply because the job does not require special skills (and may be perceived by NZIS as a job that many locals can do.)

levi

Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 1028
Location: Auckland Central, New Zealand

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:07 pm Post subject:

jas wrote:

Thanks everyone.
Wud be wise nga if I apply for technician instead. Thanks for the advice. Ang priority ko ngayon ay masigurado na makakapag immigrate ako.

Mas ok po ba na magpa assess na ako sa NZQA before submmiting my EOI, o
intayin ko na lang ang notice ng VO after submission of EOI?

Di ko pa na try ang australia. Mas maganda po ba dun 4 engineers?

No, actually the application process in Australia is more complicated and more expensive, but in the end you get permanent residency right away, and you will avail of the benefits given to citizens.

The WTR 9 month visa in New Zealand is merely a work visa and you will not get any of the benefits afforded to citizens like healthcare, education and unemployment benefits. With the current economy and the "Kiwi first" policy still in force your chances of getting skilled work in New Zealand is still slim at best. But it is your call. Good luck!

engr2008

Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Location: Auckland

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:56 pm Post subject:

I don't think IPENZ membership is required for engineers applying for migration thru SMC. I was not required to register at IPENZ. To claim points for qualification, I was only required to have the NZQA Assessment report. Basically, the report tells me that my qualification is equivalent to the learning outcomes of a certain Bachelor of Engineering Technology qualification in NZ education. In short, I'm considered an engineering technologist only and not a professional engineer. If you want to be a recognized professional engineer in NZ, you'll have to go back to school and get the degree you want. It's up to you if want to register at IPENZ or not. Btw, the annual fee for IPENZ Graduate membership is approx. NZ$390. If you can find a company that can offer engineering position without requiring you to be a member of a certain organization, then good for you.

philidor

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 277

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:34 am Post subject:

hindi na din daw ata diretso PR sa australia ngayon?? 3year provisional skilled independent visa yung binigay recently sa friend ko. She needs to work/ stay there for 3years before makuha yung PR any info from our gurus?

engr2008

Joined: 20 Apr 2008
Posts: 321
Location: Auckland

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:45 am Post subject:

philidor wrote:

hindi na din daw ata diretso PR sa australia ngayon?? 3year provisional skilled independent visa yung binigay recently sa friend ko. She needs to work/ stay there for 3years before makuha yung PR

any info from our gurus?

Na meet nya ba yung required points for Skilled Independent Visa?

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/visa-options-outside.htm

levi

Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 1028
Location: Auckland Central, New Zealand

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 10:09 am Post subject:

philidor wrote:

In Australia, there are many pathways to residency. In fact, visa subclass numbers start from 100 up to 800.

Usually, if you are highly skilled, you apply for Subclass 175 (independent skilled, this is the equivalent to NZ's skilled migrant category) or Subclass 176 (Regional Sponsored Visa, you need a relative in a specific region or government in a specific region in Australia).

If you are lucky, you get a work offer in the Philippines and get the Subclass 457 visa then after continuous employment and if previously agreed upon, the employer may sponsor your PR.

Majority of Pinoys enter Australia on a 175 or 457 visa as a pathway to residency. Some try 176 since it is easier (since you are sponsored) but you must live and work in a specific region in Australia for 3 years, and usually these are uninhabited places, not in cosmopolitan areas like Sydney or Melbourne.

Try googling australia + skilled + provisional visa and you get Subclass 475 visa. This is similar to the Subclass 176 I have mentioned but you are given a provisional 3 year work visa.

This is given to those sponsored by a relative or by the government in specific regions of Australia (not cosmopolitan, remember) who need more points in their PR or have restrictions on their employment contract to be in a specific area before residency can be given. I heard of a doctor in the Philippines who was qualified in Australia but needed to practice in a region near the deserts for a couple of years before residency was conferred.

Your friend might have this kind of visa, but from what I have read, it is not provisional like the 9 month WTR where residency is dependent upon skilled work. From what I understand, it is living and working in a specified area (again, not cosmopolitan areas) that would qualify you residency.

But again, I might have misunderstood the provisions so anybody can correct me.

philidor

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 277

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 4:34 pm Post subject:

levi wrote:

philidor wrote:

Korek guru levi! hehe..

pero if you look at it, mas okay pa yung provisional visa sa OZ kesa sa WTR dito sa NZ.

based kasi sa friend ko, as long as you remain in the area for 2years and work for atleast 1year, pasok na ang residency mo. In fact, kahit na hindi skilled or part-time work lang, pwede na (basta total atleast 35hrs/week).

mas matagal nga bago maging residente pero mas magaan ang requirements leading to it. unlike dito na talagang skilled job, 6-12months lang meron ka to find a skilled job (na based sa mga naririnig at nalalaman natin, eh talgang hindi sapat)or else uwi ka ng pinas na nagtapon lang ng pera.

wala lang, baka better option lang sa mga nagiisip mag new zealand....OZ na lang kayo!

hehe... opinyon lang naman.

levi

Joined: 16 Oct 2006
Posts: 1028
Location: Auckland Central, New Zealand

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:38 pm Post subject:

philidor wrote:

levi wrote:

philidor wrote:

True, but I need to emphasize that Australian immigration is harder and more expensive. More documents are needed especially proving your education, skills and work experience.

That was the reason why a lot of people opt for New Zealand immigration (back in the days when they approved residency right away and, years later, when immigrants were given 2 year work visas which gave them access to health care).

I need to stress this especially to those starting to migrate.

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