EC from New Zealand

[custodian]

Is there any reason why you couldnt do your biometrics appointment before you had received your HSMP approval letter?

Im thinking that once my partner and I are informed (by email) that our applications have been approved, we could book our biometrics appointment and get that done while we wait for the HSMP letter to arrive.

You can only get a bio-metric appointment when you apply for the EC (online)

Its not a very long wait for an appointment .... you can generally get an appointment within the same week of you filling the EC form online. So, its not that bad as it was a couple of months ago.

[niw2]

It still seems to me that you could submit your online application form before receiving your HSMP approval letter and attend your biometric appointment while you wait for the HSMP letter to arrive. Then, when the HSMP letter arrives, send off the printed application form with your supporting information. Might only save a couple of days but Im eager to get to the UK asap.

[Herbert]

Hey there,

Please note that when you submit your biometric information you then only have 2 weeks to submit all your supporting documents...

My application for Tier 1 with HSMP letter was received on the 17th July, and today 12th August I received email confirmation that it had been approved and sent by courier.

Herb

[niw2]

Congratulations and thanks for the tip about having 2 weeks to apply.

How long did it take for them to send your HSMP documents back from the UK? I understand that airmail between the UK and NZ usually takes a little over a week.

[Herbert]

It took 7 days for my documents to arrive from the UK via Royal Mail Recorded delivery..

[niw2]

Thats excellent.

One more thing, if you happen to know -- do dependents need to submit fingerprints at the consulate or is it just us main applicants who do that?

[visacrisis]

Does anyone know if NZders can do their entry clearance in Australia???

[niw2]

Does anyone know how long it is taking the NZ BHC to process Tier 1 applications with HSMP approval letters?

[custodian]

I got my EC Approved & stamped and passport returned by courier today.

It took me 2 months and 5 days for the entire EC & Biometric process to complete from Wellington, NZ.

[niw2]

2 months?? Thats more than double their "expected processing time"!

[custodian]

2 months?? Thats more than double their "expected processing time"!

Yes, it took them that long for my application.
All my documents were in tip-top order. I had submitted exactly what they'd asked for on the British high commission new zealand website.

Now I'm wondering whats the best time to land in the UK... what time of the year would the employment market be considered HOT.

[niw2]

Received my HSMP approval letter on Saturday (4/10/08 ).

Had our biometrics appointment in Auckland on Monday afternoon (6/10/08 ). There were plenty of vacant timeslots to choose from. Appointment only took a couple of minutes (scan fingers, have photo taken, walk out).

Have just submitted our Tier 1 + dependent applications by courier (7/10/08 ). Included a letter asking to be treated with urgency. Will see how it goes...

[niw2]

Word of warning for other NZers - the application fee for a Tier 1 dependent is $1600, not $550 as stated for a dependent application on the NZ BHC web site. Other dependent applications cost $550, but Tier 1 dependents cost $1600. Yikes.