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| Thread ID: 115740 | 2011-02-01 15:51:00 | Going to new zealand(maybe), what should i do? | Question (15792) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1174334 | 2011-02-01 15:51:00 | This was way more problematic than i anticipated. I applied to a university in new zealand early last year, but only received an offer at end of January. First semester starts at end of Feb, with orientation week starting on the 21st. This leaves me roughly one month to get a student visa to go to new zealand, as well as get my student accomodation sorted out. Doing some calculations, im confused as to why the university thinks i can do this in less than a month(keeping in account of the public holdiay dates), as well as time -It takes at least 2 days to get mailed a letter required to get a police certificate -It takes 10 working days(or more) to apply for a police certificate, necessary for the visa application process. Im doing this tommorrow. -It then takes up to 10 working days(or more) for them to process the visa application itself. I will need to book an air ticket at least a week in advance. I can either book one close to the 21st(if i want to arrive in time for the orientation), or close to the 28th. If i book one for the 21st, i run the very real risk of not being able to obtain the visa in time, hence, not being able to fly, and having my ticket forfeited(i assume there is some sort of last minute cancellation fee? anyone familiar with airlines here?). I could book another for the 28th, but then again theres no guarantee the visa will be ready by then again, so i might forfeit another ticket. In which case i will have to end up delaying everything for another 4 months or so till the second semester, during which my life will effectively be in limbo. And i would have to re-apply for everything over again, incurring additional costs(since most of the paperwork must be done within 3 months of the visa application date). Given this situation, what should i do? Pray for luck? Try and bribe some officials to process my stuff faster? All this is stressing me out, since everything is out of my hands here. |
Question (15792) | ||
| 1174335 | 2011-02-01 16:46:00 | Missing orientation is a major bummer . And you'll end up starting classes without knowing anyone . Starting classes a week or two late won't hurt you all that much, most lecturers will be more than happy to help you catch up . I've had plenty people "new" people popping into classes in the first 3 weeks, it's no big deal AS LONG AS YOU WORK TO CATCH UP . Also, where will you be staying? If you will be staying at university, they'll hold your room for you . . . And if you didn't do this, YOU SHOULD . The extra money is worth the "security" it offers . After your first semester, you can go flat hunting . You don't really want to come to a new country with no place to stay as your classes are starting . . . You'll have to talk to a travel agent about changing your tickets et al, because terms will vary (or better yet talk to the airlines you want to fly with) . You could always try to get a last minute flight deals, and they do come up, so long as you are willing to pay a bit extra to mix and match airlines (which is better than nothing) . Also, relax . Ain't the end of the world . Just my 2c . |
Cato (6936) | ||
| 1174336 | 2011-02-01 18:29:00 | Feb, 21st . 10 working days for a police certificate 10 working days to process the visa book an air ticket close to the 28th . Do this . Starting today . Orientation, mmm, not absolutely essential, all Unis give you maps and things and there is Student Support . Or wait till 2nd semester . Less rush . |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1174337 | 2011-02-01 18:41:00 | This was way more problematic than i anticipated. I applied to a university in new zealand early last year, but only received an offer at end of January. First semester starts at end of Feb, with orientation week starting on the 21st. This leaves me roughly one month to get a student visa to go to new zealand, as well as get my student accomodation sorted out. Doing some calculations, im confused as to why the university thinks i can do this in less than a month(keeping in account of the public holdiay dates), as well as time -It takes at least 2 days to get mailed a letter required to get a police certificate -It takes 10 working days(or more) to apply for a police certificate, necessary for the visa application process. Im doing this tommorrow. -It then takes up to 10 working days(or more) for them to process the visa application itself. I will need to book an air ticket at least a week in advance. I can either book one close to the 21st(if i want to arrive in time for the orientation), or close to the 28th. If i book one for the 21st, i run the very real risk of not being able to obtain the visa in time, hence, not being able to fly, and having my ticket forfeited(i assume there is some sort of last minute cancellation fee? anyone familiar with airlines here?). I could book another for the 28th, but then again theres no guarantee the visa will be ready by then again, so i might forfeit another ticket. In which case i will have to end up delaying everything for another 4 months or so till the second semester, during which my life will effectively be in limbo. And i would have to re-apply for everything over again, incurring additional costs(since most of the paperwork must be done within 3 months of the visa application date). Given this situation, what should i do? Pray for luck? Try and bribe some officials to process my stuff faster? All this is stressing me out, since everything is out of my hands here. Dont try to bribe the officials in NZ it does not work. NZ is famous for 2 things. 1. The highest ownership rate of guns per person in the world 2. No 1 less corrupt country in the world on Transparency Internationals list. |
prefect (6291) | ||
| 1174338 | 2011-02-01 19:56:00 | What country are you coming from. Depending on what country you are coming from your visa should be processed quicker. :) |
Trev (427) | ||
| 1174339 | 2011-02-01 22:26:00 | The first week of uni lectures are generally not worth it anyway - they're induction style lectures. Especially in your first year of uni. I wouldn't worry about it too much, as long as you are working on it as of now you should be fine. | Siobhan Keogh (16063) | ||
| 1174340 | 2011-02-02 01:28:00 | [QUOTE=pctek;988609]Orientation, mmm, not absolutely essential QUOTE] Yep. Dunno if things have changed since I was at uni about ten years ago, not only did I miss orientation, but also my first two weeks of lectures. I still got A+'s in almost all of my papers. |
Greg (193) | ||
| 1174341 | 2011-02-02 02:54:00 | Start immediately, be as efficient as possible. Tell the police certificate people and the visa people your situation, so they know you are in a rush. Enquire as to whether there is a way to fast track the Visa - there may be an 'urgent service' fee. It is pretty much impossible to bribe in NZ, it just doesn't happen. There is either an official urgent service procedure (likely) or there is not. If you try to bribe you will probably find yourself immediately declined or worse (notes on your record also perhaps). As for the airfare, don't worry! Just check with the airline what their flight change policy is. For example, with Air NZ you can change a flight to any time within 12 months for a fee of only $50 for an international flight! So it only costs $50 a pop to say bump it forward a week if you run out of time. Or even to bump it forward to the next trimester. I missed orientation but conveniently met a friend I hadn't seen in ages and didn't even know was at uni let alone in my classes, and she and her friends are my group of friends in uni. You don't really have that possibility so I would go to orientation if you can. But if you miss it, it won't hurt academically. You can probably make new friends in your tutorials anyway, or any uni-run activities you may choose to do (sports, etc). |
george12 (7) | ||
| 1174342 | 2011-02-02 17:09:00 | Dont try to bribe the officials in NZ it does not work. NZ is famous for 2 things. 1. The highest ownership rate of guns per person in the world 2. No 1 less corrupt country in the world on Transparency Internationals list. I thought america had the highest ownership rate of guns per person in the world? For the person who asked, im from Singapore actually. Also thanks to everyone for the advice. |
Question (15792) | ||
| 1174343 | 2011-02-02 18:12:00 | I thought america had the highest ownership rate of guns per person in the world? . He was joking. We don't have many guns. |
pctek (84) | ||
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