I'm starting the process to do just that and Breccan from 3months.com
recommend I take a look at the mailing list for possible jobs. It
looks like lucidesign had an opening back in December - http://bit.ly/K2xwy.

Or maybe someone just came over as a freelancer and kept their clients
from the US or abroad? I've been told that the NZ government tends to
like programmers and approve them - even if entering without a sponsor
company.

You can check me out at http://spitfiresky.com

Hi Scott,
I'm from Vermont originally, but moved to Wellington from Seattle back in
2005.  I have Permanent Residency through the Skilled Migrant Category.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/

If you are under thirty, the least complicated way to proceed is to get a
work visa for those under thirty.  Otherwise, checked out the Skilled
Migrant stuff.

You should go
to that site and do the points calculator. It's under the Expression
of Interest stuff here:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/skilledmigrant/can...

This should give you a decent gauge of where you stand.  If you have enough
points already, immigration can be a very smooth process and go fairly
quickly.  Basically immigration needs to have confidence that you walk out
of the office and get a job based on your work experience and
qualifications.  They obviously don't want to approves someone that is just
going to end up being a cost to the government.

If you have high enough points and get approved without any hitches, you can
collect your stuff in your passport and do what you wish to make a living,
including contracting.

However, for me because I was on edge points
wise, the trick was to actually get my points up to finalize my
application was to get a job here.  From my experience, that is best
done by coming over and visiting and interviewing in person.
 Once I did that (was pretty quick once I actually started applying, but
that was well before the recession), I was on "section 18A" for a like a
year or something which meant that if I didn't stay employed they could
revoke my permit and visa, etc.

After my 18A probationary period finished, I was free to what I wanted as
far as employment.  I'm pretty happy with my job, so I stayed on, but I
could have set up shop as a freelancer.

Definitely don't mention that you are planning on being
self-employed in either case.  That will throw up red flags for immigration.

I love it here.  Has some of the best aspects of bigger cities while having
a very friendly smallness, too.

All this boils down to that I recommend you plan to come here for your job
hunt.  Worst case scenario is that you end up having visited a very cool
place.

Cheers,
Walter

Feel free to contact me privately or via skype (timuckun), jabber
(timuc...@gmail.com) or AIM (timuc...@mac.com) if you have any
questions.

Looks like I barely make the 100 points requirement at my first quick
jump through the points calculator so I'm kinda on the edge.

Also, of the emails I've sent out I've gotten some nice responses with
possible future leads. Everyone has been amazingly friendly.

Cheers.

On Jun 30, 3:12 am, Tim Uckun <timuc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Cheers,
Walter

That's a good point Tim.  I believe location of job may have an effect on
points.  Or possibly things have simply changed.
Cheers,
Walter

It pays to read the immigration documents very carefully.

Also, you'll want to get your experience from contracts well documented.

Cheers,
Walter