Limitations

How can disappointments be avoided?

Migrants from India want to improve their or the lives of their families by immigrating to New Zealand. Because of this, there is an expectation that all will be well after migrating to New Zealand. However, the reality check is that New Zealand is not a paradise or panacea to all problems. If one thinks otherwise disappointments may be in store!

Therefore the first step in the immigration process becomes the most important- namely do you really want to immigrate to New Zealand and what do you expect from New Zealand? This is very relevant for skilled and business migrants as perceptions and realities may not match. One the one hand you have the assumption that if one has made it in India as a qualified professional or a successful businessperson, one can easily make it in New Zealand; and on the other hand there is a false notion, fuelled by some sources, that employers have an open door policy for many job applicants.

For example in the IT area, the skill shortage information as provided by Immigration New Zealand indicates that any type of overseas IT professional should be able to find employment here in New Zealand. However, the situation is that large companies like Telecom, Fonterra, Large Banks and other administrative companies which lobbied the labour department to place IT professionals on the workforce shortage list are few in number. This means that there are not unlimited job opportunities for IT professionals in this small country of only 4 Million!

You also have to consider that some New Zealand employers prefer local applicants over immigrants from India or other countries. So, do your research first before having a New Zealand "adventure" that you did not bargain for! On the other hand New Zealand is based on immigration and there have been countless success stories of migrants.