first hurdle

When filling out my 'expression of interest' for emigrating to New Zealand, I had a feeling that classifying my degree would be a minor problem in the process - something that would need explaining with corroborating evidence. Well damn my foresight, I was right! However the problem looks like it's a lot bigger than I had first thought.

Degree

I graduated in 1994 from Sheffield Hallam University with a 2:1 BSc in Applied Statistics. Although statistics is classified as a mathematical subject, my degree was classified as being part of the "computing and management sciences" faculty, presumably due to the large amount of computer science theory and use of statistical modelling software.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

The number of points gained in an EOI is vitally important with the process being used to weed out the time-wasters and unsuitable candidates. If the total is less than 100, then the process stops dead and there is no chance of becoming resident (unless the points threshold changes, which is does now and then). If 140+ points are gained an invitation to apply for residency is more or less assured. Anything between 100 and 140 is still good, but you may have to sit tight and wait. As it happens we managed to gain 135 points and were selected at the next ballot.

Out of these 135 points, 10 were gained for having a degree in an area of "absolute skills shortage" (computer sciences) and 15 for work experience in the same area.

Sheffield Hallam University (SHU)

The half-expected querying of my degree credentials came last week, with NZ Immegration requiring a transcript of my degree. I contacted SHU with my issue, confident that there should be no problems. Before I completed the EOI I had spoken to someone at SHU with precisely this issue and was assured that at the time of my graduation my degree could be classified as "computer sciences".

However I was informed that all transcripts for my degree have been destroyed as it was more than seven years ago. It may be possible to trawl the archives to find my individual results (and therefore the subject modules that made up the degree), but this wouldn't be possible until mid-July as the faculty was currently engaged in exam-marking and all queries of this nature are suspended.

The Result

I have to sit tight and wait for 6 weeks until SHU can look for my files in the archive. Success is not guaranteed, but I have been assured that all the information should be there.

However there is no guarantee that this information will be accepted by Immigration New Zealand, and if that's the case then my points total will become 110 - still enough to stay in the pool, but (from the last couple of ballots) not enough to be selected. It's frustrating as points gained from work experience are discounted due to not having a degree of the "absolute skills shortage" category, despite having 15+ years experience in exactly this field!

So for now we sit and wait - although our plans might have to slightly change. It's possible to make up for the shortfall in points by getting a job before we go. It's not ideal, but something I'm going to have to consider...