New Zealand

[mrs_lim]

Sumabay kami sa travel agency from Manila, super convenient for us. Sila na kasi bahala sa transpo, food, visa, accomodation. We went to the north and south islands. Sayang lang na konti lang ang LotR sites na kasama sa itinerary. Natuwa ako sa pagbisita sa Cadbury chocolate factory, sheep show, and learning about the Maori culture. I love NZ's scenery, the views you will see driving around the fields are simply stunning!

[glacy_rein]

^nahihirapan din ako to organise our trip dito.. d ko alam pano ba pick up points and drop off! haha! pero sis if you are not after the LOTR/The Hobbit then Haka Tours is one of the recommendations here.

[layzieg]

^ may kasama kasi kaming senior citizen baka puro young adults ang haka tours.

[glacy_rein]

you can specify naman un sis. by researching marami ka ding makikita sa new zealand website

[the_dreamer]

Just got back from my 7 Days North Island Adventure Tour! Thanks to sis meimei for introducing HAKA Tours to me! Super enjoy ako! The tourist guide was so cool and really funny! Glad I booked with HAKA Tours. How I wish I could do the 24-Day Epic Tour!

By the way, hindi lang for young adults ang HAKA Tours. Meron din kami kasama 2 oldies, I think nasa early or mid-50's sila 😊

[glacy_rein]

^gusto din sana namin i-try ang HAKA kaso focus kasi namen is LOTR. 7days ka lang sis nagstay sa NZ?

[the_dreamer]

^ 9 days ako sa NZ sis. Yun tour is 7 days lang... Wish I could stay longer... Yun LOTR ko half day lang, additional activity yun sa tour ko.

[glacy_rein]

^yun ba sis yung sa Hobbiton tours? nice?

[meimei]

@the_dreamer, i just read your post. you are very much welcome!! Haka Tours is great, no? i haven't personally tried them kasi PANGARAP pa lang ang NZ sa akin. pero sa dinami-dami ng ni-research ko about NZ and about Haka, i feel like nakapag-HAKA na ko. lol!

nauna mo nang tuparin ang pangarap ko. inggit muuuuuch!!!!! hahaha!! sa totoo lang, may draft na ko ng activities that i want to avail with Haka.

ang pangarap ko is to get their 16-day Amplified NZ Tour, spend 2 extra nights before the tour and another 2 extra nights after the tour so total of 20 days. hahaha! libreng mangarap! lol!

[eischied_21]

Hi, for those sisses who traveled to NZ, do you have any itinerary? Mind if you share your itinerary so that I have a guide in preparation for my travel next year and as supporting document also once I apply for visitor's visa. TIA

[glacy_rein]

^nasa embassy pa yung passport namen on its 7th day.. yung itinerary kailangan and binase ko sa gagawin namen.. tailor mo sya sis kung san san mo gusto pumunta.. like samen 4days itinerary lang kasi may aussie pa kame ganto lang ginawa ko

april 30 - arrival to Sydney Australia and stay until May 3
May 4 - Avail flight going to Auckland, New Zealand and transfer flight going to Rotorua
May 5 - Hobbiton Tours and something
May 6 - tour and bus to Wellington
May 7 - Back to Sydney Australia and stay until May 14

pwede din view ka sa mga tour agencies like Haka tours either guide mo or avail it with them. Hindi naman kailangan exact gagawin mo yun, for the sake of documents lang kasi required. HTH

[eischied_21]

^ thanks sis @glacy_rein, sana maapprove ako come next year. Yun saken kasi hindi purely tour may kasamang apply for work na rin. Sa NZ na lang ako magpapaextend ng visit visa then apply for student visa afterwards.

[insanelypurpleprincess]

^ eischied_21, if your intention for entering NZ is really to secure a job, then you better be prepared and apply using the correct visa type. It's strict there ha? If it's for a holiday, they will sometimes give you what is called a Limited Purpose Visa and it will specifically say things like, you can't work or study and it is not eligible for conversion or extension, so the conditions will really depend. Nonetheless, if you want to go to NZ for a holiday, then I'd highly recommend it. It's a wonderful country. It's as good as our other home other than the Philippines!

[glacy_rein]

^i second the motion.. iwasan natin magcontribute sa mga pasaway. kapag bawal bawal.. better use the correct ones para derecho na.

[eischied_21]

@insanelypurpleprincess and @glacy_rein, thanks for the heads up. Yes, I agree iwasan maging pasaway. I want to take care of my good records in the immi when it comes to traveling as I still have a lot more other non-asian counties to explore. I've researched a lot about it and its legal in NZ to APPLY for work, attend interviews given na may mag entertain na employer but of course it's illegal to work without valid work visa. I have little hope as my field of work is in the skills shortage list in NZ. Hopefully, immigration won't give me limited visit visa once I apply NZ embassy of the country where I'm currently working at. And it's also fine to process student visa while in NZ as long as you have offer of letter from school and other necessary requirements and of course show money if you apply for student visa.

Regarding Limited Purpose Visa. Yes, you are right, pag limited visit visa you are not entitled to convert your existing visa into work or study. You need to exit NZ first. See, I'm well prepared lol

[glacy_rein]

^that's good sis!

we just received a call for brief interview and pinay ang immigration officer. Now hopefully this is good news na by tomorrow until saturday..

[eischied_21]

^ sis, would it be fine if you can share the requirements that you submitted for tourist visa

[insanelypurpleprincess]

eischied_21, that's great! Just making sure I don't see another Filipino National on Border Patrol... Nakakatense sobra eh, though I am in the PHL right now, so I don't get my fair share of TV time for Border Patrol for these immigration 'questionable personalities'. It took us a while to become PR in NZ and eventually become citizens, so hopefully all goes well for you. So, go on a holiday and see if you like it there. For the more laid-back feel, South Islands will be your best bet. Good luck!

glacy_rein, that's great news! A month or so ago, one of our cousins got Karen (Pinay) as her IO for Visa processing. If it's Karen, then you're in good hands. She's super nice (my cousin's words, not mine!)

[glacy_rein]

great news we were approved!!!
finalization of itinerary begins!

@eischied_21

sure!
i used the INZ 1189 form and submitted it along with Managers Check amounting to 500 for less than 59days (otherwise you have to use INZ 1107 and Manager's check of 6,300 if more than 59days), original passport, 2 recent passport-size photographs, bank certification, then itinerary. This is as per requirements in the form. But I added additional requirements like our credit card statements and travel confirmation booking.

They also require for you to submit your own checklist and then photocopy everything.

^I didn't got the name! haha! but im quite surprised that they are filipinas!

[insanelypurpleprincess]

glacy_rein, hooray! That's wonderful news! Enjoy further finalising your itinerary! You'll love NZ for sure!