Am I really eligible?

by Tanisha M

There have been some questions regarding the criteria of being a graduate of a local university/polytechnic.

When I applied, I’d just graduated from NUS a year before, so I was eligible. My travel buddy, Nicole, had graduated from a polytechnic about 4 years before. She was still granted a visa. It’s my personal opinion that the age/character/financial requirements matter a lot more than the number of years you’ve been a graduate.

I initially thought my friend might not get the visa because I had visions that the NZ immigration would be extremely stringent with their selection process. Also, I’d asked a local agency about my friend’s eligibility, and they replied saying she wasn’t eligible because she didn’t fit the criteria. However, Nicole was certain that if she applied directly on the NZ immigration site, she’d be granted the visa.

Lo and behold, she got her visa as quickly as I did (less than 48 hours after we applied!). I’m glad she had faith that she’d get what she wanted! 🙂