CASE STUDY: MANDY CASHMORE
Migration Associates assisted Mandy and her husband to come to New Zealand. When circumstances took a sudden turn for the worse Migration Associates were available to liaise and advocate on her behalf with Immigration New Zealand, provide crucial visa advice and assistance along the way and even submit a successful special Ministerial Intervention request on her behalf to the Minister of Immigration.
When and why did you start to consider New Zealand?
“Our journey started back in 2015 when we came back from holidaying seeing my daughter and her New Zealand partner. I had always wanted to go to NZ, but my husband had reservations...it was a big IF, but I talked him into going to a seminar at the national motorbike museum in Birmingham.”
What prompted you to find out more and what next steps did you take?
“We looked around all stalls and saw Borey present a passionate overview of his homeland and of the earthquake in 2012 of Christchurch … Well nothing happened any further. We holidayed again the following year with my daughter and her husband, when they told us we were going to be grandparents.”
How did Migration Associates help you?
“It was like role reversal ... as soon as we got back Jan 2016 we put things into motion … seeing how we could get to NZ … correspondence and phone calls to and fro'd till we settled on a parental Visa. My husband getting the job 1st then selling everything and making a full commitment to NZ. We saw Borey again around April/May time then everything just gathered speed ... getting medicals and away we flew. Don’t get me wrong there were lots of issues, but we were guided totally by Borey and his team.”
Immigration Support in Tough Times
“We landed Oct 11th 2016 ... new live's as grandparents and many adventures awaited us ... or so we thought. Our dreams were taken when we found out my husband was diagnosed with cancer just three weeks after landing in nz. Too ill to go back … and obviously everything we owned on its way over. We fought the illness as well as we could only for him to die 77 days after landing. Devastation does not describe the feelings, the hurt. We felt robbed ... robbed of a life, and dreams and the missing out of watching grandchildren growing and getting to know them and teaching them...loving life as we should.”
“For quite a while ... I knew no one ... only my daughter and son in law and new grand baby. Facebook, messenger became my life line … talking to family … what do I do ... I gave up my house we were renting and stayed with my daughter ...”
“Between my family and myself I decided to stay and give it a go … after all we had spent a year trying to come to NZ ... time to fight for where I wanted to be and for what my husband and I came for. Many friends and family said it was meant to be how things happened, so I was with my daughter, but who knows. Immigration New Zealand were very compassionate as were Migration Associates and visas were changed and a pathway and time scale set for me to gain my own visa in my own right. I was a full time nurse when I left the UK, so I followed the pathway to gain my NZ registration starting with IELTS. Progressing to sending CV’s to prospective employers ... finally gaining a job at a hospital. I finally got offered a job as a GP Practice Nurse which is where I am today as team leader of a small practice of doctors/registrars/nurses and administration.”
How is your life in New Zealand now?
“Love it, is an understatement. I put heart and soul into my work which kept me occupied. I also built my own home which kept me busy too ... so too did my new grandbaby. My life in NZ was changing for the better and three years post my husband's death I met someone who has helped me tremendously in overcoming my empty hours out of work. I now have new friends … and another daughter who has joined us in NZ. I now have four grandkids of my own and a further six of my new partners ... and all get on well. I see it as being given a new opportunity to live those dreams and adventures I first came to do.”
Any advice for anyone thinking of making a move to NZ?
“For those thinking of making the move to NZ ... think carefully ... have a safety net in place for if the unexpected happens ... know yourself … your needs … you will find you purpose.
Me personally ... I could not have got where I have without Migration Associates. They too are part of my family and I cannot thank them ever enough for all their support and help and love which I received over the last 5yrs ... I think we all cried when I finally won my residency which they fought so hard for on my behalf.
THANKYOU BOREY, MICHAEL & CHRISTINE for everything you did for me.
If you are looking for professionalism, non-judgemental decisions, no promises, always the truth … I recommend MIGRATION ASSOCIATES every step of the way.”