[krankyd]

HI,

My wife and I are thinking about moving to NZ for a while. I'm an aus / UK citizen, the wife is UK only. I know I can sponsor her for a PR visa, but I've got a couple of question's!


1) the PR visa form asks `if I hold a aus passport but do not hold a current return residents visa or new zealand residence permit ` I have to prove that NZ is my primary place of residence. If I understand this, I have to therefore apply for my wife's PR when we're in NZ not from the UK where we currently live? I've never been to NZ but have lived in AUS for a while..

2) Is it better to apply for PR from the UK or whilst in NZ? I'm just thinking about timescales, as looking through earlier posts it can take 9-12 month's to process the visa in NZ, whilst my wife will only have a 6 month visitor's visa when coming to the country.


Any help would be much appreciated - thanks :)

[auskiwi]

Hi there,
We were in the same situation as you when we came to NZ last October. I am an Australian citizen with an American husband. In order for me to sponsor my husband for PR I had to be physically residing in NZ. We were living in the US at the time, so moved to NZ with hubby getting a 3 month visitor visa on arrival. Then, once here, he applied for a work permit (which took about a month to get) which enables him to work and live here for up to two years. We also applied for his PR (at the same time as we applied for his work visa) which is still being processed (takes up to 6 months to get).

All seems very easy actually from visitor-work-PR if you are an Australian citizen residing in NZ. We did need to show proof of my residency here such as mortgage docs or rental agreements, shipping documents (proving we had shipped our belongings from the US) etc. It is, from my understanding, pretty near impossible for you to sponsor your spouse without being actually present as a resident in NZ. Hope that helps-ask if you have any more Q's.

Amy.

[Croft]

krankyd - the one advantage that your wife will have over auskiwi's husband is that as a British citizen she'll be able to have a 6 month visitor visa, giving you a little more time to play with,

[Klipa]

I am an canadian/Australian citizen bringing my canadian husband to NZ and he is able to get a work visa prior to his arrival....which will allow him to apply for jobs before we actually move. he will have to wait for PR until I am actually in new zealand, but we have been told by the "powers that be" that as long as we can prove that I am going with him then they will approve his 2 year work visa before we go. He may have to do the medicals, etc all over again for his PR.....but at least he can find work before we go and be eligible to start as soon as we get there. the work visa is good for 2 years which should give him plenty of time to get his PR sorted out.

this may be an option for you as well....good luck.