[CjChris]

I've been on vacation and have lots of reading to do, so this may be on here already. It's from the NZ gov't website:

Skilled Migrant Category Work to Residence changes
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Changes have been made to the Work to Residence (WTR) component of the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).
These changes include:

Extending the WTR period to allow all principal applicants a period of nine months in New Zealand to obtain an offer of skilled employment.
Allowing principal applicants who obtain an offer of skilled employment during their WTR deferral period to be granted residence and then meet the requirement to remain in their skilled employment for three months.

These changes are effective from 10 April 2007 and are applicable to principal applicants who make their SMC residence application on or after 10 April 2007.

A new transitional work permit policy has been introduced to grant a further three month work permit to principal applicants who are in New Zealand on an expiring WTR permit where the WTR permit was issued as a result of the SMC application being deferred for six months. Applicants who obtain an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand after their initial SMC deferral period has ended, but during the currency of their permit issued under the transitional work permit policy, must submit a new SMC application if they wish to pursue residence in New Zealand. Such applicants will be facilitated through their subsequent SMC application with a waiver of the application fee.

This new transitional work permit policy comes into effect on 10 April 2007.

Full details are available in Amendment Circular 2007/04.

[Oliver]

Thanks for this, but what are the practical implications of the change in policy?

[jess]

Thanks for this, but what are the practical implications of the change in policy?If you come over on a WTR visa, you will have an easier time than before, since you will have more time to find work and can be granted residence earlier (though with the condition to complete 3 months in the job that got you PR). It's just good news for people making a go of it through WTR - or that's how I understood it at least...

[Jezza]

With the new 9 month extension, what would be the advantage of coming in on a WTR visa as a skilled migrant, rather than on a 6 month tourist visa which you could extend by another 3 months, and then putting in an EOI once you had a job offer giving you enough points as a skilled migrant? Either way I'm counting on finding a job within 9 months, so once I found one is it possible to then apply for a work permit and get the visa changed to a WTR one?

And another thing - I was wondering if we could have a few more *confused* smilies available. I think I'm going to need the full range from mild bewilderment to complete slack-jawed mind-reeling non-comprehension.

[Trigirl]

With the new 9 month extension, what would be the advantage of coming in on a WTR visa as a skilled migrant, rather than on a 6 month tourist visa which you could extend by another 3 months, and then putting in an EOI once you had a job offer giving you enough points as a skilled migrant?
hi jezza, i think you are misunderstanding what this particular WTR visa is for. nobody would ever actually apply for a WTR (skilled migrant) visa. instead this visa is given to people who already have enough points to do the skilled migrant route and have applied for PR but for whatever reason NZIS are not sure they will be able to find a job. so instead of granting PR they grant WTR which gives the applicant a set amount of time to find a job - once they've done that they can apply for full PR.

[Jezza]

OK, thanks for clearing that up.

I can see why they need to extend it to 9 months then - presumably they've been losing quite a few of the skilled migrants they need because of too short a cut-off date.