[Klipa]

We are arriving in mid-September. I have Aussie passport and my husband will be arriving with a one-year work visa. I just realized that he will not be covered for medical with his visa being only a year. He will be applying for PR right away as he is unable to apply before our arrival due to me holding Aussie passport and not NZ.

Couple of questions:

1. Any idea of the length of time to expect for him to receive PR based on partnership?

2. Do I have to have full-time employment as his spouse or will he still be granted PR if I am working part-time and he is employed full-time?

3. I am pretty sure that our original medicals (from work visa application) will be valid as they were done within a year. Is this true if they were not done in New Zealand originally?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

[kanatakiwi]

Hi there Klipa

did your Cdn OH have to get a medical for his one year visa, I thought usually they only have to do that for a 2 year visa. If you submitted medicals, maybe you could ask for the one year to be extended to a two year visa? (You would have to ask about that. )
Doesnt matter whether medicals were done in Canada or NZ, mine were done in Canada. My partnership PR application took 8 months because of medical application complications but if yours is straightforward his should come through much quicker. Also I submitted in Auckland and I understand other locations are quicker.
I would purchase medical insurance for him, although as he can be out of Canada for up to 6 months and still be covered on BC med, he could possibly submit any expenses for doctors visits, etc to them. I would check on that though as he's technically coming for a year. Extra insurance would put your mind at rest. I think it costs about $90 a month iof you purchase in Canada. As he is working full time, I dont think it will matter that you are working part time.
You can just ask NZIS, they are pretty good at answering questions like that.

[eternalkiwi]

Partnership PR can take from 2 months to 12 months if there are no issues raised by NZIS. The office you use and the time of year can also have an impact.

The insurance company I use for both my inward and outward travel charges approx. NZD$368 for 6 months and NZD$675 for 1 year; these are for 1 person, family cover is about double.

Shawn