[krdk]

I recently met and fell in love with a kiwi, and would like to move to Auckland in June of 2008. My problem is I just don't even know where to start. Between working at my current job and trying to figure out how to get a visa and a job, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Can someone please give me an idea of where to start and how to keep it all organized?

Thanks
Katie

Oh - I'm in Tennessee, USA

[kanatakiwi]

Hi Katie and welcome to this forum.

You have a variety of options, and there is lots of information on this forum about the pros and cons of each.

For instance, I am a Canadian, married to a kiwi, I came first on a visitors permit (which is 3 months and can be extended to 6 months or possibly longer) While on the vistors permit, I applied from within the country for a work permit and permanent residence. the work permit came through in a month and the residence , which took a bit longer than normal because of medical issues, came through in 8 months.
If you have a job offer while you are in the country I think you can get a work permit quite quickly.
Or you can stay put and apply from the US. the advantage of this is that you can get your medical and police checks done there and its quicker than trying to get US police clearance from NZ, etc.

If you aer under 30 you can apply for a working holiday visa, and then submit for a longer work permit and/or permanent residence once you are in NZ

The forms and guides are all online at NZ Immigration Service at www.immigration.govt.nz. Its pretty user friendly, and although the process takes a while you will have plenty fo time before JUne of 2008 to get it all done and approved, whichever way you go. Jus surf through their entire site and figure out which route is best for you.

You do not say what your employment is, so don't know if you would qualify under the skilled migrant category but you can check that, also you dont say how long you have been with your kiwi guy, If its more than 2 years, you may be eleigible to apply under the partnership category. Also you don't say ifyou have been to NZ before, if not you might want to do a reccie trip out to have a look around and see what you think .

There are lots of others on here more knowledgeable than me, so I am sure you will get lots of other replies and helpful advice.

Kanatakiwi

[Oregonkiwi]

Excellent post, Kanatakiwi. Just to clarify - you need to be living together for 12 months (not 2 years) before you can apply under partnership.

[krdk]

Kanatakiwi, thank you for your information. I am a school counselor currently working in a high school. Unfortunately this is not on either the long term or short term list of needed skills.

I am 39 and will have to sell my house, move my belongings and my cat and dog, so I worry about moving on a visitors permit as there is so much to finish up on this end.

Since I have a target date, can I move on a work permit if I don't have a job yet? Our school years are opposite as you know, and I'm curious about the timing issues this creates. It will be much harder to find a job in my field in June than in, say, February. I deally I would have a 12 month work permit which would allow us to live together for 12 months and apply for partner/spouse residency.


Thanks so much!
katie

[kanatakiwi]

You don't need ajob to apply for a work permit.

[dharder]

I deally I would have a 12 month work permit which would allow us to live together for 12 months and apply for partner/spouse residency.

I'm not sure if you can apply before you actually have lived together for 12 months. If not, then make sure you can stay long enough legally in the country after your 12 month permit has expired. A straightforward partnership application shouldn't take long (ours took a month), but you still need to be in the country legally while the application is being processed.

Good luck,

Daniela

[krdk]

OK, so I get my qualifications checked through NZQA, apply for a work permit, move, find a job, get married, live together for 12 months and apply for residency under the spouse/partner provision while still living in the country - in that order. Is that right? - in a nutshell, anyway.
katie

[Oregonkiwi]

Since I have a target date, can I move on a work permit if I don't have a job yet?

I'm pretty sure that you must have a job or job offer to apply for a work permit, unless you are applying for a work permit under the partnership category. It doesn't sound like you qualify under partnership yet, which means you won't be able to apply for a work permit before you have a job offer.
Have you checked to see whether you have enough points to qualify for PR as a Skilled Migrant?

[kanatakiwi]

I'm pretty sure that you must have a job or job offer to apply for a work permit, unless you are applying for a work permit under the partnership category. It doesn't sound like you qualify under partnership yet, which means you won't be able to apply for a work permit before you have a job offer.


Just had a look on the NZIS webiste (since I was the poster of the possibly incorrect info:no ) and this is what it says:

You may be eligible for a temporary work visa and/or permit if:

* you have a job offer from a New Zealand employer
* there is a specific purpose or event for which you need to come to New Zealand to work
* you are a student or trainee who wants to work here, or
* you want to join your partner here and work.

If you have been in this relationship(partnership) for less than a year, initially we can only grant you a work visa or permit for up to 12 months. Once you are here, you can apply for further work permits for a total stay of up to two years from your arrival, if:

* you and your partner want to stay longer in New Zealand and can show us that you are still in a genuine and stable relationship, or
* you apply for residence as a partner.

I assumed that Katie could join her partner here and work, and that would be different than actually applying under the partnership category? Am I wrong?
:confused:
kanatakiwi

[Oregonkiwi]

I assumed that Katie could join her partner here and work, and that would be different than actually applying under the partnership category? Am I wrong?


I happily stand corrected. :)

[krdk]

This last bit about joining your partner is something I had not noticed. That's helpful as long as they are not using the 12 month definition of partner.

I think I have 105 points under the Skilled Migrant category. I have a masters and 7 years experience, but not in a profession on the needs lists.