[RMJ]

Hi

I was just wondering how viable it would be to open (purchase a excisting) business.

We are looking at running a coffee shop, small restaurant in the Christchurch area probably in one of the malls.

Well just looking to find out if it will be worth while doing instead of working as Nurses!!

Anybody have any comments or suggestions??

[veronica]

Anything seems to be possible here but for what its worth, I would advise getting here and starting the nursing while you look around, gather information and decide.

[Bubbles]

Hi and happy new year,
can anyone put me straight on this topic please. I am trying to gain residency through the SMC route and always thought that if you were granted PR visas on the grounds of points gained by yours and your spouses professions you were tied to work in that field for a period of time. I only ask as I too have thought of various other work ventures I would like to give a go, but are pretty much out of my reach in this country. The other thing is, if we are tied to our professions for a period of time, how long is it ?
Hope someone can advise.

TIA

John

[veronica]

I'm being dense here....whats SMC stand for.

[Bubbles]

Hi Veronica
SMC = Skilled Migrant Catergory

I'm sure you're not dense !

Cheers

John

[veronica]

Not normally, just having a moment...Most people who have come out with a job seem to have been told that 3 to 6 months gets them past the hurdle but I cant comment on the SMC visa in particular. I have a feeling someone else wrote on this a few weeks/month ago so it may be worth doing a forum search.

[Bubbles]

Thanks Veronica,

I'll hang around for a bit and see if anyone else has any other info

Ta

John

[Wannaway]

Hi Bubbles,

We have been granted PR on an "in principle" basis, this means it is subject to one criteria, that I retain the job in NZ that gave me the points in the first place for 3 months. I am told all I need to do is provide a letter from my employer after the three month period confirming that I remain employed with them etc etc and that this is then sent to NZIS with passports and the PR stamp is given without restriction re employment (I belive you are still expected to show some somitment by remaining in the country for certain amounts of time over a two year period).

Hope this helps.

Lee

[Bubbles]

Thanks Lee
That's put a little more light on the subject. :nice1

Did you get the latest pm

Cheers

John

[Wannaway]

Hi John,

Yes I did get your PM, will reply later (whisper it, but I am actually at work today, but in an office of almost 100 people there are 4 of us in - talk about a ghost town!).

Lee

[debnjohn]

Hi Bubbles,

We have been granted PR on an "in principle" basis, this means it is subject to one criteria, that I retain the job in NZ that gave me the points in the first place for 3 months. I am told all I need to do is provide a letter from my employer after the three month period confirming that I remain employed with them etc etc and that this is then sent to NZIS with passports and the PR stamp is given without restriction re employment (I belive you are still expected to show some somitment by remaining in the country for certain amounts of time over a two year period).

Hope this helps.

Lee
But what happens if you don't have a job offer? I am trying the SMC route, and my points are based on qualifications & experience, but not an actual job offer. I 'think' I read that once you are granted PR you just had to show that you wern't a drain on NZ resources e.g. you hadn't tried to claim any benefits in the first 2 years. But I might have dreamt this !
John.

[foolsgold99]

But what happens if you don't have a job offer? I am trying the SMC route, and my points are based on qualifications & experience, but not an actual job offer. I 'think' I read that once you are granted PR you just had to show that you wern't a drain on NZ resources e.g. you hadn't tried to claim any benefits in the first 2 years. But I might have dreamt this !


I think I read that too, we've claimed points for my quals and work experience in IT, and while I'll do some IT work when we get there in June / July there's no way we want to do it forever. I view NZ as a way out of IT in the long term.

My understanding of PR granted under the SMC is that as long as your supporting yourself, there is no one checking on what exactly it is your doing.

[Wannaway]

Hi John,

I believe that if you don't have a job offer but you are granted PR under SMC because you still meet the points bar, your PR will be granted "in principle" and with certain restrictions attaching. Precisely what those restrictions are I don't know for sure, but I would imagine they would involve you becoming gainfully employed etc at some point in a specified period of time (2 years?). Whether that employment needs to use your skills or not is another matter, the original purpose of the SMC was to bring in people with in demand skills and specifically match them with local job requirements, but the policy has been a bit of a disaster and there has been a lot of talk recently of returning to the days of "nuclear scientists driving taxis" syndrome (ie get a job, any job, and you are in). Whether this is actually the situation in real life, I don't know.

If you are using an immigration consultant they should be able to tell you what your situation is, if not then you need to make sure NZIS give you a clear explanation of what conditions may apply to your PR so that you understand precisely what is expected of you. We used an immigration consultant so I have no experience of dealing with NZIS directly.

Sorry can't be of much more help, feel sure someone else on the forum can enlighten you further.

Lee

[Beach Kiwi]

I was just wondering how viable it would be to open (purchase a existing) business.


Buying an existing business, or starting a new one is pretty straightforward in New Zealand, there are no real hoops to jump through or licences to get - except if you're in something like real estate, car retailing, or other things like that. As long as you keep the appropriate government departments happy, that is, Tax, Accident Compensation, Health Department (if in something like food retailing), and file the returns they require, then there's nothing to it.

Actually, many Asian migrants seem to open, or buy an existing business. However, I get the feeling this may be more to do with not being able to find a suitable job, than wanting to take that particular course. (or they just like being self employed, of course :mrgreen:)