[Nick88]

Hi all

My wife and I immigrated here (NZ) about 10 years ago, and we have lived at both ends of the North Island in that time. I shall try my best to answer plenty of questions, though the answers might not always be what people want to read.

My wife and I came in under the General Skills, but I have also helped family come in using the business investor and family sections. So I'll be happy to give any relevant advice I can.

I am also after some info. Is there anyone out there who has recently come in using the Entrepreneur Category? We have created a business in Northland that I think would be very attractive to a potential immigrant coming under this class. I would really appreciate some insider info on the pitfalls and the requirements when using this pathway. I intend to sit down with my accountant very soon to make sure that the books and business structure are set up to make the business look as good as possible to the NZIS (before and after an immigrant's two year period). We probably won't have everything in place for for a sale for a couple of years, but the sooner we get things under way the better.

Any advice would be very much appreciated, and I hope to return the favour by helping others here.

[aggelon]

We came in under the entrepreneur category.
All I can say is don't make the business a radio station as NZIS have absolutely no understanding of it at all. (Though they should do now as we gave them a two hour lecture on the phone about it.)
NZIS like lots of photos of the business through its development and nice straightforward accounts.

[Nick88]

That is definitely outside my sphere of experience, but thanks Aggelon. My business is a bit less technical and alot more rural.

What sort of things did the NZIS want to see achieved in that 2 year assessment period? Our business is already trading and has been for a few years, and in a couple of years will be ready for a fairly big jump in revenue, the work to make this possible is being done now. I thought this might be good timing for a new immigrant owner to take over, they could show good revenue increases straight away. Our problem has always been a lack of product to sell, and we need to increase production now to have it to sell in three years.

Were there any parts of the business that they looked at in particular? Did the value of the business have an impact on the points earned? Could the value of the business include a dwelling that was integral and necessary (security) to the business? Would I be able to get an assessment from NZIS before considering marketing the business to immigrants? Can you recommend anyone in NZIS that I could talk to to get an opinion?

Blimey, so many questions!