[scampi]

:yes :) In May this year we were lucky enough to complete the UK end of the immigration process and were all granted the converted Blue Sticker in the passports.

Since May a number of things have happened which have, unfortunately made us change our plans. We originally planned to move to Northland in late September starting a new job a few weeks later. Due to some family issues and other unrelated issues, we will now be travelling in late January.

I may have to travel to NZ in order to take up the job leaving three people who will all have Blue Stickers, in the UK until our house is sold owing to mortgage payments which need to be met if the house hasn’t sold.

Our countdown clock has begun to the one year point.

My questions are this:-

1. As I am the main claimant for the skilled migrant category, am I the only one who has to travel to NZ in the time frame outlined?
2. If we all have to go in order to honour the Blue Sticker and the regulations, how long do my family have to remain in NZ before they can come back to continue earning money n order to pay the mortgage and sell the house?
3. Am I missing something or have got the whole situation completely mixed up?

I realise now that I should not have sent the passports in until we were about to travel, you learn by big mistakes such as this.

Thanks for the help for those who may reply, ta. :yes :)

[Mickstim]

Hi Scampi

I do know you have a year to enter the country but that can just be on a holiday to get your visas activated. Everyone who has the blue sticker has to arrive in NZ. If you are planning to be there in January you are surely still within your year? The blue sticker tells you what date you need to arrive by.

We have done the same thing and have to be there by May 08 and we asked if we could get an extension if the house isn't sold. Our case worker said there was no way we could get an extension but we only needed to be in NZ for long enough to get the visa validated. I believe that your RRV then gives you another year to re-enter the country but I am sure others will have a more accurate answer to that.

Good luck with the house sale!

Barb

[diforsyth]

Everyone with a Residence Visa must pass through NZ immigration within one year of it being issued. Your passport will be stamped with a Residence Permit, as long as your passport is stamped you can fly straight back out.

Your Returning Resident's Visa is valid for a further 2 years from the date of the first Residence Permit stamp.

In theory, you could stretch the process out to nearly 3 years. Example: -

Residence Visa issued 26 May 2007
Arrive in NZ on 25 May 2008 and receive Residence Permit stamp
Depart NZ
Return to NZ on 24 May 2010 on Returning Resident's Visa

Hope this helps,
David.