[Bluefox]

Hi All

First post on the forum but have been aware of it for a while. I have a written offer of work from a company based in NZ who I am told has been accredited by the authorities but my role is not a skilled migrant role.

What advantage / difference will I note during my visa process that my employer hold this status?

Thanks in advance.

John

[The Hodges]

Hi John,

First of all welcome. Nice to hear of another person looking to move to NZ.

But I'm not totally sure what you've been told is correct. I do not understand how a company can be accredited by the authorities, but your role is not a skilled migrant one. It sounds like a line if you ask me so that they pay you less, but make you feel better if its accredited (search for other threads on that one!)

Starting at the beginning, you don't say if you're going down the work or permanent residency route. If I had the choice (and I did) I would go down the permanent route everytime. You get more rights and you are not tied to your employer, like you are with the work visa. There's more advice at http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live

On the permanent route, if you get enough points (you can check at http://www.immigration.govt.nz/pointsindicator/) then you can apply. If you get a job offer, then that will speed up the process.

I hope that this helps, but if I'm wide of the mark, let us know and we'll try to answer the question properly.

And good luck.

[jess]

Welcome to the Forum!! :D

It sounds like you are going via the Work to Residence stream rather than the Skilled Migrant stream, since you have an offer from an Accredited Employer. The info you need on how to apply is on the NZIS site on this page (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktoresidence/howdoiapply/stepsfortalent%28accreditedemployers%29/).

(I believe you can be employed by an accredited employer even when your skills would not gain you extra points via the skilled migrant route, and that's because the employer has been given permission from the govt. to hire migrants needed for their particular business even though that skill may not be needed so often as to warrant it being listed on a skills shortage list.)

You still have to do medicals and police checks, but your application is different. You can find it at the link I listed. A major difference with going this way is that you have to work for your employer for 2 years straight before you can apply for PR (permanent residence). See this page (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/residencefromwork/howtoapply/stepsfortalent/) for the details about turning your work permit into PR after 2 years of work.

If you have the points to go straight for PR through the skilled migrant category instead (visit the points indicator link the hodges gave) it would allow you a lot more freedom since even when applying with a job offer, you only have to stay in that job for 3 months. But if you don't have the points to go the skilled migrant route and/or you are happy to work for the accredited employer for 2 years, the work to residency stream does get you in NZ (as long as your app., health and police info is ok of course).

[Bluefox]

Thanks for the response. Without confirming with my perspective employer it sounds like I will be going down the work to residence scheme. I have no issue in being tied in with my new employer and speed of the application will be more important at this stage even though I do meet the points criteria quite comfortably.

I have an offence from way back (12 years or so) but still meet the requirements set (ie. was not imprisoned for it (£200 fine)) and fingers crossed nothing turns up on the medical.

My OH will also be piggy-backing on my application and we have a young child.

Will my OH be able to look and secure employment when we arrive into NZ or will my application place restrictions on her ability to do so?

Thanks again for the pointers here.

Johm

[speckythecky]

there will be no restrictions on your oh working once you have permits.
depending how old your child is, you may need student visa for them.