[b&k]

Hi All,

I read similar posts in the past but haven't been able to find the answer I'm looking for so hope you can help.

I'm looking at going over to NZ next year to work in IT contracting. I am planning to arrive, attend interviews, secure a contract and then apply for a work visa.

Would it be possible once I had started a contract to apply for PR? If so, are there any constraints on a contract job, for example, on the length of the contract?

If anyone else has done this, I would like to know of any pitfalls to watch out for or any general advice you could give. I am a PRINCE2 qualified project manager with 5 years permanent and 2 years contracting experience.

Thanks,

b&k

[Angelonthemove]

You have to prove you have a history of contracting and supply relevant paperwork. Job offers including hours, role etc and then a reference to say you did the length of the contract or longer.

Just had to do exactly that and took for ever to get references and paperwork. Accountants letter with statement of years and salary and invoices etc would also be helpful.

So start getting them now. If you do not have a history the contract has to be for more than 12 months and a lines saying they will employ you for longer, not likely!!!

OH also in IT.

[barryp]

Yeah, they're sticklers for documentation. The more official stuff you can get, the better - confirmation of prior contracts on company letterhead, that sort of thing. For all prior experience, contract or 'permanent'. I had concerns on that matter b/c most prior clients are no longer in business (the nature of my chosen field, not the result of their hiring me ;-) But for PR purposes, a letter of explanation and less formal documentation (old project docs, emails from colleagues, etc.) were OK.

People do succeed doing what you intend, but it's not easy w/o a history of contracting here.

[Chiba]

Just to quote the relevant rules (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/4DAD508D-CC26-425A-A57B-D2AF557C8510/0/1003.pdf) on what jobs are OK:


Acceptable offers of employment

Job offers must be:

for ongoing work with a single employer (that is, permanent, indefinite, or for a stated term of at least 12 months with an option of further terms); or
for one or more contracts totalling at least six months, if you have provided evidence of having had at least two years of contract work; and
for full-time employment (averaging at least 30 hours per week); and
current at the time your application is assessed and at the time you are granted residence; and
genuine; and
for a position that is paid by salary or wages (positions of self-employment, payment by commission and/or retainer are not acceptable); and
accompanied by evidence of full or provisional registration, if full or provisional registration is required by law to take up the offer; and
compliant with all relevant employment law in force in New Zealand. This includes having a written employment contract specifying the necessary terms and conditions, and meeting holiday, special leave, minimum wage, and occupational health and safety requirements.



So, you can contract, so long as you can prove that you've contracted for two years before NZ, otherwise you need a permanent job.

[b&k]

Does this mean that I would have to take up a contract that is at least 6 months long before I can apply for PR?

Many contracts are for 3/4 months. After completing a couple of these, could I apply for PR or would I need to have a 6+ month contract at the time of application?

[KerryS]

Contractors are self-employed though, which means you can't do this according to what Chiba has just quoted. You need a job paid by salary or wages according to his Acceptable Offers of Employment...

[Chiba]

That text I posted is confusing. On the one hand it's the official "rules" on jobs from NZIS, but you could also say that it's places (there are repetitions of it) in the PDF document are not directly in the skilled migrant section, although it is what I've seen quoted elsewhere with reference to the skilled migrant route.

Just ask NZIS directly - then you'll at least have some requirements in writing that you can then aim to meet. And post them here!

[Angelonthemove]

OH had a 6 months contract only and we got PR but he has 25 years of contracting history providing 10 years proof. It took so long he had a 6 months extension during applicaiton and had to supply a whole new contract despite agent saying they never normally do this. they did it anyway to help us.

[b&k]

This is from Immigration NZ:

a. Skilled employment only qualifies for points if the employment is:
- full time (employment is full-time if it amounts to, on average, at least 30 hours per week); and
- genuine; and
- for a position that is paid by salary or wages or in terms of a contract for service (payment by commission and/or retainer are not acceptable), and
- accompanied by evidence of full or provisional registration, or evidence of eligibility for registration by the New Zealand Medical or Dental Council subject only to an interview with the relevant registration authority on arrival, if full or provisional registration is required by law to undertake the employment (see SM19.20); and
- the employment was not offered as a result of payment made (either within or outside New Zealand) by the applicant (or their agent) to the employer (or their agent) in exchange for securing that offer of employment.

b. Employment must be ongoing and sustainable. Ongoing and sustainable employment is:
- an offer of employment or current employment with a single employer and permanent, or indefinite, or for a stated term of at least twelve months with an option for the employee of further terms, and of which the employer is in a position to meet the terms specified; or

- employment on a contract basis where the applicant:
- has a consistent history of contract work, and
- has a current contract for services, and
- the NZIS is satisfied that such contract work is likely to be sustained.

I notice that there is no mention of contract length but instead the work must be sustainable i.e. you must be employable on an ongoing basis.

[Chiba]

Cheers. I put it in the massively comprehensive Wiki we have (that apparently only I know about). :nice1

http://wikenz.org/wiki/Notes_for_IT_Contractors

[Lara Croft]

I'm an IT contractor in the UK at the moment, and I operate through my limited company. If I wanted to go contracting in NZ instead, would I retain the Ltd Co. that I have now, or would I need to start up a new one in NZ?

I hadn't considered contracting as a means to PR, I thought it had to be a permie job....

Jane