[nickydwuk]

We have been planning to come to NZ with PR through the skilled migrant category (I already have a job offer). We aimed to arrive in September 2008. It seems that fate has intervened - we were relying on OH's voluntary redundancy payout to help with the relocation costs. The company did have a redundancy policy whereby those who wanted to leave just had to apply and they would be given a payout of £10k at any time throughtout the year. However they have reveiwed the policy and have limited the package to those who apply in November and who will then leave sometime between November and April at a time to suit the company. :wah They may have a package next year bit no guarantee.

So if OH takes redundancy now we will need to be in NZ within the next 3-4 months or even earlier as we don't want to spend too much of his redundancy payout before we go. We planned to submit our EOI in January and was working on a 6 month timescale. If we need to come sooner what options have we got? I have looked on NZIS at WTR as this seemed the next option but would we have to wait 2 years before we applied for PR?:confused: If we come anything other than PR would we have to pay school fees as international students?

So many questions and not a lot of time.:(

[M&J]

Hi

You can apply for a temporary Visa and then apply for PR when you want. We got a 9 month visa so we could come over sooner and applied for PR at the same time. If the job offer is in a skills shortage area the employer does not have to prove they couldn't get a Kiwi to do the job. But not sure about school fees, think this might be covered if the visa is for 12 months or more.

This link should give you more info. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/

also if you applied for PR in Jan there is a chance you would get it in time if you have a job offer.

[peebles16]

We are not there yet as house sale has delayed plans somewhat but plan to be in Christchurch by January 2008. Started process proper in August, EOI September, ITA received September and just waiting for permanent residency approval now and think it should happen soon. OH had job by then and professional registration for work purposes.
Everyone does this is different ways depending on their circumstances. The PR route was really important for us so we all as a family hit the ground running in NZ with as few issues as possible re: work for me and schooling. Many folks here have signatures that show timescales and we've seen a few who have turned it around in a couple of months from start to finish so think it's doable just takes a lot of organisation and a bit of luck :)

Just my experience/opinion and good luck
Karen

[wilson182]

If you already have a job offer you could apply for a work visa/permit and then apply for residency once you are here. Is your job offer in a skills shortage etc area? Once you have your work permit your OH will get an open one and you can apply for student visa's for the kids. This way you do not have to pay international school fees but just the school donation. Depending on how long the work visa/permit is for will depend on whether you will have to do police checks/medicals etc, but the downside is you will be paying extra for work permits and PR application.

M&J, do you mean an extended visitors visa? If you are here on a visitors visa you will have to pay international school fees.

Hope this helps

Debs xx

[IanW99]

...
So if OH takes redundancy now we will need to be in NZ within the next 3-4 months or even earlier as we don't want to spend too much of his redundancy payout before we go. We planned to submit our EOI in January and was working on a 6 month timescale. If we need to come sooner what options have we got? I have looked on NZIS at WTR as this seemed the next option but would we have to wait 2 years before we applied for PR?:confused: If we come anything other than PR would we have to pay school fees as international students?

So many questions and not a lot of time.:(

You do not have to wait 2 years before applying for PR, you can apply at any time.

You can still apply for student visas (for the children) with a WTR and they won't have to pay international fees - this assumes not higher education (when you do need a PR).

If it was my choice, I would apply for PR straight away and if it doesn't appear that you will get it approved in time then consider the other options e.g. WTR etc. IMO this is the simplest and safest long term option for those that already have job offers.

Ian

[Nienke]

You do not have to wait 2 years before applying for PR, you can apply at any time.
Ian


Yes, but you have to go into the PR points-system to do that, submit EOI ect and have enough points to get selected.
If you get WTR and wait two years, you don't need to go through the whole PR-points system. You still need to do the medicals, and the same paperwork as you do with the 'normal' PR procedure though.
Downside to this is as long as you are on the WTR visa, you are dependent on the employer you got the visa for.
That's why we went into the whole PR application route after one year on the WTR.

[IanW99]

Yes, but you have to go into the PR points-system to do that, submit EOI ect and have enough points to get selected.
If you get WTR and wait two years, you don't need to go through the whole PR-points system. You still need to do the medicals, and the same paperwork as you do with the 'normal' PR procedure though.
Downside to this is as long as you are on the WTR visa, you are dependent on the employer you got the visa for.
That's why we went into the whole PR application route after one year on the WTR.

I assume for most people once you are in NZ with a job, passing the required points is much easier, but still a valid point. It would be interesting to see how many people wait for the two years as everyone I know has applied early?

One point I didn't mention, is that applying for a PR whilst in NZ seems to take approx 6 months on average, which appears to be longer than from the UK for the same conditions.

If you go the WTR route, then also need to consider health care costs as you are not covered unless the visa is at least 2 years.

Ian

[Nienke]

We applied from New Zealand (Auckland) for PR and it took 2 months in total!

WTR visa is valid for 2,5 years, so you're covered under ACC.

[nickydwuk]

Thanks for the advice guys. OH is going to see if he can take his redundancy next spring (Apr/May) which would work out great for us. With luck PR should be granted by then. If not we will have to apply for a WP to get us into NZ.

Thanks again :nice1