[blearyjane]

Hi everyone -

whilst I am putting together an EOI, we think that our best chance is for OH to get a job with an accredited employer and apply for a WTR visa. As I understand it, that gives us a 30 month visa, and we can apply for PR after 24 months with OH as the principal applicant. The trouble is that takes him pretty close to the 55 year old cut off point so we could be in trouble if there are any delays. The question is, if he gets a WTR visa and I get a job when we get to NZ, is there any reason why we can't apply for PR straight away with me as the principal applicant?

Thanks in advance!

[IanW99]

If you come to NZ on a WTR, there is nothing stopping you from applying for a PR whenever you want, you do not need to wait the 2 years first.

If you do have a job and apply for a PR from NZ then it does appear to take longer than if the same application was made in the UK. I know a few took approx 6 months but others on the forum have done it in less time.

You don't need to be the principal applicant, your OH can be with no problems.

The main advantage of waiting two years is that the process of getting your PR is meant to be simpler?

The main advantage of applying straight away is that the medical and police certs will still be valid, so you won't need to do them again (they remain valid for 3 months and 6 months respectively).

One option I would consider though, if you do get a job offer in the UK then see if you can apply for PR instead of WTR as this would be the simplest option of all, if we had known more, then this is what we would have done (and we know others who have said the same).

Ian

[Nienke]

We had a WTR visa, but when I took a good look at the procedure of applying for PR after two years, it seemed to be the same procedure as with applying for PR straight away, but without needing the points. Same paperwork, medicals, etc. needed to be send in.

So we applied after 1 year via the points system and got our PR whithin 3 months (Auckland).

[blearyjane]

Thanks both.

We have considered applying for PR with job offer...but after doing the quick check on the NZIS website I am not sure we would have the points as OH's job is not on the shortage list and he has only experience - not qualifications. But it would be our preferred option if we could manage it!

[Bergita]

Hi

We would have enough points if either of us had a job offer, but WTR is a quicker route for us as far as getting out of SA and into NZ is concerned. I agree that the paperwork and fees is practically doubled if you go WTR and the PR, but it does have the advantage of being much quicker.
Well theoretically quicker... we still have to see how quick it really is.