[The_scotsman30]

Hiya Guys and Gals.
Thought you might be able to help us with a little question.
We sold up and moved out to NZ about 3 weeks ago. We just came across on a visitors visa and have been having a little holiday. Problem we have now is i have been offer an skilled migrants job. I am off to see the immigration people in wakefield street on monday. Just wondered what the process is for applying for a work permit is and how long it takes roughly? Also if i get a work permit does that change my wife and daughters vistors visa's also so they can stay too?
Looks like the job offer is being issued on monday and they are aware that i don't have a work visa at present althought they are willing to help with the process. Just wondered if anyone else has done it this way?

Hope to speak soon

Steve,Julie & Kayleigh

[irishliz]

I can't answer the process question, but I would assume your wife would also get a working visa and your child a student visa (unless they are very young in which case they get an extended visitor's visa. Good luck. We are in Wellington and love it.

Just a thought - it is the Welly rocks (ex-pats from this site) night out next thursday night which you might be interested in. If you do a search you should find it or maybe some other helpful peson might come to your aid.

[bob_the_engineer]

I didn’t do it this way, I got PR before I arrived, but I’ve been told it would have been quicker to go down the road that you’ve chosen. A job offer and being on the ground goes a long way.

I’m reasonably sure that if you get a work permit, your wife qualifies too, other than that I’d just like to say I wish you every success. :nice1

Bob

[wilson182]

We did it that way, but that was three years ago and in Christchurch. It was deff quicker - once we had all the paperwork OH just went to NZIS and waited in the queue. He got his work permit at the same time. From your employers point of view, and if the job is on the skilled migrants list, its not complicated (or wasnt then) they have to give you a contract with, job description, hours and rate of pay etc.... Once you have your work permit your wife will get an open work permit and your children will get a student visa if they are of school age. If not they will stay on their visitor visa. My daughters visitor visa was due to run out in the April and she started school in June so rather than extend her visitors visa they were happy to give her a student visa at that time.

I would recommend going directly to NZIS to find all the information you need, DONT call the helpline - I have been given duff information a couple of times doing that. (They tried to tell me I would have to pay international school fees for my daughter even thought both OH and I had long term work permits!!!)

Lastly, best of luck........ Let us know how you get on

HTH

Debs

[Tui2too]

hope i'm not interrupting just wanted to say that is interesting news, I hadn't realized the spouse could work too and the kids go to school off of the main applicants work permit! Sounds great (thought that all waited for pr, so definitely better news!)

[eternalkiwi]

If you have a Work permit for a Skilled job, your wife would be eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit. As this is an open work permit, your wife can then work in any type of job for any employer.

If your children are to attend Primary or Secondary (High) School they would need to apply for Student Permits. Though as you are working in NZ your children would be charged the same fees as a local student and not international student fees.

Your employer would need to provide some information regarding the process they have followed and why/how they selected you as the successful candidate.

Timeframe wise (from memory) Wellington NZIS have a standard 4 week turnaround for completed Work Visa applications.

Shawn

[IanW99]

...
If your children are to attend Primary or Secondary (High) School they would need to apply for Student Permits. Though as you are working in NZ your children would be charged the same fees as a local student and not international student fees.
...
Shawn

Just to continue this comment a little further, for those who have children who will be wanting to attend tertiary education e.g. University then a student visa doesn't help i.e. they will have to pay international fees unless you have a PR.

Ian

[ourquest]

We just came across on a visitors visa and have been having a little holiday. Problem we have now is i have been offer an skilled migrants job.

Don't you just hate it when that happens! There you are, admiring some gorgeous view or hiking up a glacier, and just when you are about to read the next entry from your Lonely Planet guide to see what you want to do for the rest of the day, some Kiwi bloke in a suit walks up behind you, introduces himself, pulls out a skills shortage list and then offers you a job. Talk about spoiling your day. :nice1

[Sam B]

Ha ha ha, yeah, that's just a bummer ourquest..

[The_scotsman30]

Thanks for all the info guys. I believe everything is going to be ok. The job is with the ministery of education and i think they are going to pull some strings as they want me to start in two weeks..lol
Going to see the NZIS tomorrow so i will give you all an update then

[Potato]

Just wondered what the process is for applying for a work permit is and how long it takes roughly?


Hi, check this out:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branch/WellingtonBranchHome/processingtimes/

Please note the Wellington Branch has a managed queue for Temporary permit applications. Once received your application will be receipted and queued. A case officer will be allocated to your application 4 weeks after it is received.

Once allocated to a case officer, we will adhere to the following timeliness standards:

Work Permit
We will decide:
91% within 10 days
98% within 30 days
99% within 90 days


Same-day service is offered for

* visitor permits
* returning resident visas
* transfer of permits/visa
* working holiday scheme
* emergency visa to allow travel with EVIDENCE of confirmed travel.

[stu70]

Don't you just hate it when that happens! There you are, admiring some gorgeous view or hiking up a glacier, and just when you are about to read the next entry from your Lonely Planet guide to see what you want to do for the rest of the day, some Kiwi bloke in a suit walks up behind you, introduces himself, pulls out a skills shortage list and then offers you a job. Talk about spoiling your day. :nice1

There must be a law somewhere on the books that punishes employers hell-bent on ruining it for unsuspecting "visitors"! And the "sad" thing is - who do you call for help in these circumstances in a foreign land?? :)