[sarabear]

Hi,

I recently accepted a job offer in Wellington, and I'm trying to decide whether to apply for a Talent Visa (employer sponsored) or for permanent residency as a Skilled Migrant (I have >> 140 points, so should get automatic selection). As I understand it, the Skilled Migrant category takes longer, but it has the clear advantage that I would only have to go through the whole mess one time. If I came on a Talent Visa, I'd have to do the whole expensive process again.

However, I was wondering if there might be some advantages to going with a talent visa. In particular, I was wondering if anyone knows if immigration is more willing to grant medical waivers for people with BMI >35 for Talent Visas (since it isn't permanent, and they can always chuck me out after two years if I'm not down to a 35 by then). I found out about this restriction a couple of weeks after I accepted the job (as it isn't mentioned anywhere in the NZ immigration documentation or web site). I'm over a 35, but I've been loosing weight through diet and exercise over the last few months, and my doctor is very happy with my other numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc.) So, I'm hoping that I can still make it work.

Any thoughts?
Thanks!!
Sara

Any suggestions?

[IanW99]

If you have the option of getting a PR or a WTR then I would definitely say go for the PR, as you say it saves a lot of extra hastle. The PR may take longer to process so it may depend on if your employer is happy to wait?

We came over on WTR and then applied for PR, if we had known at the time we would have gone straight for the PR (as would others in the same circumstances that we know in NZ).

If you are going for a two year or more visa then it is the same medical regardless of WTR or PR so it won't make any difference to the test. I don't know if NZIS are more lenient for a WTR but I doubt it as you will eventually be resident.

Another option that you could do is come to NZ on a 1 year work visa instead, you won't need the medical so an easier process. Then when in NZ apply for your PR. Might not be the best option if there are more than just yourself as you won't get free healthcare.

Ian

[ourquest]

In particular, I was wondering if anyone knows if immigration is more willing to grant medical waivers for people with BMI >35 for Talent Visas (since it isn't permanent,

I think they will take each case on its own merits. Their main concern is that the potential immigrant might cost the state money as a result of medical issues, and I suppose they have a strong reason to only accept people who will make a positive financial contribution to New Zealand. So in general terms they are unlikely to be more lenient as such...what they might require is a full declaration (from a specialist) as to how much your medical treatment is likely to cost the government...rather difficult to quantify I'd say, since high BMI is not an illness or medicatable condition in itself.

So perhaps the previous post has a point...go for the one year permit which requires no medical, and then by the time you need to have your medical you will have achieved a below 35 BMI (to your advantage far more than for any individual medical exam!) Otherwise, PR from the start is the better route...you will be fast tracked because of your job offer.

Another point to consider when making the decision (I should be an insurance salesperson!) is that right now you may not have any other conditions, whereas a year or two down the line something might crop up which makes a medical waiver that much more difficult to get.

Just don't be like my brother in law...during the immigration process he discovered a dangerously high cholesterol level, went on a total eating habit plan (and I hope some exercise) and now four years later, having got into NZ in the beginning anyway, has lapsed into his old habits to the detriment of his own health. The moral here is, take this and similar circumstances to make a lasting difference to your life for your own benefit.

Good luck!

[skibumwa]

If you are a US Citizen (?), then there are no work visa application fees. I got here on my 30 month WTR visa because my employer here in Wellington would doubtfully wait for 6+ months for my PR to be approved.

About BMI and cholesterol. Unless you are like 35+ % then I would not worry about it. I was 31% BMI and had high cholesterol when I applied for my 30 month WTR visa. I was approved for my 30 mth WTR visa. That was in June. Now I am 28% BMI w/excellent xcellent cholesterol levels (healthy). Since then, I walked a lot more, drank tons more water, and eat very well. It worked fine.

Just if you are curious... For me - food it was a simple switch. Hot oats w/blueberries, wheat toast, 2 Omega-3 salmon gel pills per morning and OJ. Yum! Lunch (at work) a salad and/or a big tuna sandwitch in a variety flavours and I snack all day with tons of fruit and veggies. I eat dinner only 3-4 days/week, but when I do it's chinese chicken veggie stir fry that I cook at home. So don't worry about BMI unless you are over 35%. Regardless of your BMI, if you start taking care of yourself a little better all should be fine.

I'll bet $1000 that your employer won't wait 7-9 months for your PR to get approved. With that, maybe you can apply for PR, but ask your Visa officer to submit a 30 WTR visa application for you the same time. You need the same medical done for both anyway... :-)

Good luck!

John

[IanW99]

...
About BMI and cholesterol. Unless you are like 35+ % then I would not worry about it.
...
I'll bet $1000 that your employer won't wait 7-9 months for your PR to get approved. With that, maybe you can apply for PR, but ask your Visa officer to submit a 30 WTR visa application for you the same time. You need the same medical done for both anyway... :-)

Good luck!

John

So Sara who says she is over 35 BMI should worry about it then?

If you have a job offer and submit your PR then it will be fast tracked, you will find many people on the forum who have applied and been granted their PR in under 2 months. You won't realistically get a WTR much quicker than this, so would definitely say if the option is available then PR is the best option. Worst case scenario, you can always get a work visa whilst waiting.

BTW, I will bet that you will find some employers willing to wait 7-9 months for certain staff in skills shortage areas - I know of at least one member who's job is being held for 12 months (does she win the bet :D ).

Ian

[sarabear]

Hi All,

Thanks for your helpful advice. My employer says it should take 8-10 weeks to get P.R. given my high number of points and job offer, and our tentative start date isn't for another 5 months anyway, so they say it is no problem to go for P.R. I think I will try for that and hope for the best. My doctor can attest that I'm already on the right track and have lost about 20 lbs toward my goal through diet and exercise, all my other numbers are good, and the scientific research I do is highly specialized and essential to my employer, so I guess my chances are as good as can be hoped for given the situation.

Cheers,
Sara