[mcmp22]

Hello all,

I am torn with what to do at this point, so here are some details to begin with. I recently received my PhD and have a job offer (yet not received the official offer letter) from a prominent chemist at Auckland University. My wife and I are from the USA and would use the time during the postdoc to see if NZ is suitable for us, but we think it is. So we'd like to begin the residence proceedings asap. I've filled out my EOI (waiting on her passport to submit) and we have 195 points. But the problem is we'd like to leave as soon as possible, so it seems the work to residence visa would be more rapid for departure. Therefore I'm interested to know how fast the skilled migrant process takes. We still need to get background checks and medical exams, and Karen needs to get her passport before we can even submit the applications. I'd also like to know if it's worth using an immigration service or doing everything on your own.

Thanks in advance!

[ourquest]

Hi mcmp22, and welcome to the forum.
A few attempted answers; PR can take anything from 3 months (?) to over a year, depending on your own circumstances. With a job offer you would usually be fast-tracked, but that is assuming you have all your paperwork in order.

A work permit can be issued on the strength of your job offer, and these take up to 60 days, but I believe often much quicker, so they are a faster way of getting into New Zealand. As far as I am aware, if this work permit has a currency of less than 12 months then you also are not required to submit medicals and police clearances (I believe the latter can take very long in the US, and might be your most difficult document to obtain and synchronise with the rest of your process).

You can, of course, work and live in New Zealand on a work permit (some restrictions on staying with the same employer and job description, and you'll need to check children's schooling costs and medical cover, but I think it is all free on a 9 month permit?) . While in NZ working you can then apply for PR anytime (although you would need enough time left on your existing permit).

I should also mention that you could arrive (once you have both passports!) at any time as visitors (renewable 3 month visitor's permit, subject to having a return ticket and enough funds to live) and start the process whilst in NZ.

Forum contributors are fairly unanimous in their advice not to use migration agents, but there is a recent thread on this issue which has a balanced approach to this, worth reading. NZIS's website is very comprehensive, and the process, although difficult to quantify in terms of all possible options, does become straightforward once a particular type of visa is decided upon.

Let's see how other contributors see it. Hopefully in a day or two this thread will provide some direction for you?

All the best.

[BkyMonster]

First off, Hi there. :)

Let's see. You have a Post Doc job offer. Is it for a fixed length of time? Most of the ones I'm familiar with are 1-2 years (often renewable or attached to a particular project's funding) so I'd assume that's what you have.
You certainly may, as you have a job offer, be able to get your EOI sorted into PR in 3 or so months. Persons with job offers are fast tracked.
From my understanding a WTR visa would require you to have the job for 2 years and possibly be a 'permanent' position? Now if your Post Doc is already planned for 2 years and not a renewable 12 month contract this might be a good option for you.
On a 2 year WTR visa you have the same access to medical and other benefits as someone with PR but you are tied to the job. It also requires much of the same background checks and medicals as the EOI/PR process.
I'm not totally sure but I think there may be income restrictions on WTR visas? As in you have to earn over a certain amount? This may only be for jobs not on the Immediate or Long term skill shortage lists. I think Chemistry is on one of those.

What you might try is getting a 12 month work visa. You can get a Family Stream work visa for your wife that allows her to stay and work in the country for the length of your work visa. This requires a medical and background check as well but overall the process seems to be much quicker. I think it may only require a chest X-ray and character check rather than the full medical. However, when you do apply for PR or a longer work permit you'll have to get the full medical--an extra expense.
While under a 12 month work visa you can then work on PR.
You won't have medical benefits while under a 12 month work visa but you will be there quicker. :)

I'm not sure about the police check time for the US but I hear that it can be very quick.

As all the options look fairly workable for you there are other things to think about.
Some other things to consider are the price of the EOI, especially the Migrant Levy and associated fees you'll have to pay before getting PR. These fees do not seem to be the same with WTR. If you are most interested in speed then perhaps a regular work visa will be best for you.
(Not much will happen until after January 8th regardless--Holidays )

I'd say have a poke around on the NZIS website in regards to fees (if that might be an issue), what medicals are required for what visa (X- ray only, or whole medicals), and what background checks are required.

There's so much information. I could go on and on...and already have :p

Hope you can wade through that. :D

[IanW99]

Hi mcmp22, and welcome to the forum.
A few attempted answers; PR can take anything from 3 months (?) to over a year, depending on your own circumstances. With a job offer you would usually be fast-tracked, but that is assuming you have all your paperwork in order.
...
You can, of course, work and live in New Zealand on a work permit (some restrictions on staying with the same employer and job description, and you'll need to check children's schooling costs and medical cover, but I think it is all free on a 9 month permit?) . While in NZ working you can then apply for PR anytime (although you would need enough time left on your existing permit).
...


Actually you can get a PR in under 2 months which can be just as quick as you would be able to get a 30 month WTR so from a time perspective it doesn't really matter which one you go for.

You won't be covered with medical costs in NZ unless you have a visa that is for at least two years.

The following thread has some good discussion on the issues Talent Visa V.S. Skilled Migrant P.R. and BMI (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14981)

Personally, if you can go for PR and you are expecting to stay in NZ permanently then this is the way to go, it is simpler (only one application), less risk (if you were to fail medicals etc) and cheaper (only one application) than going any other route first.

Ian

[benandclare]

Actually you can get a PR in under 2 months which can be just as quick as you would be able to get a 30 month WTR so from a time perspective it doesn't really matter which one you go for.

You won't be covered with medical costs in NZ unless you have a visa that is for at least two years.

The following thread has some good discussion on the issues Talent Visa V.S. Skilled Migrant P.R. and BMI (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14981)

Personally, if you can go for PR and you are expecting to stay in NZ permanently then this is the way to go, it is simpler (only one application), less risk (if you were to fail medicals etc) and cheaper (only one application) than going any other route first.

Ian

Agree totally , see our signature and Speckythecky did it even quicker

[skibumwa]

It's possible to get a PR in less than 2 months, but don't bet the bank on it or make promises to your new employer on how fast it *might* take! I got my 30 month WTR visa/permit in 2 months because of a goof that my doctor made in Seattle. It should have taken only 2 weeks - 1 month tops.

My PR was initially approved after just 2 months because I live here in Welly working as a Software Engineer and my medicals are fine.

The larger question is can your new employer wait for you if NZIS takes 3-9 months to process your PR. if they cannot or won't, then apply for your WTR visa then once you arrive, start applying for your PR. If you time it right, your form 1007 Medical will still be valid (it's only valid for 3 months).

ALso, your FBI background clearance should take less than 3 weeks to get it you give them a pre-paid UPS or FedEx envelope for return and ask in writing (nicely of course) to expedite this for a 3 weeks turn around.

WTR visa applications for US Citizens are no charge (free) processing by NZIS.

fyi - My med form 1007 cost me nothing when I did it under my private medical insurance in the States. Ironically, I had to pay about $400 NZD to get medical done here in NZ.

Good luck!