[ourquest]

Just wondered about specific cases of applicants getting WTR rather than PR (applicable to those accepted without job offers). I understand that it is when NZIS are not convinced that an applicant will integrate and they thus doubt the ability to find employment.
But what are these factors? Language ability? Lack of work experience?
Any insight will help. Thanks.

[fruitfly]

When they think that your skills are not well defined, outdated and not very marketable.

[dugdug]

My case officer told me that leaving an "exception of exceptional cases" (her words) applicants who do not have a job offer will most probably
get a WTR. !!

[mike&stef]

How is the structured interview and application information assessed?

The assessment of the information gathered during your interview, and from the information contained in your application, will include consideration of the following factors:
• your employment prospects; and
• your familiarity with New Zealand and preparedness for settlement and, where relevant, your partner and dependent children included in your application; and
• your linkages and support in New Zealand through networks and family.

It is important to note that:
If INZ determines you have a high potential to readily obtain skilled employment in New Zealand, you will be assessed as having demonstrated the ability to successfully settle in and contribute to New Zealand despite not gaining points for:
• skilled employment; or
• a qualification which required two years study in New Zealand (which must be a Doctorate or Masters degree, or a qualification in an identified future growth area or relevant to an occupation in an absolute skills shortage area).

If INZ considers you have not yet demonstrated the ability to successfully settle and contribute, but you have demonstrated you can realise your potential to successfully settle in and contribute to New Zealand, a decision on your application for residence will be deferred for a period of up to nine months. During that nine-month period you may be issued or granted a Work Visa or Work Permit to allow you to demonstrate the ability to settle in and contribute to New Zealand by obtaining an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand.

If INZ is satisfied you have obtained an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand during the nine-month deferral period, you will be assessed as having demonstrated an ability to settle in and contribute to New Zealand, and will have your application for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category approved.

This from the Application for Residence Guide PDF and is for those applying for PR but who do not have a job offer or over 140 points. It looks like they will then interview you! This is the boat we hope to be in when we submit our application although an interview sounds daunting!!

Hope this helps :nice1

[Embvetos]

Dear all,

I have 2 questions:

- are there any Dutch people here who can tell me about the chances of getting WTR instead of PR? Any experiences so far? As I understand it is easier for the British to get PR compared to non-UK immigrants?

- when I am issued a WTR, how long do I have to enter NZ, i.e. will me visa stay valid?

I will have my interview in 2 weeks time and start to worry now that maybe I will not be granted PR...

Kind regards,

Ellen

[alan999]

Dear all,

I have 2 questions:

- when I am issued a WTR, how long do I have to enter NZ, i.e. will me visa stay valid?


Kind regards,

Ellen

I believe my WTR visa is standard and it is valid for 30 months from issue, not from when entering NZ. I need to work for 24 months within that 30 to be allowed to apply for PR.
Alan

[Embvetos]

Thank you for your reply. So I have 6 months before I need to enter NZ on a WTR?

[Vladimir]

Hi Ellen,

As I understand it is easier for the British to get PR compared to non-UK immigrants?

I think it depend more on your occupation then on your nationality. I am Russian but I got PR. On the interview they asked mostly about a job, how would I find a job, what would I do if I didn't find a job in my field.

I wish you good luck on the interview :)

Vladimir.

[alan999]

Thank you for your reply. So I have 6 months before I need to enter NZ on a WTR?


You can delay entering NZ for 6 months but if you do then you have no leeway if you need or want to change employer. Also, I had to have a job offer, and it fulfil all the rules, before they would give me my WTR.

[IanW99]

You can delay entering NZ for 6 months but if you do then you have no leeway if you need or want to change employer. Also, I had to have a job offer, and it fulfil all the rules, before they would give me my WTR.

AFAIK, it doesn't say how long you could delay entry into NZ for? They would of course say that they would like you to go to NZ as soon as possible, but on the visa it says that you can enter anytime until the visa expires.

I believe my WTR visa is standard and it is valid for 30 months from issue, not from when entering NZ. I need to work for 24 months within that 30 to be allowed to apply for PR.
Alan

If you work for 24 months then yes you are allowed to apply for PR and the application is meant to be straightforward, but...

...You don't have to wait 24 months before applying for your PR, you can for example arrive on a WTR and apply for a PR as soon as you arrive.

The actual reason that you are given a 30 month visa is so that you can apply for a PR after 2 years and therefore have 6 months left while it is being processed otherwise you would have to leave NZ.

But even with this you have to be careful as getting a PR in NZ can take longer than 6 months in which case you have a problem.

Ian

[river11]

Just wondered about specific cases of applicants getting WTR rather than PR (applicable to those accepted without job offers). I understand that it is when NZIS are not convinced that an applicant will integrate and they thus doubt the ability to find employment.
But what are these factors? Language ability? Lack of work experience?
Any insight will help. Thanks.

My case officer told me that leaving an "exception of exceptional cases" (her words) applicants who do not have a job offer will most probably
get a WTR. !! .

Good post ourquest, however I don't think this has yet been answered. Mike&stefs quote is quite relevant but still doesn't answer your question. I keep trying to find some cases relating to this question on other sites but as yet, most seem happy with WTR. I'm not one of those. How many points did you have when you applied?

I'd love to know what dugdugs case offer meant, as why issue an ITA if they know you applied with no job offer and the other criteria you don't have.

[nefertiti]

Hello,

I got my WTR on 31/10/07. Expiring on 01/05/08. So that makes it 6 months Validity and I should not arrive after 30/04/08. I left London on the 02/12/07. Arrived in Welly on the 04/12/07. I have been here for almost 2 months and still hunting for a job in IT. Its not all rosy of what people think it is. They do so many expos and entice people to come here. The job market is close almost whole of Dec throughout Mid Jan. As its a long summer vacation and Xmas holidays and then they have Welly Anniversary Day, Auckland Anniversary and Waitaingi Day. Now most of the recruitment agencies are sceptical of my Visa expiring soon. Most of them don't even know what a WTR is ! They tell me that its more easier to get a job if I had a longer Work Visa or a PR. I have to explain to them of what a WTR is. Man this is all crazy.

Many locals I met here ask me why the heck have I come here. I should have been better off elsewhere and more evenly Australia as their wages are more.
Oh well.. Might as well enjoy it here while I can ! :( :(

[dugdug]

I'd love to know what dugdugs case offer meant, as why issue an ITA if they know you applied with no job offer and the other criteria you don't have.


We can disassemble her statements in the following manner :

1.
They issue an ITA based on your EOI points. The actual selection policy is constantly reviewed keeping in mind existing market conditions. So even if ones does not actually have a job at the time of an ITA he/she can get one while the application is processed !!. If that happens the ITA processing is fast tracked and a PR granted.

2.
In my case I didn't have a job offer at the time of interview. My CO told me that she would really want to ensure that I actually CAN settle down - long term in NZ without hassles. (This was after I told her that I wouldn't leave my current job till I got one in NZ.). That's the reason for her statement of an "exception of exceptions". She informally told me that she would most probably give a WTR to see if I really manage to get a job. If I get one then PR would be a breeze :)

[alan999]

...You don't have to wait 24 months before applying for your PR, you can for example arrive on a WTR and apply for a PR as soon as you arrive.

Ian

This is only if you have sufficient points to apply for PR. If you do then I see no reason why a WTR is needed, a general work permit will suffice, (I think). In my case, with my qualifications not being accepted, therefore neither my decades of work experience the only way to be able to apply for PR is to work for 24 months on a WTR.

[IanW99]

This is only if you have sufficient points to apply for PR. If you do then I see no reason why a WTR is needed, a general work permit will suffice, (I think). In my case, with my qualifications not being accepted, therefore neither my decades of work experience the only way to be able to apply for PR is to work for 24 months on a WTR.

Good point, you are right you could only apply for PR early if you have enough points to be selected.

A lot of people get a WTR because either they want to get to NZ quickly and don't want to wait for a PR to be processed or that is what they were advised to do by their employer / agent who of course is looking after their own interests.

Ian

[nefertiti]

can u imagine to my horror that most of the org don't want to take you in coz of the expr date of the work visa. most of them prefer you to have 1 year + or more. I email my CO yesterday asking her advise and told her that companies here are hesistant to take anyone on who's visa isnt that lenghthier. she told me that she can't do anything to make the visa extendible ? she said that you have to tell the companies that offer of employment and staying on the job for 3 months and they going back to her would organise a PR. Man ! this is all whacko as i haven't got any job as yet and my WTR is expiring on 1/5/08. my savings from the UK are limited !