[BoroCraig]

Good Morning/Good Evening,

I am applying for a WTR visa under the Talent (employer) scheme (awaiting med results/police checks) and although I'm fairly certain of the answer can someone please confirm that there are no benefits available under this visa once in NZ e.g. child benefit etc.

Also, can anyone tell me if we can apply for a PR once we are out there utilising the meds etc already gathered here or whether we would have to do it all again (and therefore may as well wait to apply for residency after two years). Alternatively, am I able to apply for WTR and PR together now - problem is my employer wants me to start work in May and I don't think they'll allow me to delay things?

Any help/advice would be most welcome.

Many Thanks

[steviec]

Hi Borocraig,
All i know is your police checks and medicals are valid for 2 years and don't think you can get child benefit till you have PR.
Hope this clears some questions up but i'm sure others will clarify things for you.
Good luck.
Tracy.

[dusk]

As far as I am aware the medical is valid for only 3 months (until you send it in as part of your application...) and 6 months for the polce check - are they valid for 2 years for other applications once you've sent the WTR application in?

you CAN apply for PR at any time, you don't have to wait the 2 years that the WTR visa gives you, so you could send in for the PR applciation whilst your medical and police check are still valid - obviously NZIS will still want fees for the applciation process.

I have read that the medicals in MZ are a fair amount chepaer then in the UK, but if you're going to have to do several of them I doubt thats of much use.

[CJ22]

As I understand it, the medical is only valid for 3 months and the police check is only valid for 6 months (in terms of getting you in the country). If you try for a PR after a couple of years, you'll need new medicals and you'll need to get a supplementary police certificate from the Kiwi plod.

WTR is only useful if you're in a hurry. If you can take the extra time, it's worth doing the full PR.

[IanW99]

WTR is generally quicker and simpler than a PR.

If you don't have enough points for a PR then a WTR may be the only suitable option.

As others have said, medicals can only be submitted upto 3 months from when taken. If you have already submitted a medical for a WTR then as long as you get the PR in quickly (within the 3 months) you don't need a new medical.

General advice would be that if you can apply for PR and able to wait then this is your best approach, if not then go with the WTR.

If you have enough points to submit a PR, then you definitely don't need to wait the 2 years before applying after getting the WTR.

If your WTR is for two years or more, then you are entitled to 'free' health care.

A few other comments. You don't need to get a certificate from the Kiwi plod as immigration will do that themselves.

Yes, medicals do seem to be cheaper than from the UK, but they are also more thorough.

Ian

[steviec]

The medicals and police checks you used for your WTR can be used again to get PR as long as its within 2 years because thats how long they keep hold of them for. After that 2 years you need to do them again .
Is this what you mean? If not take no notice of me.
Tracy.:D

[IanW99]

The medicals and police checks you used for your WTR can be used again to get PR as long as its within 2 years because thats how long they keep hold of them for. After that 2 years you need to do them again .
Is this what you mean? If not take no notice of me.
Tracy.:D

When we applied for PR after applying for WTR we were clearly told that we would need new medicals and police certificates as they were both out of date (3 months and 6 months respectively), this was all well within the two years of the WTR.

AFAIK, they are only valid along with an application for 2 years i.e. if your application was to take more than 2 years you would need to provide new ones. But only for the specific application that they were supplied for.

On the other hand, from what you are saying, you believe that the medicals submitted for WTR could be re-used for the PR as long as it was done within 2 years. Seems strange if this is the case as you aren't meant to apply for the PR from a WTR until after 2 years?

So, do you know for a fact that you can re-use them for a PR as long as it is within 2 years? This would be interesting to many forum members if true (would save a lot of time and money). Any details please.

Ian

[steviec]

My understanding is if you come over on a permit either general work or WTR immigration keeps your police checks and medicals on file for 2 years and if you apply for PR within the 2 years the police checks and medicals are still valid and can be used for the PR application.

We have spoke to immigration on numerous occasions over the phone and this is our understanding regarding them.


Yes it is strange because they would be out of date if you are on WTR but maybe they are abit forgiving about it or maybe not, it is immigration after all!

Tracy.

[IanW99]

My understanding is if you come over on a permit either general work or WTR immigration keeps your police checks and medicals on file for 2 years and if you apply for PR within the 2 years the police checks and medicals are still valid and can be used for the PR application.

We have spoke to immigration on numerous occasions over the phone and this is our understanding regarding them.


Yes it is strange because they would be out of date if you are on WTR but maybe they are abit forgiving about it or maybe not, it is immigration after all!

Tracy.

From the medical and x-ray guide:-
What if I submitted a medical certificate with my last application?

If you are applying for residence you will need to submit a new medical certificate.

You may not need a new medical certificate if you are applying for a temporary visa or permit and you have submitted a medical certificate with a previous application within the last two years. Your case officer will let you know if a new medical is required.

It seems clear to me that if you are now applying for a PR then you will need a new certificate, but sure it couldn't hurt to ask your case officer first.

It is interesting to note that it doesn't even say that the previous one would still be Ok if less than 3 months old.

Ian

[BoroCraig]

Many Thanks to all those who've replied - I think I will have to go with the WTR, get to NZ to see how we actually get on out there and then review our options at a later date.