[Google]

We were just wondering what happens once you have returned the ITA. Does your case officer tend to contact you ad hoc as an queries arrive or do you not really hear anything for a couple of weeks? We are still waiting for decision successful from our EOI selection on 17/01/08 (with job offer) so are trying to decide whether to risk going on a weeks holiday now (very fed up with waiting!) or once we finally get the ITA sent back to NZIS.

Thanks

Wendy and Lee

[Potato]

We were just wondering what happens once you have returned the ITA. Does your case officer tend to contact you ad hoc as an queries arrive or do you not really hear anything for a couple of weeks? We are still waiting for decision successful from our EOI selection on 17/01/08 (with job offer) so are trying to decide whether to risk going on a weeks holiday now (very fed up with waiting!) or once we finally get the ITA sent back to NZIS.

Thanks

Wendy and Lee

I think this is a very variable situation for everyone.

You can keep track of things, sort of, online. You will first see that your application has arrived, and slowly things will change to Process Pending, then you will get a Lodgement Date (which I believe is the day your application arrived). I've no idea why it takes so long for the lodgement date to appear.

In the post: firstly you will get your receipt and any documents that NZIS have sighted but are returning to you (eg original birth certificate). They are usually quick at getting this to you.

Then you may eventually hear from your case officer (not necessarily the same case officer who sent you your ITA....why this is the case I don't know). He/She will introduce themselves and generally ask you to clarify pieces of information, or request further information. Usually you have 1 month from your lodgement date to respond. Because of this "short" time frame, I believe that in most cases the officer gets back to you fairly soon after they have received your ITA, but I can't guarantee this.
What happens next, I don't really know. Very different for everyone. For me, I had a successful decision about 1 week after providing the new information.
On the whole, it was easier (but not cheaper) to get residence than to get a work permit.