[adamsat]

Hi,

this may seem like a paranoid question but does anyone have any experience of how NZIS staff at the Airports in NZ react when you are on a job hunting trip?

Is it best to keep quiet or claim the purpose of the visit is a holiday?

I know from having a relative in the UK Immigration Service that visitors coming here without the right to work but obviously looking for jobs can be put back on the next flight home.

Any advice?

Andy

[cloudboy99]

Since you are coming from the UK (I'm guessing) you are allowed to enjoy a 6 month holiday (9 months if you use your allotment for two years) I would just let them know that you are there on holiday. No sense mentioning job hunting if you don't have to. If you actually find a job, you can apply then and there for a NZ work permit. Those in NZ are actually happy to fill employment slots as opposed to viewing it as you stealing a job from someone local. I would just say you are there on pleasure and if you happen to find a job, good on ya.

--Stephen

[Moorf]

How strange, I can't find page I posted a while back (page from NZIS) which basically stated that you can come here on visitors and it's okay to look for work.. I have also heard this many times from various sources - so not sure where your friend in immigration got their info.... but would be really helpful if you could get the details from them to post on here.

[Tate6]

I remember an in-depth discussion about this very subject on the old forum. It had a quote from the NZIS. Try searching there and I will too.

Terry

[Tate6]

Andy-

Here is the same subject from the old forum--good info here:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=140&highlight=&sid=5332b17cd950212 4202db99380792c8f

Cleared it up for me!

Good Luck!!
Terry

[xanctus]

I think based on common sense on coming to other countries is better say "Vacation" because you don't want to be some kind of a "thief" of work force in other country. :mrgreen: :P here in the States, if you're a foreginer come here and then try to find a job, it will be so darn Hard to get a working permit. So as coming to NZ, I think it is better if at the airport you'd say that you're absolutely for holiday.
Besides, as Moorf said there are many sources said that you can look for a job while visiting NZ.
cheers
mb

[heimatseeker]

Hi - for whatever it's worth, we also came as visitors, but with the intention to find jobs, and we had no problems.

Arrived here with a 3-month visitor visa in November (coming from the US, you get 3 months, not 6, although I heard it's easy to extend as long as you can proof you have money to support yourself). Once here, we started job hunting and both found jobs in December. We then applied for work permits based on those job offers - we went to NZIS in person, and the fact that were were here on a visitor visa wasn't questioned - in fact, it never came up at all.

Started work in February and just received our ITA.

Good luck - and don't worry. Like others have said, it's not regarded as weird or deceptive to look for a job while officially visiting. :-)

[adamsat]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. My situation is slightly different in that I will only be in NZ for 10 days and in reality the only reason I will be there is to hunt for job offers. That being said I will be coming back in 10 days no matter what happens.

I think I'll go with the holiday option.


Andy

[veronica]

I definately think its a case of least said soonest mended. I'd stick to the holiday plan but wouldn't volunteer any info that isn't asked for. Not because it isn't allowed but just to keep things simple.

[Tate6]

heimatseeker
OUt of curiousity, where in the States are you from? What type of work do you both do, and did you sell you house and "move" to NZ right away?
or was it just a 3 month jobfinding trip?

Thanks! Just trying to see what others from US have done.
Terry

[heimatseeker]

Tate6-

we moved here from San Francisco, and we are both in the tech industry, which is why we chose Wellington. Didn't have a house, just a rented apartment, but we did sell all of our stuff (except for clothes and computers) back in the States and moved here with the the intention to stay for good.

We didn't start actual job searching until we got here, but we did do a lot of research beforehand and knew that there were plenty of opportunities in our field in Wellington, so we decided to take the risk. :cool

good luck to you! :hopeso

[Danpoll]

The amount of times US and canadian customs have quizzed me if I am there to work and I always say hell no, as my tools chink away in my suitcase. When it comes to customs being economical with the truth is always the best route. For example do you ever go to something to declare section?

Dan