[Ria]

Hi all,

Saw a thread started the other day where someone mentioned the maximum time span you could delay applying for your visa. Upshot seemed to be, from approval in principle you have 6 months to pay the migrant levy and then another 12 months from the date of visa to enter NZ.

In my ITA it heavily recommends sending the money for the migrant levy with the ITA application fee - 'as this speeds things up' was the implication.

As I may want to take advantage of as long a 'window' as possible, can anyone reassure me that it's perfectly OK to send the ITA and application fee only and wait until they approve us (hopefully) to then send the migrant levy fee?

I didn't think I had this option.

If I do, I hope NZIS won't put us in the 'Not that keen, won't fork all out upfront' pile!!!
:no :no

Thanks

Ria

[Diny]

Hi Ria

I've obtained PR via a different route to you but I guess the basic principles are the same (???).

When I sent off my application I only included payment for applying for PR under the family/partnership category.

When I was informed that PR had been granted, I was told at the same time how much the migrant levy would be and was given a final 'payment due' date - which was/is indeed 6 months from the day PR was granted.

In my 'heap of papers' which I received from the NZIS I was advised to allow 4 weeks for the return of everything (passports stamped etc) from the payment of the migrant levy. However, I have heard from alot of people that your docs are returned much faster than this - but I would advise allowing the full 4 weeks 'just in case'.

The NZIS understand that alot of people will hold off doing anything towards thier actual move until PR has been granted - and lets face it ....... there's enough hurdles out there to impede anyone's haste. Take advantage of the full 18 months if that's what you need but be aware of your deadline dates :eek

Best wishes.

Diny

[chips]

I have a feeling, the PR and therefore your visa's will not be returned till you have paid the "migrant levy". (Well that's what happened with us at the end of last year). Now i am not totally sure, but i think that's what happens. :oops:
Then again i didn't realise that you could wait 6 months to pay the levy, and in our case was irrelvent as we wanted them so we could fly out.
Have you a case officer??? They would be the best person to talk to

Take care Chips, currently frying in this northland heat!

[shagen]

Our ITA did not ask us to remit the required migrant levy, only the application fee, which we did.

I thought the migrant levy only comes when the PR was approved.

Shagen

[MB]

Ria - don't know exactly whether you expect to get PR upfront, but as you probably know there might also be the possibility of getting the 2-year permit that grants PR on the condition of 3 months of skilled employment being completed first.

There was a mention on this forum a few weeks ago that NZIS don't seem to be using this option (as I've said before, I don't know of one single applicant yet who has been given it instead of full PR). But for all I know that perception may be just a result of NZIS not having decided on enough no-job-offer applications yet. Unless someone knows different.

But, as will well appreciate, the dynamics and considerations behind a kinda-conditional 2-year work permit are for many people even more pointed than if they are offered full PR, no conditions, upfront.

So sorry if I'm telling you what you already know, or if it's not applicable. Just wanted to run the 2-year permit thing by you in case that presenets its own alternative "timetable" landscape for you.

Cheers,
Matt.

[abdul]

Hi Ria

I agree wth Diny

I applied for my PR while in CHCH, and only sent the application fee with my application.

Once my application was approved in principle ( after 4 weeks), I paid in
my migrant levy.

Have not heard of the need to pay in the migrant fee upfront along with the application.

I would suggest that you clear this with your assigned case officer.
I asked for an appointment with my case officer and handed in my application personally to her. She took copies of my passport and returned all originals within a week.

However I do understand that this might not be practical as you are applying off-shore All the best with your application.


Cheers

Abdul.

[chips]

Sorry, guy's i am with you now-,
You CAN put in a cheque, or visa number for them to take when they have APPROVED your PR. Now i remember our case officer saying that she was debiting our visa for the migrant levy, when she got off the phone, then she would put the stamps in and return the passport.

:hopeso :hopeso :hopeso
To you all who are waiting.
Chips

[Jules]

We have just received an email from our Agent saying "Residence has been approved in principle" :clap :clap :cheers :raebanana :raebanana

This means that residence will be granted on supplying our passports and paying the Migrant Levy of £230.00 pounds. Does the £230.00 sound right? my OH said it sounds a bit much, has anyone else paid it yet?

They also mentioned that it can take up to 4 weeks to get the passports stamped, as mentioned before.

Jules :nice1

[chips]

no that sounds about right i think it was 115 each and when theres 5 of you :oops: :oops: , but now were are here ,it was worth it...

[Ria]

Thanks guys for your insights (sorry it's taken so long to reply - I'm at home with my 14 month old at present and trying to do a bit of work from home as well, so haven't had a chance before now to reply!)

As some of you said, many people may want to hold off sending the migrant levy fee until they get PR approval - I think as with Chips, most want to speed the process up, so if they send in all the financial info together, NZIS can take it as soon as, once they have your permission.

This just reassures me that we have that extra cushion of time. Who knows how long our house will take to sell, although I don't want to put it up too soon, just in case we're homeless for too long (it's the two cats I worry about :laugh ). This year is just disappearing without a trace (before you know it, it's Easter!) and I suppose I'd like to get out to NZ a few months before the summer starts (not in the depth of winter)and that rules out 2005.

Good luck to all.

Ria