NickB
30th May 2008, 06:49 PM
Any advice on this one? I have been given conflicting advice by immigration.
My partner and I are British. We entered NZ in Feb08. She got a job and fast-track 30 month work visa from an NZ employer (she is a scientist) before we arrived.
To save time I came in on a 6 month visitor visa, as I have a business/get paid in the UK and don't work in NZ. Now I want to get a 30 month work visa so I can also work here and buy a small business (cafe). Neither of us want residency. We will sell up and move on in two years.
I applied for a WORK VISA in May and Immigration just issued me a 30 month VISITOR PERMIT :confused: . This will expire as soon as I leave the country (we are going to SA for 8 days in just two weeks!) and also won't allow me to work here.
I called Immigration twice today; first advice was to ask for a visa to be issued for the period of my permit. They told me to do this at a branch and take in proof of our imminent travel plans and they may process on the spot.
THEN on return to NZ I should submit an application for 'open work permit 1015 under partnership'. That is fine, except I want to move fast on buying a business here.
The second call to Immigration; said that I should apply for 'open work permit 1015 under partnership' again at a branch, with all the proof of our relationship that we submitted first time around. "Maybe" they will process on the spot but he sounded doubtful.
Apart from all the hassle of doing all the forms again, printing off all evidence etc I am a bit confused. I am minded to fill in both forms, take with all the evidence and go to a immigration branch out of Auckland and see what they advise. I went to Auckland central immigration office twice today - the queue was long and did not move, and the officers seemed to be being pretty tough on people. Any advice anyone out there?
My partner and I are British. We entered NZ in Feb08. She got a job and fast-track 30 month work visa from an NZ employer (she is a scientist) before we arrived.
To save time I came in on a 6 month visitor visa, as I have a business/get paid in the UK and don't work in NZ. Now I want to get a 30 month work visa so I can also work here and buy a small business (cafe). Neither of us want residency. We will sell up and move on in two years.
I applied for a WORK VISA in May and Immigration just issued me a 30 month VISITOR PERMIT :confused: . This will expire as soon as I leave the country (we are going to SA for 8 days in just two weeks!) and also won't allow me to work here.
I called Immigration twice today; first advice was to ask for a visa to be issued for the period of my permit. They told me to do this at a branch and take in proof of our imminent travel plans and they may process on the spot.
THEN on return to NZ I should submit an application for 'open work permit 1015 under partnership'. That is fine, except I want to move fast on buying a business here.
The second call to Immigration; said that I should apply for 'open work permit 1015 under partnership' again at a branch, with all the proof of our relationship that we submitted first time around. "Maybe" they will process on the spot but he sounded doubtful.
Apart from all the hassle of doing all the forms again, printing off all evidence etc I am a bit confused. I am minded to fill in both forms, take with all the evidence and go to a immigration branch out of Auckland and see what they advise. I went to Auckland central immigration office twice today - the queue was long and did not move, and the officers seemed to be being pretty tough on people. Any advice anyone out there?