[thepedster]

Long time reader, first time poster (go me!) but have got to get this ball rolling so......

I am in NZ now on a 1 year Working Holiday Visa, it expires on May the 21st, and long story short I want to stay in NZ longer! worst case scenario is that I can extend my visa for another 90 days but only as a tourist, so that gives me a bit more time to finish work and say my goodbyes, and maybe to a bit more travelling before I have to leave :(

BUT I wanna stay longer, another year would be fantastic, I am currently employed full time at a pub in Auckland (Cock and Bull if anyones knows) and after firing across a quick email to NZIS I got this as a reply:

Dear Adam

Thank you for taking advantage of our Online Help facility.
W6.5.1 Ability to change status

a. Once in New Zealand holders of Working Holiday permits may, at any time during the currency of that permit, apply to change their status to that of:

i a long-term temporary worker, or
ii a student, or
iii a resident, and will be considered under those immigration policies relevant to the type of permit applied for.


You may apply for a work permit and/or visa if you meet the policy requirements, and your employer will need to provide some supporting information/documents in order to facilitate your application. There are guidelines and checklists available in the general work policy section to assist you in this process:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Migrant/Stream/Work/WorkTemporarily/HowDoIApply/GeneralWork/


I have highlighted in bold the parts of the email that I think is my only real chance, to be a skilled worker, now I have spoken to work and they will give me a job for as long as I want it no questions, but the annoying part will be does being 'just a barman' count for anything? and will work actually qualify as a good enough employer?

will NZIS be satisfied with that, I have no other skills or qualifications either?

ok, thats too many questions for now, hope you can help, and I will be much more active here now, so much usefull knowledge being flung around!

and whilst I am here I might as well add I am 20 and from the UK!

TTFN!!!
:cheers

[veronica]

Do you have any other skills apart from bar work. The thing being they may feel that is a job that an out of work NZer can do. Go into immigration office and ask them, they are the only ones who really know what will be accepted.

[Moorf]

I believe the employer will need to demonstrate that no NZer could do the job or that they had advertised the job for xx amount of time and you were the best candidate. Some employers may be able to get this documentation "sorted" ;) for you if they want you to stay.. :nice1

As Veronica says, get down to the immigration office (take your passport with your visa etc in etc) and you may be able to grab yourself a work visa for a year...

[thepedster]

work will be very supportive, which is nice, I read about how I have to have skills that a NZer couldnt do, and its up to work to prove that, but only if they see my work as worth the hassle, they might not count as a 'good enough' employer, thats my main concern,

ok so I need to get down to an immigration office, silly question, but where the heck are those? I havent seen them walking about town and such?

and no, I have no other worthy skills :eek I am a nice bloke though :angel

[kiwidollie]

I am sure you are a very nice bloke and I wish you well in your quest to remain in New Zealand.

Can't blame you at all!! :clap

I'll be there as soon as is humanly possible and will be in for a beer if you're still there.

:hopeso

All the best

[jo b]

Depending on how desperate you are you could choose option number 100 (last on the list) and marry a kiwi :eek :eek

[Diny]

Jeeze ........ who the heck would want to do a stupid thing like that ???????


http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/linie/smiley-linie-006.gif

Diny

[kiwidebs]

Not sure whether to be offended or not????

:?
Debs

[Diny]

No no no ...... please don't be offended.

Just thought I'd make a daft comment (seeing as I'm married to a Kiwi).

Only joking ...... honest.

Diny

[kiwidebs]

Oops, shoulda added the cheeky grin :mrgreen: . I wasn't in any way offended - and I know you're married to a kiwi so I knew no offence was meant. No worries Mate!! :nice1

Debs

[Diny]

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/sehrgrosse/large-smiley-057.gif

[Mildred]

What about getting a contract to sell Quorn at the pub - don't think any other NZer does that?

[jesselyn]

Depending on how desperate you are you could choose option number 100 (last on the list) and marry a kiwi :eek :eek

i remember saying the same thing to a friend last friday :eek :oops: :angel

[jo b]

PB

when Diny's finshed with ya mate (i.e she has residency in NZ :mrgreen: )you might have some offers eh!!

Jo

[thepedster]

a couple of guys at work have offered to go through a legal union with me, but I hope it doesnt come to that :hopeso

well after getting of the phone with NZIS it kinda seems pretty doubtfull that its going to 'work out' anyway, sadly I just dont have the skills, but if work can prove they have looked for other NZers to do the job and have found none then it might work, but I dont want to scrape througth this with the skin on my teeth, I cant really afford to, and I would need to get Police checks and medical checks and all that jazz sorted too, which is all going to cost too much for what is a slim chance?

I wish there was a way that I get a golden thumbs up then start spending money on it,

its annoying its so hard, I can see why so many hears get broken over it!

and its all kind of over a nice Kiwi girl I met too, not ready to say goodbye yet :wah

[thepedster]

and I hate to be easily discouraged here, but NZIS seem to make it impossible to apply under the General Work Permit category unless you have a skill on the skills shortage list?

take this for example:

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/caniworkinnz/whatisrequired/nonewzealandworkers/default.htm

it basically says that you dont get the job if an NZ citizen could be trained to do it too, well an NZ citizen could be trained to do any job? so does that mean that me applying is totally futile or what? its not my fault I can just do the job better than some lazy kiwi!

[Moorf]

Jo B's suggested about marrying a kiwi might not be so far off the mark then :nice1 :laugh

[veronica]

Have a look in the phone book for the New Zealand Immigration Office. there is one in Auckland. Talking to them might sort something out.