[Natalieb]

I would like to start a thread on coming over on a visitors visa with a view to finding work and not returning back to the UK, what are the pro's and con's of doing this, is there anything you wish you had realised b4 you took the plunge:-

I would also like to clarify:-

1. Would our flights have to be return flights?
2. What if we were stopped at the airport and asked our intentions? would we just say a holiday, is that illegal?
3. Im assuming on a Visitors Visa we have the normal baggage allowance. Once we have work permits can we then arrange for items to be sent over from the UK?

Natalie

[fuhsiang]

I will relate my own experience regarding this. Most of the employment agencies' first question was when we would be reaching the country. Most of them want to see some commitment on our part to go over, I guess. So my wife and I decided to bite and leave our country for NZ, without a residence visa. We will be coming over in September.

Since we are travelling on vistors' visas, I booked our flight with return tickets. From our previous experience in the country, Immigration will definitely want to see a return flight home. We took the step of booking a ticket with a 12-month validity, and it's very expensive. Our initial return date is within 3 months, because that's the longest a visitor's visa will allow us to stay in the country. But we do want to return home to pack our stuff within 12 months and ship it over if our application is successful. I don't really want to bother my parents (or her parents) to pack for me anyway. :)

Cons? Well, let me just say that it's quite a frightening experience to go off to NZ without any financial security. However, my wife has negotiated with her current employer to work part-time in her current job here while looking for jobs in NZ.

Another con probably is that because of the baggage allowance for visitors, it is quite impossible to bring everything you need over at one time. To circumvent this, we pre-packed certain items that we know we need into 2 boxes. If we are successful over there in finding jobs, we can just ask our parents to help ship these 2 boxes over.

[tea drinker]

Hello
if entering on a holiday visa

you have to have a ticket for an 'onward' journey. If you are thinking about popping over to Aus for the onward bit rather than return to UK (or your own country) then remember that Aus immi would also want to see 'onward' journey
you have to have proof of funds e.g. bank statement at hand just incase you are asked to show that you can support yourself (sorry forgotten suggested amount but Im sure someone else will come up with it!)
if you are entering on a holiday visa then you are there for a holiday and that is what you say irrespective of what is in your suitcase
Once in you are at liberty to actively seek work and attend interviews (be very careful about offering to volunteer either for a prospective employer or charity as you are not allowed to accept 'freebies' in return for that volunteering eg accommodation or meals)

I havent done this ...yet...but this advice was given to me by a nice man at NZ House UK in April

hope that this helps...ask about anything else that springs to mind

[vixxann]

Hi Natalie

hope I can answer some of those questions as we are coming over on visitor visas - flights are booked 5th October!! :)

flights have to be return flights with a return date max 6mths off (your standard visitor visa length if coming from UK). Sometimes, if you later obtain a work visa or PR - you can get a proportion of the flight cost back if you cancel the return leg - but it's down to individual airlines and the type of ticket you book. Alternative is to change return date (once you have work visas) to a future date you want to come back to UK for a holiday - then book a single back to NZ. Again this depends on airline if they let you or charge etc.

Regarding allowances - you won't get any extra as you are not migrating -we have booked with Air New Zealand on a route that goes via US then you get the large allowance of 46kg each person (2 x 23 bags each). We are going out via Hong Kong and returning (OR NOT!) via L.A. - so we get the bonus luggage without actually using the US part of the journey (do you get what I mean!)

I believe that if questioned at airport best thing is to be honest - you are there on a holiday (with return tickets) but may also be looking into work options etc etc. You may have to show evidence of money available to you over "holiday" period etc etc. (and if you've any kids.. put socks in their mouths :p)

I'm sure other people will be able to post their experiences etc
good luck with your plans

[dookieusm]

Hi Natalie,

We achieved our move to NZ by leaving the UK behind and travelling to NZ on Visitor Visas. We left the UK in September 2007, had Work Permits in November and full PR in March this year. I've attached a link to a previous posting, written earlier this year, so you can get a sense of our experience - http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15386.

Immediate answers to your questions:


1. Would our flights have to be return flights?


Yes - without a residence or work visa you must have a return ticket or at least a ticket to an onward destination. Without this the airline will refuse you onto the flight.



2. What if we were stopped at the airport and asked our intentions? would we just say a holiday, is that illegal?

My approach was to be honest. It's ok to say that you're in NZ on a Visitor Visa to help determine the merits of emigrating. That would include assessing the NZ employement situation by applying for jobs, attending interviews etc. Of course, if asked, its worth being clear that you understand the process for applying for a Work Permit etc. and that you've got no intention of working without this.



3. Im assuming on a Visitors Visa we have the normal baggage allowance. Once we have work permits can we then arrange for items to be sent over from the UK?

Normal baggage allowance applies. 20kg via Asia and 36kg via LA. Once you've secured a Work Permit you can then ship belongings from the UK.

Good luck with the move and feel free to PM for more info.

Regards,

Stephen

[Red Devil]

Hi Natalie

I don't know what your profession is, however if you're a nurse or a teacher, then you need to have the relevant registration in place to practice... and this can take up to 6 months to obtain :roll

Good luck :nice1