[mcacmartin]

We are a family of four from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada planning a move to NZ in 2 years. We'd like to be there by September 2010.

I actually lived there with a permanent residency from November 1997 til February 2001 when I returned to Canada for a bit, met and married my husband, and had two children.

By the time we (hopefully) make it there, our son will be 6 and our daughter will be 8.

We haven't been able to decide if we want to go to Blenheim where my mother and sister (new citizens of the country) are or if we want to go to Nelson.

I think we're going to have to leave our cat here...:wah but it's probably for the best.

What we need to decide now is how best to go about applying to get the most points? We thought about applying under the "join family" category but I understand that might not be possible if either of us still has family in our current country. The other option was "skilled migrant" but I dont' know how well that will work. I have a diploma in Office Administration and Legal Administration and my husband is a Garage Door technician (with no actual official papers).

Any tips on how best to get this started?

Will my previous permanent residency be of any help in the process??

I can't wait to be back in the country. I have regretted leaving for so many years, and I am so excited to be returning.

Any other Canucks here that have moved or are moving? Where'd ya go?

Meg

[Leanne]

Hello from Winnipeg! I'm heading to Auckland on Sept 19. Best of luck with all of your plans.

:)

[kanatakiwi]

Kia Ora Meg
Welcome to the forum. I'm from Victoria too and live in Auckland. I am married to a kiwi and after 14 years in Canada, he wanted to come home to be with his family etc.

Victoria is quite a lovely town, and every time I go back I am reminded of this, however lots of good things about living in NZ.

Good luck with your applications, and lucky for you to have family already in the country.
Gloria

[nickydwuk]

If you had PR from 1997 - 2001 then I believe it is still valid as you should have an IRRV. You may be best to go under the family category but check it with INZ first.:)

[slider]

Hello, and welcome to the forum :)

[victoria24]

greetings my hard rockin similar town named amigos

[JandM]

It sounds as if the first step is to check whether you do in fact still have PR, and from what you've said, it sounds as though you should have. What does it say in your passport? - do you have IRRV?

If you have PR, then your husband and children should be able to be admitted under the partnership rules. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/partner/canisponsormypartner/

If you don't have PR (and I don't see why you wouldn't, but if...), then your mother could sponsor you (and your husband and children, because you're a family unit), as long as you meet the requirements here. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/brothersisteradultchild/canimovetonz/whatisrequired/
You said I understand that might not be possible if either of us still has family in our current country. As you'll see from that page I linked to, the restriction only applies to YOU, not your husband. If you had a parent or sibling living in Canada, you'd be ineligible, but if your parents/siblings live in NZ or a totally different country, that would be all right.

[tea drinker]

Hello and welcome :)

[dusk]

Hello and welcome, good luck - follow up on JandM's post and you should be well on the way :)

[cani]

Hello, welcome and good luck from another Canadian(in the Fraser Canyon)

[Mrs Pony]

welcome and good luck!

[Hejwitch_uk]

Good luck :)

[mcacmartin]

Wow...thanks everyone for the welcome and the information. I guess the first thing I am going to do is track down my old passport and check on my residency status. It would sure make life easier to be able to return that way with ME as the sponsor for Hubby and the kids.

Unfortunately we had a lot of documents accidentally destroyed a few years ago...including our passports and birth certificates...but not all of them. I wonder if there is a way to check on my residency without that passport?

[JandM]

I'd contact the embassy, explain, and ask them what you should do.

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hello and welcome.