[Bergita]

We just got our original documents back from NZIS today, along with a letter that said it would take up to 12 months for a case officer to be assigned, and then a further 1 - 3 months for processing. Our letter that came with the ITA said the whole process would take 6 - 9 months!

Oh well, nothing to do but sit back and forget about it as far as possible.

[Jacqi B]

Are you sure it's not a typo for 12 weeks?

[Mrs Pony]

ugh! I hope it was a typo! Please don't say that you're going through the London branch!

[Bergita]

No, we're going through the New Zealand branch in Auckland. Actually I haven't seen the letter yet, OH has just told me about it. I'm hoping it's a typo. That seems very long.

[BkyMonster]

I was originally told that my partnership work permit would take 9 months. I had it within 3 weeks, passport mailings included. This is out of the Christchurch office. I just think they waaaaaay overestimate.

[K&J]

I also got a letter saying my PR application under the partnership category would take 12 months to be assigned a case officer. I lodged my application at the beginning of July, but due to some imcompetency on their part (they mislaid all the evidence and documents I sent), it was only accepted in August - and currently no word of a case officer being assigned. I filed it with the Christchurch branch. Their website suggested a lot quicker timeframe, so I was pretty annoyed when I got the letter because I could have lodged it elsewhere. I hear London is much, much quicker.

[jeffanar]

PR application under the partnership category would take 12 months to be assigned a case officer.

This is what we've been told also, and that's how long it took for friends who applied through the Auckland office

[elleann]

I have also heard that PR applications filed when you are already IN the country take longer to be processed, simply because you are already there, so they feel there is less rush... but that is purely hearsay and speculation, no idea whether there is any truth in it at all! ;-)

[Bergita]

Oh well. It's a bit disturbing, as we were initially told 6 months, then 9 months and now 15 months! If it takes longer than that, we'll need to renew our WTR visas, and I'm not sure if you can even do that, and if you can, well I'm guessing it will cost a fortune all over again.

[victoria]

Hubby was on a 2 yr WTR visa & I had a visitor's visa which I extended. As we hadn't heard if a CO had been appointed with a month to go on my visa running out, I emailed Wellington (who were dealing with our app) advising of the expiry date. Also that we'd prefer not to have to renew if a "decision was imminent on our PR application" We received a quick reply to say we did have a CO & to await instructions on renewing. Received PR on the Friday & my visa ran out on the following Monday. Maybe if you were to email on a similar vein? Good Luck!

[Bergita]

Good idea. Our WTR expires in 2010, so if I haven't heard anything by the end of next year.....:wah I'll send a similar query!

[M-Squared]

Definitely keep the lines of communication open! I got the bog-standard text message from NZIS in Welly after I lodged my work permit application, saying I would be assigned a CO "within 60 days". This after a mate got his work permit in literally one week! I rather began to despair when I got that text... I kept in touch with them and got it in 2 weeks. :nice1

[Jacqi B]

Just got my letter from the London office telling us that they 'hope to allocate your file to a case officer within the next four months'