[StuAndRen]

Hi,

Dies anyone know how NZIS look upon temporary contracts? For example would they fast track a visa application for a 6 month contract, or do they require a longer contract or a permanent contract for that?

Thanks,


Stuart

[StuAndRen]

Forgot to mention, in case it makes a difference, that the job is in IT (programming) so should be on the short / long term skill shortage lists, and I have the relevant skills, experience and qualifications to undertake the role.

[ourquest]

OH was our principle applicant and is in IT (oracle). We obtained ITA without a job offer (130 points I think) and arrived in New Zealand on visitor's permits. Once here, OH was offered a contract position for only 3 months with a start date about 10 days into the future and on the basis of that our case office in London decided our application so that OH could begin work (all other aspects of our application were evidently ok...and NZIS felt that the need to interview us had fallen away with OH having obtained an offer). They electronically transferred our file to the Wellington office within a few days where PR was issued. So yes, it can certainly fast-track an application, even if it is contract work. What it won't do though, is qualify as a job offer for the purpose of claiming the extra 50 points.

[StuAndRen]

Thanks for the information - sounds promising. We had 145 points and the ITA had arrived. We had it all filled in and in the envelope ready to be posted the next day when the job offer and contract arrived in my email overnight.

So we opened the envelope and added the contract, and faxed it to NZIS too. So now we have to hope it is all fast tracked and sorted in the three months we have before the new job starts! :)

Thanks for the encouragement - it is only now that I have resigned that I start worrying about the visa coming in time!!!

[StuAndRen]

A bit of feedback on this one - because of the job offer we were fast tracked and assigned a case officer immediately. It took a week and a half for our initial assessment in which we were told that the job would not count for points (as expected) as the contract as to be at for at least 12 months. However as we have now been assigned to a CO, she has been great and said that she'll process it as fast as any other and not 'un-fast-track' it.