[trillian25]

I am looking for advice or experiences from people about going to NZ as a visitor and being able to secure a job (any sort will do as long as it pays and allows me to stay longer than the 3 month visitor allowance from the US). My profession, restaurant management, is currently on the immediate skills shortage list and I think it will be there for awhile, but I would also love to get into another field.
So anyone who knows about getting a job off the immediate skills shortage list or simply arriving without any "skills" would be appreciated. I have anywhere form 1-3 years before I will begin my move, but my biggest concern is being able to get initial employment, preferably more than seasonal, I'd like to find a way to get a temp work permit for at least 6-12 months.

Sorry if I rambled on a bit, it's my first post. :)

Oh yeah, I am almost 29 now so I will most likely be too old for the working holiday scheme by the time I am ready.

[Ana&Steve]

If you can land a job offer then you should be eligible for a work visa of (I think) 2 years. I don't know what steps to take to make it into residence, though.
The Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) is for occupations that have an immediate shortage of skilled workers in New Zealand. It is designed to facilitate the approval of temporary work visa and permit applications. If an applicant produces an offer of employment in an occupation that is included on the current ISSL, visa and immigration officers will accept that no suitably qualified New Zealand citizens or residents are available.
We only use the ISSL in relation to temporary work policy. If you come to work in New Zealand based on meeting the ISSL requirements, there is no direct link to residence.

[clairelouise]

Hi and welcome, good luck with your plans too :D

[trillian25]

If you can land a job offer then you should be eligible for a work visa of (I think) 2 years. I don't know what steps to take to make it into residence, though.

Thanks! I think I am pretty clear on how to take it from work permit/visa to residence, I am more just concerned about the ability to show up, get a job offer, and then get all the paperwork filed.
Is that at all common for people to do? I hear it can be a bit difficult to get a good job until you've worked in NZ for awhile as you kind of have to prove yourself and that you are serious about staying. I met several backpackers that would get a job and one month (or less) move on, so I don't fault kiwi employers for being a bit wary.

[Mrs Pony]

if you get in on PR, you have to stay in the job for 3 months (i believe) and then you can do whatever you want...

For 30+ year olds (up to 35) you can use this... http://www.bunac.org/usa/ It's the almost the same thing as the WHV.

[veronica]

you can apply for your young persons working holiday visa up to just before you are 31, and you then have one year to activate it. so in theory you could enter NZ the day before you turn 32. Bunac also have a working holiday scheme that goes up to 35

[Ana&Steve]

If you enter on a visitor's visa and get a job offer (on the ISSL), you can apply for a work visa while in NZ. Not sure were you go, depends on which town. Getting the visa can take as little as a week or longer than a month depending on how busy they are. You can't start work until you've received the visa. You can also start your residence paperwork in NZ.

[BkyMonster]

Not 100% sure but if you can get a job offer and the pay is over 55k NZD per year (not sure how much restaurant mangers make in NZ) you could come in on work to residence. You might also look into if there are any accredited employers (though victoria24's recent experience shows this may not be a wholly viable option at this time) in your field.

We arrived on 3 month visitors visas (with dogs and stuff even!) and were fairly confident that OH would be able to find a job (job on LTSSL). Thankfully we were right.

[trillian25]

It's looking so far like I will probably do the BUNAC visa as at least I can get some employment straight away, I am hoping that my field will still be on the ISSL for the next couple of years, it would be choice if it made to the long term shortage, but not keeping too much hope for that. Then is I can get on with a more solid visa I will upgrade, it seems like that is a pretty easy process to go through and timing isn't an issue as I plan on having enough money to support myself for at least 3 months with no work, just to be safe.
Also planing on having family dog-sit until I have some security as the move for the dogs is as much if not more than the move for me :)

Thank you for all the advice and help!