[NZDreamer]

Hello every one !

I have got my work visa and work permit after I found a job and worked for three weeks in Wellington , and for an important family issue I had to return back to my country (Jordan) . by leaving my work I lost it and I have been in Jordan 5 months . Now I’m planning to go back to NZ to search for a Job offer again . But I am wondering if I can enter NZ by using my work visa which is multi entries cause it is still valid up to 2011 .

[cappuccino]

Sorry to hear you had to go back to Jordan. Unfortunately you will have to start over again because a work permit is tied to a particular company.

[NZDreamer]

Thank you for your reply . Yes i know that i can not work using this visa but i am wondering if i can use it to enter NZ and then find another job ? or i have to apply for a vist visa again ?

[dusk]

you'll need to apply for a new visitors visa - your old work permit is now completely useless for you

[skibumwa]

That's incorrect advice.

The work permit is NOT tied or locked to the employer name on the permit. Once you get to the work permit, you can travel in/out of NZ and change jobs up until the expiration date of the work permit.

I know this is true because I did exactly what you all are claiming is not allowed or possible for NZ Dreamer.

Cheers



Sorry to hear you had to go back to Jordan. Unfortunately you will have to start over again because a work permit is tied to a particular company.

[Duncan74]

Is this one of those cases where a direct question to NZIS would be the safest route? Should provide NZ Dreamer a bit of confidence as well, instead of worrying about the rules? I'd imagine that a documented family issue requiring a return home may be a slightly different case to say soemone who got homesick and left of their own free choice in terms of reactivation of visas.

[skibumwa]

I agree with Duncan, but NZIS does not care why you fly back to your home country for a trip. If you have a multiple entry/exit work permit they just don't care really.

Best bet is to call NZIS directly. Cheers,
John

[Flutterby]

i would double check the visa and permit, mine will allow me to hop from job to job and to come and go in and out of NZ as much as i please, BUT i think if you get the permit based on a job offer the situation is different, you would have had a case reference number when you received your visa i would call NZI with your reference number and double check with them.

[qslinger]

Hey NZ Dreamer,

If you got your workpermit and workvisa on your own, then you can leave and enter the country provided that it is a multiple entry visa.

But if you got the visa based on a job offer and that job is no longer there, then your visa/permit is no longer valid. You will need to get a visitors visa and start the job search process again..

[NZDreamer]

I’m so glad for every one …thank you so much for your posts … I think I do agree with all of you that I have to call the NZIS .
But can any one provide me with the direct number to call them …!

[NZDreamer]

Hi every one 1
The following is exactly what has been written in my Work Visa and Work Permit :
------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Work Visa

Date of Issue:xx/xx/xxxx
Must not arrive after: 31/Jun/2011
Number of Entries: Multiple
Passport No:xxxxxxxxxxxx Sex: Male Date of Birth:16/Aug/1972 Citizenship: JO
The Holder may travel to NZ and on application may be granted a permit for/to 13/Jub/2011.
Conditions : You must leave NZ before expiry of your permit or face removal. Funds waved. Outward passage waived. The holder may work as information Services Team Leader for xxxxxxxxxxx in Wellington .
------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry I used [xxxx] for security purposes . Please advice me , i tried to call NZIS and no one is answering the international call .

[JandM]

If you are trying to phone NZIS in New Zealand, you won't get an answer at the moment because it's the middle of the night for them. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ This may help.

[skibumwa]

Hi QSLINGER,

My work permit was issued towards a specific employer and specific role as work visas/permits are (not counting Working/Holiday Visas). What you are saying is wrong here. I disproved your 'fact' a long time ago. Anyway, rather than give NZ Dreamer misinformation, it's best for him/her to call NZIS themselves. If NZDreamer is not currently in NZ, they can call the nearest NZ Consulate Office to enquire. The best bet is to get it in writing over email from an authorised NZIS Immigration Officer.

My original contact at their (NZIS) Los Angeles Consul Office was very helpful when I was going through the 30 month WTR Work Permit process. His name is "Matt" if you are keen to know.

Cheers,
John

Hey NZ Dreamer,

If you got your workpermit and workvisa on your own, then you can leave and enter the country provided that it is a multiple entry visa.

But if you got the visa based on a job offer and that job is no longer there, then your visa/permit is no longer valid. You will need to get a visitors visa and start the job search process again..

[NZDreamer]

Thank you all 

Thank you all of you for your effort . I called them yesterday and they said that my visa is still valid and I can go back to NZ and find another job. In this case i have to apply again for the work visa regarding to the new case . So now I have to search for job again but it would be easier cause I have the ability to work in NZ and it is easier to the employer to hier me ! is this true ?


Special thanks to SKIBUMWA you were helpful .

Thank you again ...

[skibumwa]

If your work visa/permit still valid, that's all employers in NZ care about. Be aware of expiration date on it. It might be prudent to apply for an extension once you come back to NZ and score a job offer.

PS. Your welcome and good luck!

PSS. Why would you have to apply again for a work visa when you current work visa is valid still? Is that what they told you? That's confusing as hell! ahhh!!:exit

Thank you all 

Thank you all of you for your effort . I called them yesterday and they said that my visa is still valid and I can go back to NZ and find another job. In this case i have to apply again for the work visa regarding to the new case . So now I have to search for job again but it would be easier cause I have the ability to work in NZ and it is easier to the employer to hier me ! is this true ?


Special thanks to SKIBUMWA you were helpful .

Thank you again ...

[NZDreamer]

Well , I don't know why I have to change the work visa but maybe cause I will change the employer and replace it with the new one(actuly they did not mintion this) , then in this case I have to change the work visa ?

Ok , I will explain , I am not working with the company anymore which I took the work visa according to their job offer , and I am not in NZ right now . so I will enter NZ by this work visa cause it is still valid for multiple entries , next I will try to find job offer . After this I can apply for another work visa with the name of new employer .

Note : when I asked the NZIS , they asked me about my application number and she checked the system and returned back to me, that my work visa is still valid up to the expiration date . this will give me a chance to enter again NZ without need to apply for visitor visa again and go throw the hall process :clap.

[KerryS]

You can enter NZ on the visa - you'll have to apply for a new work permit once in the country if yours is job/company specific. You can just apply for a variation of conditions on form 1020.
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/6F4DB4F7-7154-4366-A9F9-C01CFF8F2131/0/1020.pdf

[qslinger]

Thank you all 

Thank you all of you for your effort . I called them yesterday and they said that my visa is still valid and I can go back to NZ and find another job.


Special thanks to SKIBUMWA you were helpful .

Thank you again ...

NZ Dreamer: My sincere apologies on this. I was told a different story when I called them few months ago. I was told that my work visa/permit issued towards a particular employer would not be valid once I lose or don't have the job.

Either which way, my apologies to you and SKIBUMWA for the confusion and the stress.

[newarrival]

I don't want to cause more confusion- but I know of someone who lost his job in Nelson just recently and he was told by INZ that he needs to leave the country within a very short time, I am not sure how much they gave him.
He was definitely not told that he can stay as long as his original work visa/ permit was valid, which would have been almost a whole year!

When I was reading the thread I was wondering if NZDreamer had told INZ during the phone call that he no longer has a job at this specific company the visa was issued for?

I am sorry If I assume something which is not the case, but better safe than sorry, I think...

And up to now I was quite certain that if your work visa is issued for a specific employer, you might be allowed to find another job, but you cannot just start work with another company.
Otherwise- what would be the point of stating exactly the name of the employer and the role etc.?

[KerryS]

And up to now I was quite certain that if your work visa is issued for a specific employer, you might be allowed to find another job, but you cannot just start work with another company.
Otherwise- what would be the point of stating exactly the name of the employer and the role etc.?

It is employer specific - which is why you need to complete the Variation of Conditions form I posted earlier.

[cappuccino]

I guess in theory that the customs people at the airport wouldn't know if you were still working for the named company or not. So as it is multiple entry then they wouldn't have any problem letting you in and out of the country.

[newarrival]

I guess that is right- but if you try to find another job, would it be that simple to say to the new employer 'don't worry, I just need a change of conditions of my existing visa' or how would you be absolutely sure that INZ is willing to do that? Especially given the fact that there is apparently some reluctance in issuing work visa/ permits at the moment.
don't get me wrong- I wish the OP all the best and that he is lucky enough to have no problems at all, but it seems to be almost too easy?:o

[NZDreamer]

Thank you all again …

Dear newarrival !

You made me worry about what you have said previously . Please every one and specially the experts , Am I going to face a problem when I have a job offer and go to the NZIS to change my work permit employer to the new one !

[JandM]

I'm not claiming to be an expert here, just giving you my thoughts.

There are two issues here: entering the country, and staying/working in it. You have a work visa which was granted because NZIS recognized that the job you had been given was a skilled one, useful to the country. You have been told it is all right to enter the country again on your existing visa. However, you still need to get another job in order to stay there, and I think they are going to demand that any job you get is just as skilled, just as useful, as the original one. In other words, things are going to be checked out just as carefully before they transfer your permit as they were before they gave you your work visa in the first place.

It won't be you yourself that they have any problem with, as you've already passed all the personal requirements. It will be whatever other job you find that will have to measure up.

[newarrival]

I am sorry for worrying you, that was not my intention..., and I really do hope that there is absolutely no problem for you to find another job and get a work visa.
I think JandM explained very well what the thoughts were behind my post, thank you for that!:)