[sarahw]

Hi,

Ian completed his 3 months at work a few weeks ago & we got a letter from his boss to proove it & payslips & our passports & handed them over to have clause 18A (requirement for people with jobs to complete 3 months probation with their employer) removed from our residence visas in our passports.

NZIS in Welly said that current processing times are 3-4 weeks (which I find funny since we got the visas in 5 working days in the UK!!) so anyone in Welly with clause 18A that's about how long you'll be without passport whilst they do the necessary.

They did say that if you had travel booked you could write them a letter asking them to speed it up...

[Danpoll]

so does that mean you have to remain with said employer for another 3-4 weeks while they process it or can you start looking elsewhere once you have submitted said documents.


Dan

[sarahw]

Ha, well I'm guessing you have to stay with that employer as NZIS might phone them to check!!!

That said most Brits that emigrated to NZ with Ian's company have been there 20-odd years - lets just say that they look after their staff well (and that's well by NZ standards not by our British standards - us being used to companies not giving 2 figs about how they treat you & expecting a pound of flesh in return!) As you can probably tell - Ian's got no intention of looking elsewhere - we're having too much fun on all the social do's with his work!

[KerryS]

NZIS do like to overestimate their processing times - with my work visa I was told it would take 4-6 weeks, but I had my passport and visa back within 4 days! :clap