[irishgirl]

Hi All
This is my first time posting, so hello to you all, and apologies if this question has been answered a number of times before!

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has applied for, and successfully received, a work permit under the Family category? Specifically anyone who is/was engaged to a New Zealander, but living in different countries.

Long story short, I recently became engaged to the love of my life while visiting him in NZ in April. Unfortunately, I am based in Dublin Ireland, so as you can imagine, this long distance engagement is not easy!!

Although well educated with many years' experience, my qualifications are not recognised for the purposes of applying for a work visa, the partnership route might be difficult because we have not lived together for 12 months, but we did come across a family visa which seems to cover engaged couples, and this permit might enable me to enter and work in NZ for up to 2 years.

Anyway, if anyone has successfully applied for this visa, then I would love to hear your story and any tips you might have?

Great forum, with lots of great info and look forward to contributing more in the future!

Good luck to all who are currently making the move! I envy you!!

All the best,

Dee

[Diny]

Hi Dee - and welcome to the forum.

There are a few of us on here who have obtained PR etc via the family category but I think most of us have Kiwi spouses (no doubt I'll be corrected instantly if that is not the case).

I don't know how you'll get on applying as an engaged couple, but if there's a category that covers 'engagements' then there must be a way. I seem to remember that the NZIS need proof that you are in a long term and genuine relationship - if you can do this then I guess that's a huge hurdle that you've jumped.

I have a Kiwi hubby who acted as my 'sponsor' and the entire process was very simple and straight forward and took exactly 3 months from start to finish. I dealt with the NZIS in London at all times. It all seems such a long time ago now and alot of water has passed under the bridge since then. We have a few last minutes loose ends to tie up (mainly concerning house sale) and we're booked to fly out on July 16th - fingers crossed.

If I can help in any way please feel free to PM me at any time. All the best.

Diny

[Wiggy]

Hi Dee,

I was in a similar sitaution to your own - I have a Kiwi partner and we lived ( and are currently living) in separate countries - he in NZ and myself in the UK. We tried to go down the de facto partnership route using our 5 year relationship, but as you correctly pointed out, even though we'd lived together for over 3 and half of those years together, we wouldn't have been living together at the time of the application. Most frustrating!

To cut a long story short, I went directly to NZ House in London to ask if there could be any extenuating circumstances. Even with masses of evidence to support a genuine and stable relationship (letters, e-mails, air tickets, photos, supporting letters from piers and family) the answer was a straight no.

Without wanting to be negative, I'm not sure that there's a route for engaged couples unless you're living together at the time of application, no matter how genuine and stable the relationship is. The advice I was given is to fly to NZ and live with your fiance, immediately opening joint bank accounts, bills to the same address etc. Then, after 4 months apply for a years Work Permit under the de facto category which is then reviewed for a further year. The only downside to this is that you can't work for those first 4 months. Personally that wasn't for me but I've heard on the forum that others have.

I don't know if that helps at all. But don't give up - we struggled for years to be together and finally our dreams have come true and I move to live and work in NZ in August. If I can be of any firther help, feel free to PM me.

Emma

[Soon2baKiwi]

Hi Dee

If you did decide to go down the route of going over and then applying for a work permit I'm afraid that from Ireland the holiday visa is only for 3 months, instead of the six you get if you've got a UK passport. Is there any chance your fella could come over here for a year? I'm married to a kiwi and we're leaving here on 20 June but I'm in Dublin until next Friday if you want to get in touch.

Norah