[Going2NZ]

At some point in time I knew this answer but it no longer seems to be in my brain...

After we get the PR stamp, how long do we have to get to NZ? Is it 12 months from the day of the stamp? Or from the "approved in principle" date? I would appreciate it if someone could save me from reading the 438-page Operations manual looking for the answer in the bureaucrat-ese text. :(

Susan

[foolsgold99]

You must enter the country within 12 months from the date the visa is issued.

You can then leave again, and return at any point in the next 2 years.

So if you're willing to go for a quick visit, you have 3 years before you have to settle.

We have a friend that did this in Aus, she got her PR, went for a visit to activate it, and then left, she returned about 12 hours before her 2 year RRV expired.

[sarahw]

It depends - if you have applied for residency in your own right then as above, but if you have applied for it on the proviso of a job offer as we did our visa stated:

'Holder must take up offer of employment within 3 months of the grant of the first residence permit and remain in that employment for a period of at least 3 months.'

...so we had no choice but to get ourselves here quick-smart.

[Going2NZ]

Thanks, that helps. We have PR (without a job) and are just trying to make sure we take the timing into account while we are trying to wrap things up.

Susan

[Diny]

Don't know whether this snippet of info will be any use but here goes.

When I got my PR approved in principal I was told that my 'golden ticket' would be issued after I'd paid the migrant levy. My letter stated that once the levy had been paid it 'could' talke up to 6 weeks for the return of my passport.

I paid the levy with my credit card, sending the card details to my case officer via e-mail. Then sat and waited.

Didn't have to wait long. I sent the e-mail on a Tuesday lunch time, on the Thursday morning the passports landed on my doormat. Less than 48 hours after paying.

Diny

[wayne]

Once my PR was "approved in Principle" I had up to six months to pay the Migrant Levy once that was paid the stamp goes in the passport and you have 12 months to get out there mine expires on 13 december I fly out on 8th august cutting it as fine as I want to :cool