[denisesykes]

My OH is applying for a General Work Visa based on a job offer and we are planning to take everything up to NZ House rather than rely on post/couriers etc.
Have I read somewhere that they issue visas 'while you wait' ?.It takes about 4 hours.
Now of course I could well of dreamt this snippet of information as my brain is not what is was when I started this crusade. :roll
Any thoughts anyone?

[jools]

We went to New Zealand house on Tuesday for the same reason, and were told that as my husband would get his visa on the basis i had a job offer etc, that they do not do it in one day. So we came home and filled in the paperwork for him also we did not take a copy of a utility bill as proof that we still lived together, i did not think it would be necessary as we have been married for thirty years next week. Anyhow all the paperwork is with them now. I hope this is usfull info.

[Kim39]

I am going on a work visa. Went to NZ house on the 25th October 2004 and visa was duly received on the 14th Decemeber 2004. The only way they issue on the day is, if i am correct, for spouse and children of applicant. We have to apply for my wife and 2 girls visa's and have been told these will be issued on the day, as i am the main applicant and already have mine in place.

Kim

[denisesykes]

Jools , God I am panicing now as Paul is due to start work on 17th Oct.Did they give you any indication of how long your visa would take?

[jools]

They asked me when i was thinking of going out there and i stated 1st of November, The lady said she thought it could be done by the 1st but no gaurantee. Good luck if i can help further pm me. I do know i had to have all registration originals and photocopies luckily i took everthing with me. We eventually sent all information and application via registered post and tracked it on the net.

[Avalon]

Getting the actual VISA (as in the stickers in the passport) can be done on a while you wait basis. We had to go and grab a coffee (shame) and come back in an hour!

Of course then you have to go grab something a damn sight stronger than a coffee!

[denisesykes]

Avalon .I assume you are talking about getting a changing a work permit into a work visa .If not I am really confused!

[Kim39]

I am a little confused with Avalon's post also. I do know that before they issue the visa, a labour market check has to be completed. This is to make sure the local workforce can't be recruited before they recruit you. This check can take up to 6 weeks to complete. They will check out how the company have gone about recruiting, eg: advertising (nationally and locally) and whatever other means they have used.

I take it Avalon is talking about replacing the visa with the permit.

Kim

[baboonworld]

Dont know if this applies to you... (we applied though partnership)

... my other half got his PR in principle less than a month after we send in the forms (inc Medical, Police Check etc).

If he wanted to get his visa stamped into his passport (and pay levy) he could go down to NZ House and have it done while he waits. Of course he already has the PR in principle.

Have you filed your papers yet??? If so - you may hear fairly quickly.

[denisesykes]

Thanks Kim , excellent info as always , you really are a font of all knowledge.We are being sent the job offer , employers form etc by the employment agency in Chrsitchurch so I only hope that they are aware of what they need to prove and have sent the required documentation.
This company are desperate for Paul to start yesterday so hopefully they covered all their bases. Additionally , our house will hopefully complete early October and we have both handed our notices in at work so we could be left with no jobs, no home and no visa!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you know if there is any advantage to being in NZ when you apply as we could just apply when we get there.
Denise

[denisesykes]

You can tell that I am panicing now , can't you! I have been looking into how on earth Paul is going to get his visa in record time when I came across this way forward:
'Go over there on a visitors visa, then you can start work within a week based on a time limited 'variation of terms' made to the visitors visa by the NZIS, then apply for full work permit/PR.
Of course, you will need to be in the country for this to happen and have all your paperwork with you. '
Does this ring any bells with anyone?

[Kim39]

We are being sent the job offer , employers form etc by the employment agency in Chrsitchurch so I only hope that they are aware of what they need to prove and have sent the required documentation.
Denise

Please make sure that one of the forms is NZIS 1113. This is required to be filled in by your employer. Without it they won't process your visa until they receive this form. But as you are dealing with an agency it just may be a different ball game. Check it out if you can.

Kim

[jools]

hi Denise,
i had the supplementary form with me when i went to NZ house it was sent direct to me at my home address, it also had attached my job description etc.
jools

[ruthyroo]

Hi Denise

We went over to NZ on tourist visas and applied for our work permits in person at Hamilton NZIS within a week of arriving. Like you we basically ran out of time to do it in the UK. The key thing is to have all your paperwork in place - and I mean everything. We did get our visas issued that day. Mr Rr's job is on the POL which probably helped. Key points to be aware of:

You need all your paperwork to be in place - anything missing / out of date and they will not be able to issue the visa. This includes all your employers stuff.

If you are going for an open work visa / permit on the basis of partnership, be aware that they are not seen as high priority. I only got mine later that day becuase I cried on the case officer (it was my birthday, I had a job to start on the Monday, and it all got a bit much!) - otherwise it would have been a 6 month wait at least. Remember you need more than a marriage certificate to prove your partnership - shared accounts etc.

Get in really early - we arrived half an hour before the office was due to open and there was already a queue. The case officers are far more likely to process somethign the same day for you if you are in early enough. Oh and choose a crappy rainy day - apparently they are much quieter!

Also be aware that if you arrive in NZ on a tourist visa you will need a return or onward ticket when you arrive in the country. We bought cheapy tickets to Oz - much less expensive than upgrading our already bought one way tickets.

STAY CALM! I really feel for you as we were in a very simlar position and it is really stressful. TBH it took a lot of the shine off our first couple of weeks here, especially when it looked like I might have to turn down my job offer, and be unemployed for 6 months. I think my dislike of Hamilton started that day, wandering around in the rain for 6 hours not knowing if my WP would be processed in time... But it has all worked out in the end. Good luck, Rr

[Avalon]

Avalon .I assume you are talking about getting a changing a work permit into a work visa .If not I am really confused!

No I meant getting a Permanant Residence Visa.

Im sorry for any confusion.

We got a job offer at the same time we got out ITA, so we were not issued with a work visa first. We got our Permamant residence visa straight away.

We sent in our ITA (by Hand) and a week later were told we had the PR. We then took our Passports in to NZ house, paid our money, and they put the PR Visa Stickers in the passports while we had coffee. This was all done In the uk before we ever came out to NZ.

The whole process from EOI to PR took almost a year, but getting the actual stickers was a while you wait process.

Hope that clears up any confusion - and once again - I apologise :o