[jbharvey]

Hey folks,

I had posted a validation of my plan to go to NZ next May and look for work while on US passport. It says on the website that if I intend to stay 3 months or less, I do not need a visitor's visa.

Is it legal for me to us my US passport to travel to NZ, find a job, have them make me an offer then get my work permit? I don't want to break any laws.

Thanks!

Justin

[jubjub]

100% legal, plenty of people on here have done this and now have PR

[jbharvey]

Awesome thanks jubjub.

PS - Do you pronounce your name jubjub or yubyub =)

[tigerlily]

I know that lots of people do it successfully, but I thought that it also was a good idea not to advertise the fact that you were seeking employment when you went through customs/immigration? Anyone have experience with this?

[jubjub]

Its jubjub (as in a character out of the simpsons!)

and tigerlily may be right, it would probably be an idea to pretend you really were on holiday....

[Singel]

We came here on tourist visa, look for a job and got our PR.

Yes, we have to tell white lies to the custom officer at that time. It is a terrible and uneasy feeling because we have never do thing like this before (being so sneaky). The custom officer asked where are we going to live and what are we doing during the 3 months. Worse still, we do not have relatives or friends in NZ and my hubby is so nervous that he can't even speak out. So I just have to make up some story on the spot.............really, really nerve racking :roll :uhoh We also have to show our returned airtickets. We bought one-year open tickets knowing that next year this time, we will have to go back to Holland for my parents-in-law jubilee wedding celebration.

So Justin, prepare yourself with things like this.

[jbharvey]

Thanks for the advice, this causes me to rethink getting one way tickets. It's too bad that we'll have to spend more money just so we can get through customs =( But if it's necessary, it's necessary =)

Justin

[jbharvey]

Oh one other question, when I get job offer in Wellington, what sort of hoops to I have to jump through to get a work visa? I suppose I have to take an offer of employment somewhere and apply? The thing is, I don't want my employer to have to wait weeks to get me in the door, that would be a negative to them hiring me.....

Justin

[Moorf]

Thanks for the advice, this causes me to rethink getting one way tickets.



I believe that you must have a return ticket or an onwards ticket, otherwise you won't be allowed to get on the plane or may not be allowed entry once you get to NZ - could someone clarify this?

[foolsgold99]

yes you need a ticket, but don't waste money buying return tickets to the US or Europe, all you need is ticket that leaves the country.

go online to http://www.virginblue.com.au/ to buy a onward ticket to Melbourne or Sydney for $49, then either cancel it, or pop it into the trash as soon as you clear customs

[Singel]

Oh one other question, when I get job offer in Wellington, what sort of hoops to I have to jump through to get a work visa? I suppose I have to take an offer of employment somewhere and apply? The thing is, I don't want my employer to have to wait weeks to get me in the door, that would be a negative to them hiring me.....

Justin
If you got a job offer, go to the immigration office to apply for a work permit. Thereafter, you just wait for a week or two for your work permit to be processed and approved, and then you could start work.

[jbharvey]

How willing will employers be to sponsor me for the work visa? Is there anything they have to do? Or do they just have to give you the offer letter?

[Timbo]

Foolsgold. We were looking at doing the onward flight thingy with Virgin, but and its a big but. Would the Australian authorities not want to see a return/onward ticket as well?

[ruthyroo]

Hey timbo, butting in here... we went for the onward to Oz rather than return to the UK tickets and it was fine at immigration. We also made sure we had visas for Oz.

I guess it came down to money - it would have cost us several GBP 000's to change our singles to returns, compared to the $80 for onward to OZ. For peace of mind though we might have been better with returns. It's where the human element creeps in - we got an immigration guy who was perfectly aware what we were up to (coming to work not just to holiday) and was okay to play along - he didn't even ask to see our ownard tickets. But if you got a real stickler...??

[Singel]

How willing will employers be to sponsor me for the work visa? Is there anything they have to do? Or do they just have to give you the offer letter?
We just attached the job offer with our work visa application because my hubby's job is in the critical skill shortage list even though his employer is not accredited.

For requirements of general visa, here is the link : http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktemporarily/howdoiapply/generalwork/

[Timbo]

Thanks Ruthyroo, you were not butting in at all. What you say pretty much confirms my thoughts on this one. I`m still sitting on the fence though, as it would be devastating to happen on the "stickler" at immigration and end up on the next plane home.

[Michael&Melodie]

Hello All,

Thanks for so many valued postings,

Melodie and I are doing a similar thing, furniture in storage, travel this Dec on 'holiday' (we have a campervan for one month booked and 6 month return ticket) and when there, look for work and housing.

We are fortunate not to have a house to sell and around £210,000 to take with us. (No, not in a carrier bag!)

As a 'tourist' i understand I don't need any particular visa until I try to get a job, is that right? Aslo, furniture must stay in uk until I have a visa?

Thanks guys

Michael

[Timbo]

Hi Michael, welcome to the forum. We are doing much the same as you are, leaving around 23 Nov and grabbing a camper for a BIG reccy.
You dont need a visitor visa if you are a UK citizen, but you can extend your visit to 9 months by purchasing a visitor visa. This will cost you £50 and you can cheat a little by putting your other half on the same application as a dependant. I believe the safest thing to do with house hold effects is probably to put them in storage here. It will cost, but not as much as paying import duty in NZ because you dont have a visa.
Is this to be your first trip out ? What do you do for a crust? etc. (sorry, I`m always nosey)

[Michael&Melodie]

Hi Timbo,
Thanks for the welcome. We are thinking of using upakweship as our removal team, but I don't yet know if they will store the stuff until we get a visa and address to send it to, I will ring them Friday morning.
This is our first trip, we don't know anyone but we are quirky and adventurous so we will give it a try. I have quit my job already, Installing specialist fire alarms for Deaf people in commercial buidings. I have been into Security Alarms and CCTV for the last 15 years, mostly self-employed, which is a bummer for providing work references, and I am doing my 16th Edition electrical exams etc this November. My exams are two days before flights!! Not cutting it too close!!

Thereby hangs the next question...will NZQA accept C&G 2381 and 2391 electrical certificates as adequate qualifications since I never did the C&G parts 1&2 that the NZIS seem to ask for. The course tutors say with these I will be a fully qualified electrician, as does NICEIC (trade organisation) but JIB would not allow me registration... Oh what the hell we are going anyway...


Michael