[ladyluck]

hi all

so, my partner will be moving to new zealand this year on a working holiday visa (he has applied for the 23 month option) and i believe he can only work for a maximum of 12 months unless of course he applies for another visa while he is here.

i am thinking it may be easier for him to try and get a job while he is here rather than search whilst he is in the UK.

if he likes the country and everything goes as planned, he will try and apply for a PR and i will be his sponsor... ive done all the reading about this type of application and im aware of the requirements.

any thoughts?

thanks


tara (21)

[Moorf]

Hi and Welcome,


My thoughts... just get him over here, see if he likes the place, see if you get on and then take it from there!! He can get a job, try for PR etc all after he's landed.

Go for it :nice1

Moorf (not 21)

[ladyluck]

Heh... Hi Moorf

I think that's how we will tackle it.

:)

Tara

[zardell]

Yeah......I agree with Moorf..........what have you got to loose??

Tell him to go for it, Tara.

Julie

xx

[Smiler]

Tara

I'm with the 'go for it' gang :nice1:nice1:nice1

Deborah

[Yvonne Evans]

I've never used a forum before so apologise if I get this all wrong.

My partner and I are looking to do some travelling later this year and land in New Zealand about Dec time.

We have both been to New Zealand before and really liked it so are thinking about maybe finding work there with a view to seeing how things go for a couple of years and taking it from there.

Anyway we will be travelling around New Zealand for roughly six months so are wondering if we liked it and I could find a job offer could we stay out there and therefore arrange visa's etc from NZ.

All the gumpf (not sure if thats how to spell it) has confused us as to whether this is possible or if we need to get visas/permits or do an EOI first here in England.

Also could somebody who knows what the correct procedures are explain to me the differences between Visas, permits, EOI? We both have over 100 points and have good work experience, I am AAT qualified, my partner is a carpenter and has good qualifications.

Please help, I've never been so confused and the immigration web-site that I continuously go round in circles with is doing my head in.

:roll

[jo b]

Hi Yvonne

I'll try to help.
WTR - Work to residency visa. This is usually given to people who have a job offer either whilst in the UK or whilst in NZ. So if you find a job whilst here on your visitors visa you can apply for that option from NZ. The WTR is only valid for 2 years but you have the option to apply for residency during that time. The WTR is cheaper so if your not planning on staying more than 2 years may be the best option.
PR - Permenant residency, need to complete EOI, not sure of the points, I think it's 140 at the moment but it does change. The you will need to complete an ITA - Invitation to Apply if accepted from the EOI pool. So if you get a job whilst here (NZ) and your points are more than the level required you could also opt for that option.
The way you are thinking of doing it has been done by many on the forum here so don't panic.

There will be lots of advice at hand
Hope this helps.

Jo

[Yvonne Evans]

Thanks Jo that was really useful. :nice1

So I am understanding then that I can go to New Zealand for 6 months on an ordinary visitors visa and then if we both like it I can do some job hunting whilst we are there.

If I found a job I would presume then that I would then have to get a work to residency visa which I could use for 2 years and then if we really liked it and wanted to stay, then go down the EOI route.

Could anybody tell me how easy and how long it would take to get a work visa once I had a job offer. Would this be able to be turned around reasonably quickly, i.e. weeks.

Could anybody tell me if the AAT qualification (Association of Accounting Technicians) is acceptable in New Zealand and also what employment agencies are the best.

A lot of questions I know but any assistance is really really appreciated.

:D

[veronica]

the other thing that you can get is a straightforward work visa, they can be valid for 1 or 2 years. Doesn't give PR but does give time to sort it out while in NZ

[Yvonne Evans]

Thanks Veronica. :nice1

If anyone has an idea of timescales of obtaining a work visa once out in New Zealand that would be great. (i.e. from application to actually obtaining one)

Thanks Yvonne

[Jonathon1977]

When I was in the immigraton office in Welly they told me they can you get you a one year work Visa within a couple of days. This is used to tide you over until you apply for PR or an extended work permit which requires police and medical checks.

But if you are already on a WHV they will just ask you to apply for PR if you can get a job on the long term skills shortage list. I am on a WHV and they advised me not to apply for a work permit due to the lack of need and the extra expense.

They are only worried about someone who might be close to over staying their time.

Jonathon

[ruthyroo]

If you think you there is the possibility that you will want to apply for a WP or PR while you are in NZ (and you don't want to come back to the UK in between) it would be worthwhile getting the application forms and info and working through all the information / paperwork that you need to amass for them - as if you were going to apply for them now. Then you can take all that paperwork to NZ with you rather than trying to organise it from NZ. WP can be issued in a couple of days over the counter by NZIS - but only if you have all the correct paperwork, which might include an NZQA assessment of your quals, registration with whatever professional body exists in NZ for your profession, confirmation of previous employment. You only need police checks and medicals if you go for more than 2 year WP. Oh and if either of you is applying on Partnership you will need proof of your relationship being 'genuine' etc.

Get the application forms, have a dummy run before you leave the UK, come on here and ask more questions - and hopefully if you do decide to stay and work in NZ it'll be plain sailing (once you get a job offer!). Good luck!

[veronica]

As I understand it it can take different amounts of time in different cities depending on the work load, at one time it was taking up to 3 weeks in Auckland but people in Christchurch were going in and getting them over the counter.

[ladyluck]

just an update

TOM GOT HIS 23 MONTH WHV APPROVED!!!

we are looking at the first week of July 2006 for his arrival to hamilton.

im in disbelief... it took 6 days from when he sent his application in and WHAM! approved. easy as that for us.

now... its just living the life and going for residency.

thanks


tara
hamilton

[Aydon]

Hiya, lIke Yvonne I have not really posted on the forum, but have used it for lots of infromation. Could I ask some questions about working in NZ - My husband and I have PR and are here in Chch (arrived a whole 10 days ago). I have 2 sons over in the UK who want to come over and test the water - they are both chefs and appear on the skilled shortage list - really what I am asking is - do they need to do anything before coming over or can they arrive, and then apply for work permits etc, and if they like it start the PR route? I apolopgise if this has already been asked and ansered but I (they) are starting to make plans for their arrival :)

Thanks

Maydon

[veronica]

if they are 30 or under they can apply for the working holiday visa, that would give them a couple of years to sort out things.