[NZsoon]

Hi. I am a green card holder and have about 4 years left until i become a U.S. citizen. I plan to apply for NZ PR in '08 right after I graduate college, and I would meet the points requirement. I have a few questions regarding immigration:

1. Can I keep my green card if I apply and accept NZ PR?

2. I am in the IT field and speak 4 languages fluently. Would I be able to find work relatively easily?

3. According to INS, I must maintain residence in the U.S. and not be out of the country for more than 6 months at one time, or the clock for citizenship is reset. If I opt to work in NZ and decide to stay there, would I be applying for a WTR visa or can I apply for PR? Would the 6 months count toward the 2 years required under the WTR visa?

Thanks.

[doctor]

For few days you may be able to maintain PR's of both NZ and US. Eventually you can't. Advise would be stick with one or the other.

[NZsoon]

For few days you may be able to maintain PR's of both NZ and US. Eventually you can't. Advise would be stick with one or the other.

Yeah. I plan to keep only one. The decision I am facing is wether to wait for US citizenship, which I will get around 2010 and then make the move to NZ, or ditch the citizenship and make the move in 2008. I am leaning towards a permanent move to NZ if I get accepted, in which case the US citizenship is not needed.

[Oregonkiwi]

Welcome to the forum!
I agree with Doctor. I had a green card and got US citizenship, so I know what a long time it seems to wait. But to maintain your PR status in the US, you need to show that you are actually living in the US and consider it your home, which would be hard to do if you are also trying to maintain PR status in NZ and prove to NZIS that you live in NZ and consider NZ your home... I'm not an expert so I'm not saying it can't be done, just be very careful and make sure you do as much research into the legalities as possible.
Also, the NZ immigration rules tend to change often, so although you qualify now, it doesn't necessarily mean you will still qualify in 2008.

(edit - just saw your 2nd post - so you already covered that, sorry)

[Oregonkiwi]

Yeah. I plan to keep only one. The decision I am facing is wether to wait for US citizenship, which I will get around 2010 and then make the move to NZ, or ditch the citizenship and make the move in 2008. I am leaning towards a permanent move to NZ if I get accepted, in which case the US citizenship is not needed.

So I guess the quetion is, do you think you will want to live in the US again in the future? If you have citizenship then you're free to do what you want, but if you lose your US PR status and then want to go back to the US later, you'd have to start all over again.

[NZsoon]

Other than visiting family, I see no reason to come back to the US. After living here for the past eight years, and I am kind of tired of American life for the reasons we all know. I know the jobs will be better in the US, but that doesn't concern me the least bit. I have been through the whole process of relocating from one country to another when I was 12, so I know exactly what is involved, what emotional and physical toll it will take, etc.

I plan to do more research about NZ, along with a study abroad trip. :clap

[doctor]

excellent view on US life--same thing with me. I agree with you. Finding jobs and making money is easy in US. But other than that everything here----???.
No friends, no social life. I have'nt been to NZ, but atleast I know from people who lived there and from the forum members, that it is a better place for a family and a social life.

[NZsoon]

excellent view on US life--same thing with me. I agree with you. Finding jobs and making money is easy in US. But other than that everything here----???.
No friends, no social life. I have'nt been to NZ, but atleast I know from people who lived there and from the forum members, that it is a better place for a family and a social life.

wow! This is a coincidence. I read through some of your older posts, and noticed that you are Indian. I moved here from India in '98.

Although many people, including us Indians settle down and have a life in the US, its just not for me. Since I will be starting life after college, I would rather do it in NZ or Australia.

[Howie]

I currently have NZ PR and a US green card. I have no intention of moving back to the US and have no ties to the US so will have to figure out how to "give back" my green card. My husband has US citizenship, so I can always reapply for a green card if I ever change my mind.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though you may not be required to pay US taxes, if you have US citizenship you have to file a tax return in the US for the rest of your life. Even if you give up your US citizenship, you still need to file a US tax return for the next 10 years.

[doctor]

wonderful,
I am from India. I came to USA in 2000. Not all people in USA are happy I guess. I applied for NZ PR and got WTR and it this time I have 3 months to submit passport to get that WTR visa . I have to stay in US for 3 more months due to some commitments.
I am from south India. What part of India are you from?

[khhill]

Another option is to apply for US re-entry permit before coming to NZ which allows you to be outside of the country for 2 years and still keep your green card. Many times, the original re-entry can be extended for another 2 years after that. This gives you the option to explore and settle in NZ for 4 years while still leaving the door open to return to US if you want/need to.

[Lukas]

....Well..altough you have not specified your cultural backgound NZ, in my oppinion offers more or less quite the same culture and life stile like NZ
...Spending 6 months in NZ and 6 in US for the first two years after you are granted PR in NZ would solve the problem as you would be eligible for NZ indeffinite Returning Resident Visa...anyway it may afect your eligibility for US Citizenship...
Also I suppose you aready know that spending more than 6 months outside US would invalidate your US green card

[NZsoon]

Also I suppose you aready know that spending more than 6 months outside US would invalidate your US green card

I can apply for a permit to extend it to one year, but I am thinking that if I like NZ, I may not want to return to the US and thus I will not need my green card.

From what I have read on the forum, many people go back because of the low wages and jobs. This doesn't concern me, so it makes the decision easier for me.

[doctor]

if money is not the sole criterion, then NZ may be a better place than USA. Definetely a better place for raising kids--I heard Kids in the NZ schools are well behaved. Can you imagine the number of kids on Retalin (methyl phenidate) for attention deficit/hyper activity disorder in US???

[xanctus]

Definetely a better place for raising kids--I heard Kids in the NZ schools are well behaved.

That is something good to know...

[NZsoon]

Another question: If I decide to come to NZ on a working holiday visa and secure a job, can I apply for PR and would it be easier to get it as I am already in NZ with job?

I figure this way I can stay in NZ if I like it without having to risk losing my greencard if I apply for NZ PR right away without getting an idea of what it is like there.