[montana]

This site has been so helpful. Thank you to everyone that takes time to offer advice! I will do my best to do the same...

Is anyone a lawyer from overseas that has had experience with the NZLS? I sent them all my qualifications and was asked for more information from my home jurisdiction which I am still waiting for. Once all the info is in to them can anyone tell me how long it takes? They estimate 2-3 months but I am wondering if that is realistic. So far the process has been very frustrating!

Also, I am applying for PR through my partner, but wondering if it is actually faster to get a work permit first. I don't have a job offer yet because I didn't see the point in looking until I know how much more school I have to do.

Thanks!

[Smiler]

Hi Montana

Please don't get your hopes up. I really can't help with the law question. :D


I just wanted to say welcome to the forum and hopefully someone will be along and be able to answer your query. :clap

[Oregonkiwi]

Hi Montana,
welcome to the forum. Can you tell us where you are? (UK, US, etc)

[montana]

I am from Montana (US) - original user name, eh? :roll I am living in Christchurch with my husband who is a kiwi (from Lumsden- middle of S. Island). We were living in San Diego and just moved here less than a week ago!

[Oregonkiwi]

Ok, so you're in NZ now... that changes the advice I was going to give you about applying for a work permit in the US (which is why I asked where you are). We're in a similar situation, I'm a kiwi, husband is American, we're going to get him a partnership work visa before we leave and then apply for PR once we're in NZ. I don't know about processing times in NZ, (the NZ Consulate in LA says it takes about 3 weeks to process a work visa application here) but I would imagine that it would be faster to get a work permit than PR. I think you can apply for them both at the same time, or if you haven't got your medicals and FBI check done yet, you could apply for the work permit first. Are you in NZ on a visitor visa at the moment?

I'm an ex-lawyer (emphasis on the ex), when I moved to the US I enquired about practising there and it all seemed so hard to get qualified that I didn't pursue it, (have to admit I didn't really want to...) so I sympathize with your frustrations.