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szellem
2nd June 2006, 01:23 PM
Hi folks,
I'm new to this forum, so excuse me if this topic is covered somewhere and I've missed it.
I'm in NZ currently on working holiday and want to stay here more than anything. I'm doing temp work for the Ministry of Health. Here's where my issue comes in:
I've met quite a number of people who say that they know someone (or know someone who knows someone, y'know) who have gotten residency through sponsorship of an employer--even if their employment is NOT in a skills shortage field. I've heard others say you have a particularly good chance of gaining residency through a permanent employment offer through the goverment. The branch of the Ministry I'm temping for is looking to fill several permanant positions soon. I very much want to apply for the job, and all that I'd heard about residency through permanent employment offers seemed encouraging.
I decided to go to the Immigration office to figure out what forms I'd need to give my employer, if my effort to apply for the permanent job were successful. But when I talked to the lady at the desk, my hopes were almost dashed. She told me that I could ONLY be sponsored for residency if the job offer were related to a skills shortage. She said the only other route for me to take with a job offer would be to go through the points system, and since I've no degree/qualification, no family in NZ etc., this method would fall far short.

I have to admit to a great deal of frustration and confusion. I've heard so many people say that all I'd have to do is get an offer of permanent employment from NZ's government and I'd have a good chance of residency. None of these people ever implied that skills shortage or the points system had proven relevant in these instances. But NZIS's representative told me quite the opposite. I'd like to think that it's because NZIS isn't technically supposed to encourage people to seek residency along any route that isn't written clearly in the books.

Could anyone help me out here? If you have, or have known anybody, who has gained residency through an employment offer and did NOT have to satisfy the points system or skills shortage requirements, I'd love more information.

Thanks much.

Smiler
2nd June 2006, 01:45 PM
Hi szellum

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry I'm not clued up on that type of visa and someone will correct me I'm sure, but can you not apply for a work to residence visa and then for PR that way?:confused:

Have you looked on the NZIS site as well?

Good luck

tigerlily
2nd June 2006, 02:24 PM
I think you could always get a work permit if you had a perminent job offer (not sure if the Working Holiday permit forbids that, but it's worth a try). Or if you are interested in getting a degree, you could apply for a student visa which does allow you to work part time too. You'd certainly have enough points once you had a diploma or degree from a NZ university.

szellem
3rd June 2006, 01:49 PM
Hi szellum

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry I'm not clued up on that type of visa and someone will correct me I'm sure, but can you not apply for a work to residence visa and then for PR that way?:confused:

Have you looked on the NZIS site as well?

Good luck

That's exactly what I thought I could do, but the NZIS woman seemed rather insistent that I couldn't go for work to residency unless I had education, family in NZ, or other criteria that would satisfy the points system *mystified* I think I'll have to try calling and going in on several separate occasions and speaking to different people, and see if they all give me that answer.

Nienke
3rd June 2006, 03:16 PM
I've checked the immigration website again (did this a couple of months ago as we have a work to residence visa), a work to residence visa can only be obtained under the categories Talent (Arts, Culture & Sports, you would have to excel in one of these), Long Term Skill Shortage list or if you have a job offer from an Accredited Employer.
You would not need to satisfy the points system with this visa, but you do need to satisfy one of the above.

Sometimes people who apply for PR get a work to residence visa instead, but then it has different conditions than the one we have (which is 2,5 years valid and after 2 years we can apply for pr without bothering with the points system). This one would be valid for 3 months in which you have to find a job, but you need to have sufficient points to get it.

tigerlily
3rd June 2006, 03:21 PM
Have you done the points calculator online?
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/
look on the left side of the page, it's called the Skilled Migrant Category Points Indicator
She's right in some sense, to apply via the skilled migrant path you have to meet the points criteria.

This page:
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/worktoresidence/howdoiapply/default.htm
has more about work to residence. It looks like getting a job offer would allow you to apply in the work to residence scheme. Basically you get a work permit for 2 years and then apply for residence.

Anyone here gone the work to residence path from the start?

tigerlily
3rd June 2006, 03:24 PM
Opps! Sorry Nienke answered your question very well already! I think that working for the government might be an accredited employer, so she might have a chance if the salary was more than 45K per year (think that was the minimum).

wilson182
3rd June 2006, 07:15 PM
When OH was granted his work permit for having a job offer on the skilled shortage list, I was given an open work permit to look for work (i am getting to the point honest) With this I tried to apply for a permanent job with Christchurch City Council and was told that I had to have residency before they would consider me. Would this be the same with the Ministry of Health??
Also, I have had issues in the past with trying to deal with NZIS on their phone helpline and getting totally duff information, but (here in Christchurch anyway) I have always found that the immigration officers at the branch know their stuff and have always give really acurate info.

szellem
5th June 2006, 12:18 PM
Thanks for the input, all.
Re the points system--Yeah, I've done the calculator before, and, unfortunately for me, I've virtually nothing. Certainly nothing approaching 100, so I guess that's not in my stars.
I think the "accredited employer" thing is what I'll have to bring up when I next speak to NZIS. I should think the Ministry of Health would fit at least that criterium.

Nienke
5th June 2006, 07:26 PM
You can check that on the immigration site, they have a list somewhere with all the accredited employers.
Good luck!

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