[Newbe1]

I am hoping that someone can help answer a few questions I have, because I am having a hard time making sense of the NZIS website. I will try to make my questions clear... :o
My husband, baby, and I, would like to move to NZ. He is hoping to have a temporary job with a friend we know in NZ while his paperwork goes through the NZQA and the teacher’s council. After which point, he would hope to have a teaching job that would allow us to stay more permanently. So my question is, can we buy a one-way ticket to NZ and still be able to enter the country as a visitor, or do we HAVE to have a return ticket?
If my husband applies for a work visa, does that allow myself and our baby to stay with him?
My worry is that he will be able to stay in NZ with a work visa and the baby and I will have to leave because I am not working. Has anyone been in this situation before?
I just want to avoid as many surprises as possible! :laugh

Thanks!

[Smiler]

Hi Newbe1

You only need a cheap ticket outta here ie. a bucket seat to Oz would do.

I can't answer your other question sorry, hopefully someone else in that position can.

Good on you for checking it all out now. :nice1

[Lupin]

I entered both Oz and NZ on one way tickets as a tourist in 2001 but things might have changed quite a bit since then.

[khhill]

My understanding is that there are 2 options:

1) apply for a longer term visitors visa (no medical needed for 1 year visa, need to have medical for visa valid longer than 1 year). In this situation, you don't need to purchase a return ticket, just show that you'll have the funds to purchase one down the road. Fee for visitors visa: Free! :)

2)Buy a one way ticket from NZ to Oz for a date within 3 months of your arrival in NZ. For a family of 3, this could be an expensive loophole unless you were actually looking to vacation in Australia as well. Also note from the U.S., you will need to get a visitor visa to Oz to go this way. This is an easy process that can be done online, but if you go this route, make sure you don't forget this step. When I flew to NZ, they checked the validity of my Oz visa before they even let me onto the plane to NZ.

Hope this helps. I got stuck with option 2 because my PR arrived two days after I landed in NZ. If I had known that it would be delayed beforehand, I would have gone with option 1.

Cheers!

[montana]

Hi Newbe 1. I'm not sure about your questions - and I don't want to answer them wrong. I have had several questions though and called the NZ Embassy or Consulate in LA or D.C. They have always been very helpful. Their numbers are on the NZIS website.
Best of luck!

[Newbe1]

Thanks for all your help! How do you go about proving that you have the funds to buy a plane ticket back?
If we were in NZ with a extended visitors visa, when can we apply for residency (if all goes well)?

[Going2NZ]

Hi Newbe

Based on my experience from LAX I think that they will look at your ticket during processing - if its not round trip on travel on past your NZ time, you probably won't be allowed on. I had to prove that I was a Permanent Resident before they would accept that I had a one-way ticket.

Susan

[khhill]

Hi Newbie,

When you apply for the visitors visa, you have to provide copies of bank statements or investment accounts, credit cards, etc. to prove that you have funds to survive in NZ and fly back.

Most airlines won't even sell a ticket for 12 months down the road. For this reason, they print on the visa sticker that the return ticket requirement is waived. This is what gets you past the airport gate keepers.

I'm not sure about your question regarding the timing of PR application as I got to take the easy "married a Kiwi" application route.

Cheers!

[Howie]

There are two "Marketing Directors" (or something like that) who work for the NZIS in the US. We received extensive help from one (Linda, I think her name was). She was amazing. Give her a call or an email and all will be revealed. You'll be able to find contact info on the NZIS website.

Chris

[Bruckner]

I had great luck with Terry Murphy in the Portland, Oregon office. Very quick response to e-mail questions. PM me if you want her e-mail address.

Emily

[Going2NZ]

if I remember right, Terrry is a "he" not a "she" but quite helpful

[Bruckner]

I stand corrected and he was indeed very helpful.

Emily