[Toto]

My husband and I are now in NZ on 2 yr work visas as I secured a job from the UK before leaving and it is on the Immediate Skills Shortage List. Since arriving my husband has now secured a job that qualifies us (all being well) for PR. My understanding is that when you emigrate to NZ with a job offer, you are expected to remain in that job for a minimum of 6 months. However if my OH is already in the job does he still have to do the 6 months after we have been granted PR or does the months that he will have done in that job before being granted PR count towards it?

Does anyone know?

Sue

[Cardy]

Hi I dont know how it works but i had no job before i came and i was given PR and i have swapped jobs twice in the last 7 months. Cardy

[Toto]

I think it's different when you have points for current skilled employment in NZ or a job offer, you are obligated to actually work in that job for a period of time. I wasn't sure what that period of time was although I've just found this on the immigration website

Where a residence permit(s) is granted under the Skilled Migrant Category on the basis that the principal applicant* qualifies for points for an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand or current skilled employment in New Zealand for less than three months (see SM7), the holder(s) of the permit is subject to the following requirements:
In the case of the principal applicant* who:

has an offer of skilled employment, they take up that offer of skilled employment within three months of the grant of the first residence permit, and they remain in that employment (or another position of employment that meets the requirements for offers of skilled employment including requirements for bonus points if the offer of employment qualified for bonus points under SM8 or SM9), for a period of at least three months;
or
has current skilled employment in New Zealand for less than three months, they remain in that employment (or another position of employment that meets the requirements for current skilled employment including requirements for bonus points if the employment qualified for bonus points under SM8 or SM9), for a period of at least three months; and

they inform the nearest branch of the NZIS of their residential address and any changes of residential address while they are subject to those requirements; and

they submit evidence to a visa or immigration officer that, within seven months of the grant of the first residence permit, the requirements set out above have been met.

So on the basis that my OH has current skilled employment do you take the above to mean that he is obligated to work for 3 months in that job in total or 3 months following being granted residency?

[Avalon]

Toto,

The easiest way to know for sure is to read what you get on your PR visa / permit.

The restriction is called Section 18a, and yes, it lasts for 3 months, and then when you have satisfied the conditions, you send a letter from your employer stating that you have been in the job for the last 3 months, and send in your passports and you get shiny new stickers without the conditions on it.

I really dont know whether "time served" counts towards this. At the least you will find out when your PR is approved. In the meantime, email your case officer and ask for clarification. It really is the best way.

Good luck!

[Toto]

Thanks for that Avalon!

[diforsyth]

Not sure if this will muddy the water :(

A South African colleague has a 2 year work (to residence, I think) visa and he has decided to apply for PR midway during this period so he can bring his mother over ( :confused: ,the story he told me).

He has told me that all his papers for the original application are being held in Wellington's Work Visa offices and won't be released or sent to the PR offices for his aplpication. This means he has to go through the entire application process again including medicals & police checks. Needless to say he is not happy.

[wilson182]

So on the basis that my OH has current skilled employment do you take the above to mean that he is obligated to work for 3 months in that job in total or 3 months following being granted residency?

OH was in his job for roughly 18 months before we applied for residency and this would have been noted on our application. We received our permits with no conditions on them. I THINK that if you have already done three month in the job that you are using to apply for residency you will not receive any conditions on your permit.

He has told me that all his papers for the original application are being held in Wellington's Work Visa offices and won't be released or sent to the PR offices for his aplpication. This means he has to go through the entire application process again including medicals & police checks. Needless to say he is not happy.

We also had two year work permits, and on applying for residency had to resubmit ALL documents (ie work experience), police checks and medicals etc