[Angelonthemove]

Hi All

I am thinking of working for myself as I could not stand the job I am in. I have a work permit relating to that job, taken long term unpaid hols until I know what to do. OH has an open WP but is in a 6 months contract which finishes, unless extended, in Feb.

Our paperwork has arrived to apply for WTR and my question is. If I leave full time employment and set up a company to work for myself will it effect my PR status? We will not be submitting paperwork until Jan when my daughter arrives with all our police report and has her medical done here?

I am just going to talk to a company re doing a project for them 3 days per week, so I need to know what I am able to do or not, plus I have a project for myself which woudl take 3 months ish to complete.

Any advise or where on the immigration site I should look would be great.

Angela

[Avalon]

Angela,

You need to talk to a human being(?) at NZIS straight away.

The problem is - you are on a work visa, which if its tied to your job, means that when you actually "leave" that job - your Visa should expire. Check the wording on your visa very carefully. Also, you need to find out if your OH's work visa would also expire at the same time. Im a bit wolly on this bit - but it seems that if he has a WV because you got one - then his will expire if you leave your job. If he got his WV in his own right and not as a second aplicant with your visa - then his should stay active.

I serioulsy think you need to go to NZIS and talk the situation through with them and get them to work through your options. This isnt something you can deal with via the Helpdesk - or at least not with the kind of certainlty you will need.

My understanding of what you can do if you actually do leave (as opposed to being on unpaid leave- which seems to keep your current visa valid) is you would have to apply for another work visa in order to do another contract. Now things have possibly changed - so you also need to check wether you can get PR if you are on a contract position - when we came through - you could not do that - but I really dont know if thats still the case.

I also understand that you cannot set up a business if you are on a work visa - you need PR or a business visa for that. But that wouldnt matter if you take say a 6 month contract position for 1 company -= you would just need to apply for a change on your work visa.

Whatever you do - you need to :a/ know what your visa conditions are
and b/ get permission from NZIS to do anything that your visa does not say you can do.

Its sounds bad - but to be honest - if you get into NZIS - its actually not as bad as it sounds at first. They will try to help you - but I know from experience they seem to take a dim veiw of people who dont keep them informed of changes like this - so its best to err on the side of caution and make nice with NZIS (hard as that may be!)

[Angelonthemove]

Hi Avalon

what about if they offer me part time work say 3 days a week but employ me?

I have been for various interviews, applied for must be 30 jobs now all say over qualified. Or have no experience within networking NZ companies so sales jobs out of the question.

I have the offer to go back to work in Jan for my existing employer she has kindly given me time to think basically.

I will check OH visa but think he got his on the back of mine.

See what happens in the next couple of day and make a decision.

Thanks again you ar every informative.

[Avalon]

Hi Avalon

what about if they offer me part time work say 3 days a week but employ me?

.
Not sure about this - but I think you still have to get your visa changed. You also need to check about how many hours you need to work in order to have a work visa. Im sorry I dont have anything firmer on this - basically becasue I only have experience of work visas through friends.

I guess its good news you can go back in Jan if you want. If you cant get anything else sorted - and If you can manage the aggro - do that and stick it long enough to get PR. Once you have PR - the world is your oyster and you can take whatever type of job you want. Unfortunately - while you are on a WV - its a bit more complex.

Hxxxx

[Smiler]

Angela

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2622/hug1dd8.gif

I hope everything works out for you. Like Av says go and see NZIS, they can help if they know the situation.

D x x