[alan999]

Hi,
I've been searching but can't find any real answers to this. When applying for PR with job offer can anyone give examples how long it takes to be approved in principal, and from there how long to get the OK to go?

Thanks All,
Alan

[bpk]

I have also the same question!

[Qiwi Lin]

Same here. Would like to know the difference in procedures when one applies for a work permit first (and applies for PR soon after) and for applying for PR with a job offer. Does anyone know how much time each takes?

[willowshouse]

It took us more than 5 months .. as you will see from my sign-off BUT I have seen others approved in just a few weeks. Each case is different and it does depend on how 'on-the-ball' you are with getting your paperwork in.

If you have a specific move date in mind - start early. We ended up coming over on visitor's visas and just waiting for the PR to come through. Finally, we got our blue stickered passports back yesterday.

From being approved (AIP) to getting your stickers can take up to 4 weeks according to the guidelines but it's usually pretty quick - 10 days maybe?.

Not experienced with work permits but I did look into it when my PR was taking a long time. They are easier and quicker to get but when I enquired in Auckland about the fastest turnaround they could offer, they said 2 - 4 weeks. I don't think that having a work permit speeds us your PR application either - they are seen as separate things.

Have a look at people's sign-off details for some idea of time-scales .. they make interesting reading!

Best of luck,
Dawn

[alan999]

Hi, thanks for that. I have looked at many hundreds of posts in dozens of threasds and the time seems to be a matter of a couple of weeks to a couple of months. There isn't a way of finding out which of these are "normal" PR applications or ones with job offers which are supposed to be fast tracked.

I'd just like some idea of people's experience when returning ITA with a job offer.

Thanks, Alan.

[snailandthewhale]

Hi,

We got a decision in just under 2 weeks after submitting ITA and had blue stickers in our hands in just over a week after that!

K

[KerryS]

I submitted my ITA and had PR within 2 weeks. My best friend submitted hers earlier this year and it took about a month. It all depends on how busy they are at the time. We both submitted via the Auckland office and were on work visas prior to getting the PR.

[willowshouse]

Alan,

Mine was with a job offer! From submitting my completed ITA to getting 'Approved' still took more than 2 months. Some applications will be easy to process and quick, others like mine are not so clear and take longer. If you have all your documentation of work experience and qualifications, have a good number of points and your medicals and police checks are all OK then you have a better chance of a quicker decision (IMO).

Dawn

[alan999]

Thanks everyone, I'm wanting there to be a bit of a delay if possible rather than as soon as. I have to submit my ITA by mid March but would prefer only go out in May. But whatever will be will be.

Alan

[snailandthewhale]

Hi Alan999,

Once you get your blue stickers, you have a year before you have to go to NZ and you can delay things further by not sending your passport in straightaway. Not sure how long you can delay sending in your passport to be blue stickered after getting PR. But your year starts when you're stickered not when you get PR.
Someone else will know....

K
K

[alan999]

Mmmm, but aren't you with a job offer expected not to introduce any more delay that necessary? When I applied it was with what you say in mind but I now need a job offer so things look a little more rushed. Still it's a lot better than having the door slammed!

The time I'm really interested in is from acceptance in principal, when I would be confident to leave work to getting the OK to go out. I'd like some idea how much time I can expect to get the house in order and things like that.

Thanks,
Alan

[snailandthewhale]

Hi

I could be wrong but my understanding is that the only difference between approved or approved in principle is when you choose to pay the migrant levy.

We paid it when we returned the ITA and so within 2 weeks were approved. I think if we hadn't paid it then we would only have been approved in principle, and would then have been approved when we paid the levy. So when you're approved in principle, you more or less have the OK to go out.

It took 9-10 days for them to post our passports back, which we also sent with the ITA.

It's not easy to plan as you have a lot of waiting around and then suddenly you can go immediately only you can't cos you have to work a month's notice and house to sell etc. Employers want you there as soon as possible but it's not like moving up the road is it?


K

[Hannah]

We were in NZ and I was already working on a work permit when I submitted my ITA. It took 2 months from submission of ITA to Approved in Principal (and then just a few days for sending off passports with migrant levy and getting them back again). Our application was straightforward in as much as they didn't ask for other info and I assumed 2 months was quite quick. However, reading previous posts that suggest 2 weeks (!!!! I've never heard of anyone getting PR that quick until I read these posts tonight!!!) this was maybe not so quick. Maybe the fact that I had a work permit already meant that my application was not rushed through.
Who knows, but I was well chuffed with 2 months. I thought NZIS were very thorough, very efficient, very helpful and have nothing but praise for the way they have dealt with all of our previous applications (e.g for student permits, work permits etc). British Gas and NTL could learn a lot from them!!!
hannah

[alan999]

Hi

I could be wrong but my understanding is that the only difference between approved or approved in principle is when you choose to pay the migrant levy.

We paid it when we returned the ITA and so within 2 weeks were approved. I think if we hadn't paid it then we would only have been approved in principle, and would then have been approved when we paid the levy. So when you're approved in principle, you more or less have the OK to go out.

It took 9-10 days for them to post our passports back, which we also sent with the ITA.

It's not easy to plan as you have a lot of waiting around and then suddenly you can go immediately only you can't cos you have to work a month's notice and house to sell etc. Employers want you there as soon as possible but it's not like moving up the road is it?


K

K, thanks for explaining that.

I understood the AIP to be another stage, when really the application has been finilised and is just waiting requiring levy payment.

I've just fingered through my ITA and near the back there is a form saying to reduce delay give credit card details for the levy and include passports. So I assume that if I do this then I won't have an AIP stage, but if successful will just be told as such, and get our passports back.

So if I don't fill this form out, or forget to include the passports then things will be delayed a few weeks. Like you say there seems to be so much to do when given the green light.

Alan