Move or not move to NZ?

[BeataB]

If you do wait and get your green card, do remember that you can only leave the US for up to a year once you have it - any more than that and you will forfeit your resident status. So although having the green card will give you some stability and allow you to leave the US to investigate NZ, you'll only be able to leave for less than a year before you'll have to make the decision of staying in the USA or not.

I sympathize with your position. I am a green card holder, and I would like to leave in large part because of the health care situation here (and also because of having fallen in love with NZ), but the green card is hard to obtain and the idea of giving it up is also difficult. Good luck with your decision.

[feng.hanain]

I contacted Otago to postpone but it was impossible. I do not want to return my country, it is a point. Some peolpe can visit and give a shot. If they succeed, it is great. If they fail, they can come back their home countries as US, UK...For me, it is impossible. For me, US or NZ is still OK. I just want to have a good and secure place to live and support my family in my hometown.

[Fern01]

How sure are you that you will get the green card? It seems to me a good thing to have. Even though you have been told that you would get funding in New Zealand, I doubt if it is guaranteed. Even then things can change. Having to rely on funding to keep a job, is not a very secure situation.

[feng.hanain]

My first application was approved. Now I need to apply to transfer my visa status to PR. Of course, it will take 6months-1year.
My position is lecturer for teaching and research. Research is one of important role for scientific career. If I do not have funding, of course, how I can do research and supervise students.

[unar]

Life in research is never a secure thing. There is no where you can go where funding is guaranteed, unless you are lucky enough to get a job in an institute where the funding is all internal and even then those posts are usually short term. In the US there is tenure, in the UK there is probation period. But most people some how get by and have grants, however small.

I personally would wait for green card and go on the job market after that. At least you would have more options that way. I think to keep your residency status, you have to go back to the US twice a year ( not too sure about this), which is do-able.

[NJ2NZ]

I agree with all who suggested a visit to NZ before you make up your mind. I hope to be able to give you an additional thought to consider.

I migrated to the US in the 80-s. I'm a US citizen now and of relevance to your question: I am an immigration attorney. Our NZ PR was approved recently, and we plan to move in 2011.

Since you haven't decided to seek NZ PR yet, technically there's no conflict between your proceeding to NZ with a work permit, while your PR process in the US continues. This is possible if you were "self-petitioned", or, if not, your sponsor is willing to leave the US position open for some time. If you were "self-petitioned", you can use the approval of your initial petition to resume your US PR process anytime you want later. You are in a much better position now to try out NZ without letting go of your US PR prospects, than you'd have been had you already gotten the US PR.

Good luck with whatever decision you take eventually.

[feng.hanain]

I am self-petitioner. Please let me know how to process it? Thanks

[NJ2NZ]

Just hold on to the approval notice (form I-797)* of your immigrant visa petition (form I-140) and take no further steps towards your US PR at this time. Work on your Work Permit through Otago U. If you decide later on not to pursue NZ PR, you can file an application (form I-824) to have the USCIS forward your case to the US Embassy in Wellington via the US Dept. of State, and you'll be issued the US immigrant visa there. This isn't a complicated process at all and I think you'll be able to do it by yourself.

You can PM me if you have any further questions.**

Good luck!

* I mention these form numbers just to make sure we're talking about the same things

**I think the forum rules require you to make at least five postings before you can PM anyone.