Immigration question from a regular young couple

[Janicz]

Greetings all!

I'm a new poster to the forum, but I've been reading a lot in the past few days. I chose to make my own thread as I'm unable to find exact an answer to my question. Hope you can help!

Some background info:
We're both from Norway but have been working and living in London for the past couple of years but now want to move to NZ! I managed to secure a NZ job offer (currently waiting for references to be checked) in Auckland!

The job is listed in the Ops Manual, Appendix 6, Section A and I have a relevant Bachelor Degree. On the immigration points calculator we scored 160 points (Getting points for stuff like a skilled job offer and my partners education). We are both under 30.

The question I have is:
Assuming a start date of 5 weeks from now, how can I legally start this job? There's no chance I will have time to submit an EOI, get drawn, get all the things I need to fill out the application in the ITA, wait for processing and then get the Resident Visa in 5 weeks?

I've done some research and I'm not allowed to work on a Tourist Visa, and a "Work and Travel" visa application would be dishonest as I would be coming to NZ to primarily work, not have holiday (listed as one of the points to be eligible for that visa). A silver fern visa is out of the picture as it is very hard to get and only opens on the 27 april. Skilled migrant seems to be the way to go.

Any help here would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks!
Janicz

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by Janicz

Greetings all!

I'm a new poster to the forum, but I've been reading a lot in the past few days. I chose to make my own thread as I'm unable to find exact an answer to my question. Hope you can help!

Some background info:
We're both from Norway but have been working and living in London for the past couple of years but now want to move to NZ! I managed to secure a NZ job offer (currently waiting for references to be checked) in Auckland!

The job is listed in the Ops Manual, Appendix 6, Section A and I have a relevant Bachelor Degree. On the immigration points calculator we scored 160 points (Getting points for stuff like a skilled job offer and my partners education). We are both under 30.

The question I have is:
Assuming a start date of 5 weeks from now, how can I legally start this job? There's no chance I will have time to submit an EOI, get drawn, get all the things I need to fill out the application in the ITA, wait for processing and then get the Resident Visa in 5 weeks?

I've done some research and I'm not allowed to work on a Tourist Visa, and a "Work and Travel" visa application would be dishonest as I would be coming to NZ to primarily work, not have holiday (listed as one of the points to be eligible for that visa). A silver fern visa is out of the picture as it is very hard to get and only opens on the 27 april. Skilled migrant seems to be the way to go.

Any help here would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks!
Janicz

Hi there - a difficult one! Hopefully your potential employer will be a little flexible on start dates, given the visa situation.

How about applying for a Temporary Work visa in the short term? Work in NZ temporarily - that should be quicker.

How many points do you get without the job offer? It might be worth setting things in motion in advance then adding the job offer once you get it. Do everything online and I believe you can do this.

NZ Immigration should process the visa reasonably quickly, as you have a job offer.

Does anyone else have experience of starting a job in advance of the visa? I did work with a Project Manager who came over on a visitors visa, started work but didn't get paid until his residents visa came through - not quite according to the rules but he got away with it...

[antipodes]

hi there,
I suggest apply for a work visa as soon as you can, all going well, you might just be able to get in 2-4 weeks. Once you get to NZ and start your work, you can look at starting your residence process, without being pressed for time anymore.
good luck!

Originally Posted by Janicz

Greetings all!

I'm a new poster to the forum, but I've been reading a lot in the past few days. I chose to make my own thread as I'm unable to find exact an answer to my question. Hope you can help!

Some background info:
We're both from Norway but have been working and living in London for the past couple of years but now want to move to NZ! I managed to secure a NZ job offer (currently waiting for references to be checked) in Auckland!

The job is listed in the Ops Manual, Appendix 6, Section A and I have a relevant Bachelor Degree. On the immigration points calculator we scored 160 points (Getting points for stuff like a skilled job offer and my partners education). We are both under 30.

The question I have is:
Assuming a start date of 5 weeks from now, how can I legally start this job? There's no chance I will have time to submit an EOI, get drawn, get all the things I need to fill out the application in the ITA, wait for processing and then get the Resident Visa in 5 weeks?

I've done some research and I'm not allowed to work on a Tourist Visa, and a "Work and Travel" visa application would be dishonest as I would be coming to NZ to primarily work, not have holiday (listed as one of the points to be eligible for that visa). A silver fern visa is out of the picture as it is very hard to get and only opens on the 27 april. Skilled migrant seems to be the way to go.

Any help here would be very much appreciated!!

Thanks!
Janicz

[waynejenny]

we applied under the talent visa/work to residancy visa with my wife and 3 young children involved.
I have 30 month work visa for kiwi rail. Wife has 30 month work visa and children 30 month student visa's.
from submitting to getting visa back took 15 days. plus week for police check but can be quicker if you pay extra and if you can get in for a medical also about a week. so would say possible to do within a month.
ask your employer if they are talent visa recognised.

[Janicz]

Hi All,

Thanks for the advice so far. Just wanted to give you an update. I'm still waiting for the job offer in writing before we continue submitting the EOI.

I will continue writing the EOI as soon as possible, but I wanted to ask if anyone knows if there will be any problems if we go to NZ on tourist visa and wait for the job visa there (assuming we wont get the visa in time)?

Cheers,
Janicz

[Janicz]

Managed to complete the EOI by 2am NZ time on the 11th Jan and was selected on the draw the same day!

It now says "selected" and we're eagerly waiting for the invitation to apply. I've submitted requests for Police checks (seems this might be the slowest part of the application, eta 3 weeks) and I've gotten true copies of my university diploma, passport & birth certificate. We'll be booking chest X-rays shortly and making sure we have the rest as well.

[relocatella]

Selected the same day Wow this must have been a great surprise!

I wish you to be as lucky all along the process and the move!

[topcat83]

Many Congratulations! And good going to get it selected the same day. Must be some kind of a record there!

[Janicz]

Originally Posted by topcat83

Many Congratulations! And good going to get it selected the same day. Must be some kind of a record there!

Thank you! But isn't it a rule that everyone with over 140 points in a given draw get selected? If not, I didn't even realize how lucky we are!

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by Janicz

Thank you! But isn't it a rule that everyone with over 140 points in a given draw get selected? If not, I didn't even realize how lucky we are!

It's not a rule - but is usual. Sometimes though the offer comes with a stipulation that you must find a job in the area of shortage that you gained points for.