[actemplin]

Hi all,
Hoping to get your thoughts/two cents.... Had a job offer in my field, which fell through. My field/education/degree is in an area of 'absolute skill shortage' (speech therapy), but all of the job opportunities I am finding now are for employees who can start now or next month. From what I can tell the process for a visa takes ~9 months from start to finish and I can't find an employer who wants to give me a job for a position that won't be able to begin for another 9 months (at least) and without a visa in hand. BUT, if I want the skilled migrant visa I need to have the job offer first (but to get the job in my field, I think I need to be in NZ first and ready to work in order to get any offers from employers). It's a catch 22. Any ideas? Or anyone want to commiserate?
Thanks in advance

 

[escapedtonz]

Hi all, Hoping to get your thoughts/two cents.... Had a job offer in my field, which fell through. My field/education/degree is in an area of 'absolute skill shortage' (speech therapy), but all of the job opportunities I am finding now are for employees who can start now or next month. From what I can tell the process for a visa takes ~9 months from start to finish and I can't find an employer who wants to give me a job for a position that won't be able to begin for another 9 months (at least) and without a visa in hand. BUT, if I want the skilled migrant visa I need to have the job offer first (but to get the job in my field, I think I need to be in NZ first and ready to work in order to get any offers from employers). It's a catch 22. Any ideas? Or anyone want to commiserate? Thanks in advance

Unfortunately the catch 22 is the reality.
If you have a job offer or can convince an employer to give you a job offer on the basis that you will be there very soon then why not try the temporary work visa instead ?
These are secured on the basis of a job offer or contract. The job title and employer forms part of its conditions. The job offer must be skilled and be from an accredited employer but on the basis of the job offer these visas can be secured in a week and you are allowed 3 months to activate them here at the border.
If you're ready to leave you can be on the plane sharpies. I've known people get a job offer from overseas, secure the temporary work visa and emigrate here in 3 weeks!!!
Your partner can be awarded the same visa and visa term on the basis that you have a job offer - they wouldn't need a job or have to work themselves.
If you have kids they would need a different visa - special condition visitor or study visa etc.

Yes the skilled migrant route takes a while. Minimum 9 months - on average a year.

You can always have the residency visa ticking along in the background whilst here on the temp work visa.

Other things to consider are you don't get as much of the benefits on a temp work visa. Think you have to pay more for a child's education and increased fees at GP's etc.
You also cannot get any finance, mortgage, rental contract etc for longer than your visa term.

Sent from my iPad using ExpatForum

 

[actemplin]

Hi again- I have 140 points right now without a job offer. Well actually 145 but i turn 30 in 2 weeks and it will go down. Can I apply for skilled migrant visa (or do you have to have the offer first)?

 

[escapedtonz]

Hi again- I have 140 points right now without a job offer. Well actually 145 but i turn 30 in 2 weeks and it will go down. Can I apply for skilled migrant visa (or do you have to have the offer first)?

If I was you I'd submit now with 145 points as the points are calculated on date of submission, therefore your EOI score will not reduce when you turn 30 in 2 weeks.
Yes you can submit without a job offer. You don't have to have a job offer to apply for Residency via SMC

 

[actemplin]

Thanks for the reply. that is such a relief. I'm worried about the timeline though. My husband and I still have a tiny bit of weight to lose to be under the 30 bmi (been working hard- almost there!) How long until we have to take the medicals/ how long can I delay them for if I submit my EOI today?

 

[topcat83]

Thanks for the reply. that is such a relief. I'm worried about the timeline though. My husband and I still have a tiny bit of weight to lose to be under the 30 bmi (been working hard- almost there!) How long until we have to take the medicals/ how long can I delay them for if I submit my EOI today?

You have four months after the initial offer from Immigration NZ is received to complete all the paperwork - see How do I apply? for details of the whole process.

 

[escapedtonz]

Thanks for the reply. that is such a relief. I'm worried about the timeline though. My husband and I still have a tiny bit of weight to lose to be under the 30 bmi (been working hard- almost there!) How long until we have to take the medicals/ how long can I delay them for if I submit my EOI today?

If you submit EOI with 145 points today, it will be automatically selected on the 13th November which is the next fortnightly selection.
It will then go through preliminary checking and if ITA is to be given for you that can take anything from 2 - 5 weeks.
Assuming you do receive ITA you will then have 4 months from the date of ITA to complete the formal application for Residency via SMC.
This is the time when you must complete the formal application and send in all your documents and evidence and certificates etc. which includes the medical.
Usually the medical is boxed off in one day - takes around 4 hrs in all for the examination, the blood and urine tests and the x-rays.
You should leave the GP's with an envelope full of stuff which you send in to Immigration.

You could leave the medical till a time when you've coolected all the other bits and just have that done at the end.

All depends how quickly you want to have the formal application completed and submitted and Immigration working on it.