Whether you’re applying for an NZ temporary work visa nz or you are a current visa holder in New Zealand, there are many issues and challenges that may arise. But with the support of an experienced and proven immigration adviser, these problems can be easily avoided or managed. Here, we run you through common visa issues and concerns, and how to deal with them.
Applying for a visa in New Zealand isn’t as simple as it may appear. The process is complex and time-consuming, so it’s crucial to be as prepared as you possibly can be to avoid delays. With many visa applications now online people rush to lodge applications without understanding once the “submit” button is hit it is too late to make changes.
One of the most common mistakes visa applicants make is not providing enough information to support their case. Missing documents or insufficient evidence can slow down the process significantly and potentially lead to a decline. Immigration regulations place the burden of proof on visa applicants to supply all the documentation with a visa application that they want Immigration NZ to consider. The outcome of an application is only as good as the information provided. An experienced licensed immigration adviser will be able to give you good advice on what documentation to provide to ensure the best outcome for your visa application.
Health and character issues can be a serious roadblock for many visa applicants. Your health and character are key factors an immigration officer will consider when processing your visa application. If you are not of an acceptable standard of health or character, Immigration NZ has the right to reject your application. It is not uncommon for applicants to take shortcuts. Hoping a problem will go away by not declaring a health or character issue just makes the problem that much worse. Through careful management, a health or character issue can often be overcome with complete transparency and building a good case for an Immigration Officer to consider.
The best thing you can do to avoid problems with your visa application is to get in touch with a NZ licensed immigration adviser. Receiving support from a licenced professional early in the process will give you the best possible outcome for success Receiving support from an experienced licenced professional early in the process will give you the best possible outcome for success. Here’s how an immigration adviser can help:
Finding the right visa for your situation will be crucial to the success of your application. With so many different visa options available, it can be confusing to know which is best. An immigration adviser will provide you with all the information you need about your visa options, the documents you will need for your application, and explain any issues that could arise along the way. When deciding which adviser to manage your case make sure you choose someone who has a solid track record of success, a team to back them up (particularly when they go on holiday or get sick) and a good reputation. It is not easy to get every visa application right when an adviser is working on their own. A second set of eyes double-checking a visa application before it gets lodged offers you the best protection.
An immigration adviser takes on many roles, but their main goal is to get your application approved. They are particularly helpful when dealing with complex visa applications such as the Investment Visa or the NZ Partnership visa. These visa applications are more complicated than other visa types and may cause a range of unique challenges that an adviser can help you with. An immigration adviser can also help you navigate difficult health and character issues and ensure you have met all the necessary requirements before submitting your application. Applications that arrive at Immigration NZ fully documented will be processed much faster. An experienced adviser knows what evidence an Immigration Officer needs to make a decision.
Once your visa application has been approved and you are living or working in New Zealand, it’s not necessarily the case that all your challenges will disappear. There are many instances where you may need to make changes to your visa conditions. For example, if you are on a work visa and your job has suddenly changed, this may impact your visa and ability to stay in the country. Your immigration adviser will help you figure out the next best steps and help you find an immediate solution. Immigration advisers have experience dealing with last-minute visa challenges and are qualified to handle an array of complex issues including expired visas, extending visas and pathways to residence.
Here at Malcolm Pacific Immigration, we handle all visa types and can help solve a range of issues and concerns. We know the immigration process can be stressful, and we want to make it easy for you. Contact our friendly team today for a free assessment of your immigration objective.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our team is on standby, ready to help.
Our highly experienced licensed Immigration team will take away the stress and worry of navigating the complicated world of New Zealand Immigration. All you need to do is get in touch. Our employer team is on standby, ready to help.
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Today the government announced a pathway to residence for migrant workers who are living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave who are eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else they will miss out on this one off opportunity.
Today the government announced a pathway to residence for people living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave eligible to apply. The second wave can apply from 1 March 2022. The deadline to lodge an application is 31 July 2022 or else you miss the boat.
The government has moved the introduction of the new employer accreditation process across to mid-2022. At the same time, the Minister of Immigration announced new work visa rules for migrant workers who are already in New Zealand and working full time.
The government has increased the median wage to $27 per hour from 19 July. Any Skilled Migrant residence application lodged after this date will need to include a skilled job offer that pays at least $27 per hour. For some lower-skilled occupations, the minimum pay rate increases to $40.50 per hour.
From 19 July 2021
From 30 June 2021
Employers of migrant workers must become accredited from 1 November 2021 before work visa applications can be processed. Most employers are not accredited. Those that are accredited will have to roll into the new system when it goes live in late September.
From mid-2020 (delayed)
Skilled occupation "Dairy Cattle Farmer" spilt into three occupations. New occupations are: "Dairy Farm Manager", "Assistant Dairy Farm Manager" and "Dairy Herd Manager". Each sit at different skill levels, therefore, the award of points will depend on pay rates, job tasks and other requirements.
From 15 February 2021
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool for six months (to be reviewed in April 2021). Invitations to Apply for Residence remain suspended. The last selection from the Skilled Migrant pool took place on 18/03/2020.
From 7 October 2020
The government added four new occupations that are now regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. These are:
Aged or disabled carer, Bicycle mechanic, Driller and Nursing Support worker.
From 27 July 2020
Anyone invited by Immigration NZ to apply for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category where their invitation is dated between 1 November 2019 and 15 April 2020 (inclusive) has now been granted an additional six months to lodge their residence application.
From 27 May 2020
The government has deferred the fortnightly selection of Expressions of Interest from the Skilled Migrant pool. This means Invitations to Apply for Residence are also suspended. Malcolm Pacific Immigration does not anticipate selections to resume until after the general election held on 17 October 2020.
Immigration NZ is now prioritising Skilled Migrant Residence applications where the main (principal) applicant meets the criteria:
From 24 February 2020
From 7 October 2019
The government recently added more occupations that are now to be regarded as skilled employment and may qualify for job offer points under the Skilled Migrant Category. In order to qualify for points, the job must be paying at least the current median wage (or higher for certain occupations) at the time the residence application is lodged.
From 1 November 2021
From 1 November 2021 anyone who is not a NZ citizen must be fully vaccinated (unless exempt) before travelling to New Zealand. Fully vaccinated means your last dose of vaccine was given at least 14 days before travelling and it was an approved vaccine.
Applications for employer accreditation closed at the end of June 2021. Applications lodged before the closure date are still being processed. New applications for accreditation open on 9 May 2022. The process will be quite different to what employers have experienced in the past. Businesses will need to meet minimum standards.
Wednesday, 1 December is fast approaching and it is estimated that around 16,000 individuals and families can apply in the first wave for the 2021 Resident Visa opening next month. It is exciting for the thousands of people who have been waiting patiently to become residents that finally the finish line is in sight.
The first wave of applicants can apply from 1 December 2021. Around 16,000 applications are expected in this first wave. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. In total, the government expects approximately 110,000 applications that will include about 165,000 people.
The second group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 March 2022 are those who hold an eligible work visa and either meet "Settled", "Skilled" or "Scarce" as set out above. In total Immigration NZ estimate around 110,000 people will qualify to apply for this visa.
The first group of workers who can apply online for the 2021 Resident Visa that opens on 1 December 2021 are those that on 29/09/2021:
Is this the only requirement to qualify for residence? No. In addition to the eligible work visa criteria workers also need to be regarded as one of the following:
People who were lawfully in NZ (or in Australia when the travel bubble closed between April and July 2021) on 29/09/2021 need to meet the visa eligibility criteria:
The government has introduced a limited pathway to residence for people who are already living and working in New Zealand. Applications open on 1 December 2021 for the first wave of people eligible to apply. The second wave opens on 1 March 2022. The deadline to apply for the 2021 Resident Visa is 31 July 2022.
A small number of critical health workers (taking up jobs for six months or longer) or specialist workers (taking up jobs that are for longer than six months) who were granted border exemptions may also have eligibility for the 2021 Resident Visa. They will need to have arrived in NZ and lodge a 2021 Resident Visa application.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
*Excludes high-risk countries.
The work visa categories set to close are:
In order to address labour shortages in New Zealand's crucial industries the NZ government has implemented a "Green List" of sought-after high-skill occupations. This list offers a prioritised pathway to residency.
There are qualification and/or occupational registration requirements to meet. Occupations are broken down into two tiers:
The recent additions in May 2023 across many sectors can be found here