EOI/SM timescales - do these sound about right?
 

Hi all,

I'm just trying to get some idea of the timescales when applying for a Skilled Migrant visa. We have just submitted an EOI with 155 points so am I right in thinking we will be automatically selected in the next pick?

Do these timescales then sound about right?
Time to receive an ITA - 4 weeks to 3 months
Time to submit SM visa - 4 months from receiving ITA
Time for decision on SM visa - not sure on this one - 6-12 months?
Time to activate visa is successful - 12 months?

Please feel free to amend if incorrect. Also can you 'activate' the visa just by entering NZ and then it is valid for 5 years (like Australia) or is it different?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Best regards
Sally

Re: EOI/SM timescales - do these sound about right?
 

Yes with 155 points your EOI will be selected at the next pull automatically so this could take 2 weeks (depending when you submitted).

ITA after EOI selection is around 4 weeks as that's how long it is taking Immigration to carry out preliminary checking of the EOI points to establish if they are reasonable.

Time to submit after ITA......You are given a deadline of 4 months/100 days. If you can do it in less by having stuff already done then it will reduce the overall process length, but doing stuff before getting ITA is a risk of your time and money as if you don't get ITA you may waste that time and money. So long as you are positive to get the ITA then it is a risk worth taking.

Time for decision.....how long is a piece of string. Every application is different.
The first thing that has to happen is your application being assigned to a case officer. If it has no job offer included then it isn't a priority and your application will lose out to others that do include job offers and those that are via the family stream or partnership category as they are a higher priority.
Without a job offer it could take several months until your application is assigned. I'd count on 1 month as the earliest and 6 months worst case.
Then, assuming you have submitted all the correct evidence and sufficient evidence and there are no issues with police certificates or medical reports then processing is around 3 months. Then after this you'll have to undergo an immigration interview if applying without a job offer. The case officer will then make a decision and then the whole file will be audited by another case officer before you receive the final decision.
All up it'll be at least 12 months from EOI submission until approval assuming all goes to plan.
What will put a spanner in the works is if a medical is referred to the medical assessor of if Immigration ask for more info/evidence/explanation of something as in each case they'll send you an email explaining what is required and give you a 4 week deadline to respond.

Once approved and you have the visa sticker in the passport you must activate it within 12 months by crossing the border. It is then valid permanently, BUT it will have a 2 year travel condition meaning you can come and go in to and out of the country as you please for the first 2 years only. After that you'll need to either apply for a variation of travel conditions or apply for a Permanent Residency Visa which does not have any travel conditions.
If you are out of the country on a Resident Visa when the 2 year travel condition expires you will not be allowed back in on that visa. It effectively causes the visa to expire as you are not in NZ.
If you are in NZ and leave the country with an expired travel condition on your Resident Visa you will not be able to get back in when you return on that visa.
The best option with a Resident Visa is to come here and activate it, stay 2 years, apply for PR and then you are free to do what the heck you like and only 3 years to citizenship.

Re: EOI/SM timescales - do these sound about right?
 

Escapedtonz has it bang on the NZ nose.

The first residency visa comes with travel restrictions . You will need to be in NZ for 183 days of each of the 2 years . Following that one may apply for NZ residency without any restrictions.

In effect. During the first 2 years ,each time you leave NZ your residency visa expires. It is the returning residency visa that allows you back in.

The exception to this might be if one can prove Nz tax residency.

Re: EOI/SM timescales - do these sound about right?
 

It's a minimum of 184 days in each of the 2 years prior to application (I. E. This being the majority of the year. If you spend at least 184 days in NZ it is impossible to spend any more days of the year anywhere else) for PRV and the RV does not expire each time you leave the country unless you leave with an expired travel condition or your travel conditions expire when you are overseas.
Returning Resident Visas were phased out years ago although I think they still have them in Aus. There may still be some people able to get the RRV as they may still be around for people on really old RV's or older visa types that no longer exist for application.

Re: EOI/SM timescales - do these sound about right?
 

Fantastic info - many thanks. We have no job offer so will assume 12 months from start to finish. Does everyone have to attend an interview or just selected cases? Sounds scary. Where does the interview take place and do the kids have to attend too?

Re: EOI/SM timescales - do these sound about right?
 

Factor in at least 12 months.
Yes every principal applicant who applies without a job offer must complete an immigration interview. If your application also contains points for a partner then they will also have to attend the interview.
It is done by phone at a mutually agreeable time.
It is the final step in the process for non job offer applications. Following this your CO will decide the outcome and then pass the file to another CO to audit it before you will be notified of the decision.
Other applicants - e.g. dependents don't have to be there.