JerseyMatt

Hi, I've been offered a job in Christchurch starting at the end of April. I'm waiting for the paperwork to arrive but given that my wife is a Kiwi I'm going ahead and applying for a residence visa under family partnership. We've been married and living together for more than 5 years and have proof of shared address going back that far along with holiday bookings,emails, bank statements, family photos, marriage certificate and birth certificate for our son. I'm also getting letters of support from family/friends. Should this be enough evidence or would I be better off waiting and applying for a work visa?

MrsFychan

think that would cover it for the family category.
No harm in looking at the work visa to see if you are eligible

Snap Shot

Seeing as you are applying for a visa, you might as well apply for a family category visa. If your prospective employer would have paid for your visa, would they still pay for your family category visa if that's what you go for ? No worries about enough points for your visa if you get your family category visa. Also, you will probably get Permanent Residency with entry restrictions into NZ for the first two years. After two years, you may be eligible for Permanent Residency with unlimited entry i.e. returns to NZ. After five years residence in NZ and all criteria are met, you can apply for NZ citizenship.


My husband is a kiwi and I have PR from my family category visa. We arrived in NZ February 2011.

Persephone

If this applies then you will be granted a Permanent Resident Visa right from the start. You will not have the travel conditions that snap shot mentioned.
Have a look at the INZ website for processing times for partner residence application, if it's likely to come through in time then no point paying for a work visa. This assumes you want to stay in NZ long term
Can't look it up myself due to being in hotel with slow internet

JerseyMatt

Thanks for the info, I've spoken to INZ and the family residence takes between 1-3 months but is closer to 3 months at the moment due to time of year but it offers me more flexibility even if it does cost more.

For me the work visa would probably be a talent/sponsored one due to my job as it doesn't appear on the skills shortage list.

Persephone I think we have enough evidence going back 5 years for me to get permanent residence straight off but I'll be happy just getting a visa granted in time for end of April arrival. The plan is for a permanent move as the opportunities in the job are good and NZ is where we want to be.

Merry Christmas to you all

Lb welly

Hi. I hve to had my visa approved - partnership. 10yrs married. Gave letters dating back 5 yrs. photos of family events. Kids birth cert. marriage cert
I applied 14/11/13 - my letter said 10-12wks. However I haven't got my passport back yet and my case officer away till 6/1/14. Reckon it'll hve taken 7wks by the. Time I get my passport. I hve kids starting Sch in January so not sure if that made a dif. Good luck. X

M_and_M

I had a similar schedule. My residency wouldn't have been back in time before my start date so I also applied for a temp work visa, which was back insider 5 days, then the residency came through later, and I went to the nearest office to have it put in, in nZ. Have a look at my blog for the time schedule.

JerseyMatt

Hopefully I'll be getting my medical certificate from the doctor's early this week so my application should be going in within a week.

M_and_M

JerseyMatt

Sent my application today, so it should be with them on Monday. Now to sort everything else out as soon as I get my contract paperwork.

JerseyMatt

I heard from my CO yesterday as I forgot to get my wife to sign something and they need some originals of utility bills I sent, they tell me this is all they need to finish the process their end.

JerseyMatt

Just got a letter from my CO stating my residence visa has been approved in principal. now I can finish sorting out everything else.

MrsFychan

great news, hope the secondary checker agrees

JerseyMatt

They did, probably should have said they sent me the migrant levy form which I've posted back, so just need to wait for my passport to be stamped and sent back.

They didn't state which but hopefully it's the permanent visa without travel restrictions as my CO was satisfied we've been living together in a relationship for at least 5 years.

M_and_M

I would be surprised if you didn't have restrictions.

We have been married with joint address etc for 11 years, and we have travel restrictions for two years.