From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

I have a LTBV and have run it for over two years, it is time to go to the next stage toward permenent residency but im not sure how or what catagory to apply under, what is the next step, anyone been there done that already.

Thanks

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Sorry I don't have a direct answer for you but if you do a search for LTBV in the forum you might find the answers. Good luck.

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

no experience of this but have had experience of the Immigration office and we found them very helpful in helping us with any queries. Can you ring your local one and ask them?

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Thanks but i need someone who has actually succeeded in getting PR through the LTBV route

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi techno,
Try this link http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...highlight=Ltbv it is a newbie to the forum who came over several years ago on a LBTV. I am watching your thread with interest as we currently have out LTBV application in with immigration at the moment, everything is crossed :fingerscrossed:

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

I've sent someone a message about this. They don't look that often at all but they may see it.
:fingerscrossed:

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi thanks for the link to Chris and good Luck with your LTBV they dont make it easy do they

Ray

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi, I was sent a message from BEVS to help out, I'll do my best, although it all seems a bit hazy in my memory now. We had run a motel since arriving in NZ and as soon as we completed the statutary two years we applied for permenant residency as were desperate to get out of the business. Basically you have to make the case that you have done what you were granted a visa for in the first place, and have been of benifit to NZ. We had employed people (but only on a very part-time basis which was a bit of a worry) which is the easiest way to show you have benefitted NZ. I had letters written and signed from the kids school and the local motel assn. etc to show involvment in the community etc (I had done some cricket and football coaching etc) - not really sure if this was necessary but sure it didn't hurt. You will also be required to get a whole set of new x-rays and medicals which wasn't cheap, the point of this is to make sure at this juncture that you or any family member will not be a drain on NZ. Best to call the immigration dept. or look up online the correct forms to fill out, you will be applying via a LTBV, should all be pretty straight forward, if not ask or send an e-mail for advice. Once you application is received they will asign you a case worker and after paying all the fees you send off passports and get them stamped. Hope that helps a little.

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi

Thanks for that ,it was annoying to find the medicals and police records have to be redone, a few more questions please.
did you have a good business plan and did you stick to it
did you have to prove you made a large profit after your living expenses were taken out
Did you also have to show 2 years accounts audited by a charted account?
I have all the forms downloaded and it is expensive at $3200.
Once you were granted your PR did you have to continue with your motel business for any length of time.
if they take six months to process the PR and my current visa runs out before then , will it automactically extend so we can stay in the country
Thanks for your help you have made it sound easier than i thought

Ray

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi,

I'll answer the questions to the best of my ability and knowledge but it does seem that rules at immigration tend to be rather fluid and can be dependant on your individual case worker.
Firstly, I would emphasise - Don't stress too much about it, an immigration specialist told me once that very, very few people are ever rejected at this stage barring any legal issues. Just make the case that you and your family are of benefit to NZ. We seem to be in a period when immigration numbers are down and plenty of people are leaving NZ, which should make things even easier.
We did not have an actual business plan at all, we were awarded the visa on previous experience, in fact we did not know where we were going to end up in NZ and had never even been to the country before arriving in 2006 to look for a motel lease to buy. If you did have a business plan and you departed from it, then I would imagine that you have to make a case as to why - economic conditions seem a reasonable enough explanation for business decisions. However, if you depart entirely from your original application i.e apply to run a motel then end up running a book shop, you have to start entirely from the beginning again.
You do have to submit financials (2 years accounts prepared by a qualified accountant would be best, not sure if anything less would suffice), it is not neccesary to show a large profit, but you will be expected to have supported yourself. If there is anything that you add to the local trade, include that in your submission - We pointed out for example that because my wife speaks Japanese, we could help cater for Japanese tourists at our motel and hence in a small way help to increase Japanese tourism. Your case worker will ask for any further details on financials should they be needed. I believe that they will mainly be looking for any shenanigans in your business practice i.e. a list of unhappy customers, regulations that have been breached etc
Once you get PR you are free to do whatever you wish, our motel went straight onto the market I can tell you.
I am sure your visa will automatically extend but best to be 100% to make sure, I found sending questions via e-mail the best way, it takes time but they do get answered.
Hope that helps,
David.

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi David

thanks for all that info, we havent deviated from the business plan at all just not quite got everything done in the two years that was intended meeting every target wasnt easy.
so you got out of the tourist industry as soon as you could, its quite hard dealing with the public as tourists i agree, we have 3 holiday cottages and you have to have a lot of patience not everyone is nice thats for sure.
again you have made me feel better about the whole process and i will be starting it all off this weekend.

Ray

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi Harlow, hi techno
Techno, Interesting that you have holiday cottages also, we are doing similar to Harlow and purchasing a motel, however at this stage we want to continue running it and possibly buy the freehold after the business visa ends, but who knows what will happen in a few years. We are still waiting for the case officer to make a decision. Although we are investing into the business on top of buying it, and introducing a specific type of customers into the tourist industry the CO kept going on about employing a full time staff, we already have 5 part time staff. We have agreed that we would employ as soon as the business finances allow. I was worried that INZ would hold us to it. It's nice to hear that as long as you show willing a residency visa will probably be approved. Can't wait to find out one way or another now, it's been going on a while. We were hoping to be out by Xmas for the summer season but it's looking more unlikely by the day. Do keep me posted techno, would love to hear how you get on x

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

The rules have just changed for PR, medicals submitted previously up to 3yrs old may now be acceptable, so if you apply after two years but before 3 your original medicals may be OK. This saved us $900! The rule changed a couple of months ago.

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Thanks for that info, do you have a LTBV story to tell me?

Re: From LTBV to NZ Residency - what are the steps for this please.
 

Hi sounds like your doing everything right, I always thought that you had to employ someone for more than 30 hours a week but apparently not any more
Now the case officer we had was the bain of our lives, maybe we were unlucky but ours was picky and made life very difficult for us, even towards the end when we transferred our funds into the country using a currency exchange company they were down on us like a ton of bricks saying that wasnt allowed, something to do with money laundering, at this point we got some help from someone and it went through ok i couldnt believe it when the letter came saying we had got our LTBV ,now over two years later im worried we might get another jobs worth hindering our PR which is why im trying to get as much info as possible on here.

keep me posted on your progress as well

ray