Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

Hi everyone,

My partner has just been sent his work contract starting in January 2015 in Christchurch New Zealand!

We are very excited but realise that we have so much to do before then!

Would anyone recommend any companies that help with your visa, or would you not suggest using one at all?

How long will it take for a visa to be accepted? I believe my partner has to apply for the Skilled Migrant category.
I think I will be applying for the Working Holiday Visa, is it worth doing that when I arrive there or before?

We also have two dogs to move to the other side of the world!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Seriously, ANYTHING!!

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

ok what job offer can determine the visa you can apply for so a bit more information on that and the visa you think you can get.

A WHV has to be applied for outside NZ from my understanding
also bringing the dogs would also depend on the visa issued.

Most people on here would advise doing the visa application yourself as most agents just collate the paperwork which you have to provide, obviously if the application is more complicated then a specialised approved recommended agent might be advisable.

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

just done our own smc app.-granted last week and was relatively straightforward and painless.

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

Hello and welcome,
This is the link to the London processing times: Tips and processing times
It might be pushing it to get a SMC visa in that time, though it is possible if you're organised and there is nothing 'difficult' about your application eg health or character issues. You may need to consider a temp visa to get you started on time.

Can I ask why he is applying under the SMC and you for a WHV:confused: Have you lived together for more than 12 months? You go on the SMC application as his partner if so, no point in applying for a different visa for you as you'd still have to apply for residency later on anyway...

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

Def do visa yourself. It took a lot of research and figuring out but once you've done it you look back n say that looks easy now lol

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

As others have said, the paperwork should be relatively straightforward for you to complete.

You haven't said what the occupation is .

Whichever. If you have been in a stable relationship for a year or more, then you will apply for a visa off the back of your partner.

Likelihood will be that he will apply for a temporary work visa and you will apply under family stream. You apply together.

If you can tell us more about your circumstances, then we will be better able to guide you.

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

seeing as OP hasn't logged on since posting we cannot advise much more until we know what visa type they are coming over.

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

Have my posts been removed?

Re: Please HELP! Moving to Christchurch in January
 

Was just coming to make the explanatory post & link but you were quicker than I .

Certainly not. I have followed up on my own suggestion and moved the dog chat to a thread of it's own. It is a topic worth everyone's views. You won't get many seeing it in here.

It will also ensure the Immy thread remains Immy which is what we try to ensure if we can.

Look HERE