heatherguthrie

My boyfriend and I are looking to apply for a work visa in NZ and looking to get points for Skilled Migrant.

He's currently doing Rope Access (Abseiling down the sides of buildings to do maintenance/cleaning).
This is not on the immigration websites list of 'skilled' work which seems weird to me. It's obviously specialised and has a fair amount of skill to it.
Does anyone have any advice on how we could present this to immigration as skilled work, are there any 'miscellaneous' skilled job description options?

Also, what are the chances of getting a skilled migrant Visa with current skilled employment on a 6-month contract?

Justcol

if its not on the list . . . .

heatherguthrie

Perhaps I should have said there is an 'other trades' role available - was looking for help advice towards this as an option

. . . . .

MrsFychan

I think your only option would be to see if there are any accredited company that employs people in this field, there are a few jobs advertised on trademe and they are asking for IRATA / IRAANZ ticket, it may be worth looking into those companies and seeing if any are accredited and have any jobs.
Goleman Group is accredited and are advertising on trademe
Total Access is also accredited

BEVS

This is about an understanding of what 'skilled' means with regard to NZ Immigration .
Skilled really means a trade that requires x amount of years of training. Both practical and academic. For instance someone that has an NVQ level 3 or C&G to advanced level.

Truck driving to me is something that is skilled , especially for those carting huge logs over unmade roads and difficult terrain. It needs tests to be passed and upskilling however this is not seen as skilled by NZ Immigration. It is also seen that anyone could be trained, and quite quickly, to do this work. Therein lies the difference.

With regard to Ropes Access and Abseiling. This isn't skilled as such per the NZ Immigration definition. It is something that requires a standard and training. My husband just completed his 'ropes' & 'abseiling' level 2 as part of his civil defence volunteer training. His entire team qualified in this. It will also come in handy as he is the Work Safe guy for his employer. Husband is a tradie so is often out in commercial buildings and development sites.

As MrsF states, there are jobs out there and if he has the required qualification he may be able to take up employment here. This would be on a temp work visa basis & so not a route to residency via skilled migrant policy. If he earns the required amount & the job offer would be for a good two years then there may be a route via work to residence.

Is your bf your partner? As in are you in a stable long term relationship having lived together for a good year or more?

What other skills does your partner/you have?
What ages are you both?

BEVS

OK I have been having a mull on this one given what I know of the course work for this here in NZ & so have come back to it.

It may be possible to make a case to present this to NZ Immy as skilled . I would also suggest that the application would need to be hand in hand with a quality job offer of at least a year, preferably open ended for finish date.

The way forward I feel is for your bf to have his current overseas UK quals assessed by the NZQA. What you really need this to be assessed at is NZQA level 4. Level 3 might do it at a pinch but level 4 is far better.

Please have a look at this link to NZQA for the training modules for Industrial Rope Access <---- click that link. Check out the last level 4 modules and credits. Your bf's quals and coursework would ideally be virtually the same to that.
If you guys think that is a yes then you need to gather together all the coursework framework, alongside the training provider details & the relevant work exp . You send that for an NZQA assessment. <--- linky.

It will cost you money of course but this is about (1) Establishing the level of skill and that it is a skilled occupation (2) Doing the donkey work to make it easier for any Immy Officer.

If you are young enough then perhaps think of a working holiday visa for you both. That gets you both here with boots on ground.

If he then gains a job offer in the occupation you would uplift two temp work visas - one for him with a job offer and one for you as his partner . You do need to prove that the relationship is stable and long term.

Once he is here and working in his field AND it is proven that the skill is deemed at NZQA level 4, then you have a shot at a skilled migrant residents visa.

Sundry: He could talk with the NZ Rope Access Industry about a job offer .

Please do come back with thoughts.