Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

Hi all. My husband and I are looking to move to NZ in the next few months, as he is a qualified diesel mechanic, which is on the LTSSL.

We have done the self-assessment on the immigration website, and assuming he had a job offer, we get 195 points, which means we are in a good chance of getting a skilled migrant visa.

My question is, how long does it take from the initial EOI submission until we get our visas? There is a risk of the job offer expiring by the time the visa application is processed.

Is it quicker and safer to apply and obtain a work to residence visa in this case? So that if he got a job offer, we could potentially get moving quicker?

To clarify, he doesn't have a job offer yet, we are just researching our options.

many thanks, Sarah

Re: Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

This is the link to the processing times on the website: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branc...ocessingtimes/

If an employer wanted you to start work earlier then you could certainly apply for either an Essential skills work visa or a WTR visa to get you started in time. Being on the LTSSL gives you lots of options:)
For residency you have the option of waiting two years to become a resident on the WTR visa [via Residence from Work] or go straight for residency under the SMC. The choice is yours!

One thing to consider is how long you might stay in NZ and whether you may want to leave for a large chunk of time and then potentially return as a resident a few years down the line.
The sooner you become a resident the sooner you can apply for a PRV which gives you the right to leave and re-enter NZ as a resident indefinitely [unless the rules change;)].

You can only apply for a PRV once you have been a resident for two years - unless you are on a WTR visa and earn >90,000 pa in which case you get the PRV when you apply for Residence from Work. If you earn less than that then you have travel conditions on your residency that last for two years so 4 years to get a PRV as opposed to 2 years on the SMC and WTR earning >90K.

Makes sense?
P;)

Re: Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

Thank you very much, that's really helpful!

So by the looks of it, it's considerably faster to obtain a work to residence visa if we end up being in a rush.

Skilled migrant visa is probably the preferred option though in the long term I think. When would you advise that we should consider submitting the initial EOI, before getting a job or anything? The problem with this is that without a job offer, we only have 135 points. With an offer, we have 195 points. It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation isn't it?!

thank you

Re: Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

If you look here: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ts.htm?level=1
you can see what has been selected each draw. Occasionally there is a draw that contains those with 135 points, no job offer and 15 points for work exp in an area of skills shortage. The last one was the 30/4/14 and before that it was in Nov 2013.
So it's possible you could be selected without a job offer if the above applies but that category is not being drawn out very often at the moment.

If your EOI is not selected within 6mth then it is removed from the pool.

If the above applies then it depends on whether you feel like trying, bearing in mind that you may lose the EOI cost if it doesn't come up again in 6 months and you don't get a job offer in that time. No one knows whether it's a one off or going to be a regular draw.

If the above doesn't apply then you may as well wait until you get a job offer on the offchance you don't find one in 6 mths. You won't lose much time as once you have a job offer you should be selected at the next draw.
You can fill out the EOI as far as possible and save it, ready to go when you are ready:)

Re: Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

Yes, good idea, will start the eoi ready I think, that's the safer option. Thank you for your help! :)

Re: Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

Sorry to jump in here...Persephone do you know the link for SMC processing times from within NZ? :blink:

Re: Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

auckland times

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branc...ocessingtimes/

Wellington

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branc...ocessingtimes/

Re: Skilled migrant or work to residence
 

Thank you x