Work Visa or PR.... advice please!
 

I'm hoping to get a job offer very soon.... and I need to work out the best way to get through the paperwork.

We are already invited to apply, and the application paperwork is pretty much ready to go (medicals & police checks all complete). I have asked NZIS about current processing times, and they quote 4 weeks - 3 months, depending on the complexity of the application (this includes the lead time waiting for a case officer to pick it up).

Now, if I had a job offer and wanted to start work before Christmas, if my application was processed super-quick, then I might just get PR in time. But it would be tight.

The company is on the accredited employers list, so do I have the option of applying for a work visa (lead time 5-10 days), and then applying for PR from NZ? Our medicals are only valid until January 1st, so I would have to submit the application pretty quickly! The Work Visa (if I'm right) would enable us to get into NZ and start work. I think I'm right in assuming that you have to hand in your passports with your PR application? And we would need them to actually get to NZ, of course!

But if we go on a work visa, will we have to pay import tax on all our belongings?

Can anyone suggest a way through this minefield? All advice welcome

Thanks,
Jane

Re: Work Visa or PR.... advice please!
 

I think you can do this, and I'm hoping to do something similar myself if I ever get an ITA. You should be able to update your SMC record for your change of address and transfer your application to an NZ branch office - a man at NZIS in Wellington told me that one but I think others have had difficulties with it.

If you look at recent news on the immigration site, I'm sure they've confirmed you don't have to pay duty on possessions if arriving on a WTR visa.

Well done on the job offer.
Alison