Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Northland New Zealand
Posts: 587
Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
Hi everyone,
we are already living in NZ but hubby is on a work visa and has just changed jobs so I had to ring NZ immigration yesterday to sort it out....whilst I was doing so they told me....the processing time for a work visa is currently three and a half months!!!
I know there are a few people looking to move over here, get a job whilst over here then get their visas, if you are coming any time soon and that is what you intend to do it would be advisable to check the processing times as you cannot work without your visa so bring plenty of money to live on until it comes through....in the UK the processing time is a week!!
we are already living in NZ but hubby is on a work visa and has just changed jobs so I had to ring NZ immigration yesterday to sort it out....whilst I was doing so they told me....the processing time for a work visa is currently three and a half months!!!
I know there are a few people looking to move over here, get a job whilst over here then get their visas, if you are coming any time soon and that is what you intend to do it would be advisable to check the processing times as you cannot work without your visa so bring plenty of money to live on until it comes through....in the UK the processing time is a week!!
#2
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
Thanks Phil. I am very grateful to this post and the one in the Immigration section by Little Toe called "For those going over on tourist visa".
I plan to arrive in NZ in mid November. I was going to leave getting the Skilled Migrant Worker stuff (IT) done on arrival because its hard to get a job offer without the work Visa and without meeting face to face and I won't get enough point without a job offer.
Time to start rethinking.....
I plan to arrive in NZ in mid November. I was going to leave getting the Skilled Migrant Worker stuff (IT) done on arrival because its hard to get a job offer without the work Visa and without meeting face to face and I won't get enough point without a job offer.
Time to start rethinking.....
#3
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,454
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
Or you could try folding some money...
#4
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
keep in mind that they start winding down in Dec for the summer hols and christmas
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 29
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
weird, hubby got his the same day!
#7
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,813
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
That's weird. The last work permits we applied for we had them stuck in our passports while chatting to the nice immigration lady. This was in Christchurch, so perhaps it is different from office to office.
#8
WAS bored stiff in USA
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: now in Ashburton nz yahoo
Posts: 81
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
We went into NZIS in Christchurch & got our visa's renewed within 2 hrs & that included sitting waiting for 1 1/2 hrs. This was just 2 months ago. It might be quicker if you can go into immigration rather than sending it to them.
#9
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Northland New Zealand
Posts: 587
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
I just rang the general helpline number over here and that was what I was told....I shall ring again tomorrow and if it is possible to get sorted by sitting in a queue I am happy to do that...but yesterday it was a three and a half month wait! I don't even mind if I have to go to Chch to get it sorted! I will post again tmoz if I get more info.
#10
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Northland New Zealand
Posts: 587
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
Hi,
couldn't wait until tomorrow so just rang them. Chch used to have a sit and wait policy but no longer have one, their waiting time is two and a half months, our branch is Auckland so is the three and a half months.
couldn't wait until tomorrow so just rang them. Chch used to have a sit and wait policy but no longer have one, their waiting time is two and a half months, our branch is Auckland so is the three and a half months.
#11
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
My experience is that Govt departments in NZ tend to undersell their turnaround times, and then significantly over deliver.
Also I think I read that if you have a job offer your application goes to the top of the pile automatically, and would normally be turned around in less than 2 weeks.
Also I think I read that if you have a job offer your application goes to the top of the pile automatically, and would normally be turned around in less than 2 weeks.
#12
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
Thanks Phil. I am very grateful to this post and the one in the Immigration section by Little Toe called "For those going over on tourist visa".
I plan to arrive in NZ in mid November. I was going to leave getting the Skilled Migrant Worker stuff (IT) done on arrival because its hard to get a job offer without the work Visa and without meeting face to face and I won't get enough point without a job offer.
Time to start rethinking.....
I plan to arrive in NZ in mid November. I was going to leave getting the Skilled Migrant Worker stuff (IT) done on arrival because its hard to get a job offer without the work Visa and without meeting face to face and I won't get enough point without a job offer.
Time to start rethinking.....
Just wanted to add the same as someone else said about Immigration winding down. We came over in November 06 on a visitors visa. OH works in IT and was offered a job within the week. By the time we submitted our application it was the week before xmas. We did'nt get the work permit until Jan 18th as no one was there to process. I really would advise coming earlier than Nov or waiting until Jan unless your happy with a long time out of work.
What do you do in IT?
Carole
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Waitakere City
Posts: 539
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
My work is trying to organise a work permit for a new employee and the wait has been 2 weeks - and they're a Preferred Employer with the NZIS too.
Definately be prepared for a wait if you're applying through Auckland - there's one mother of a backlog.
Definately be prepared for a wait if you're applying through Auckland - there's one mother of a backlog.
#15
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 5,763
Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
Well I'm glad there were some responses after the OP. Also very relieved that the wait is only about 2 weeks with a job offer, that's more like it!