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!!

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.....:confused:

Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
 

Not directly related to visas but I was in a situation last year where I needed a NZ Government Department to do something for me and was told it would take 5 weeks. I played the 'pushy middle-class card' and sent a few faxes and made a few phonecalls and had the whole thing done in two days.

Or you could try folding some money...

Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
 

keep in mind that they start winding down in Dec for the summer hols and christmas

Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
 

weird, hubby got his the same day!

Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
 

Hi Wimsy,
when did your hubby get his visa?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
 

Hi,
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:thumbsup:

Re: Moving over without a Job - BEWARE
 

Try Hamilton and Dunedin too if you're desperate Phil ;)

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.

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!