Auckland Immigration Lawyer – Getting Into New Zealand

Five Types Of Visa – Auckland Immigration Lawyer

More and more people are wanting to move to New Zealand. In fact, around 132,000 people arrived in New Zealand in the year to January 2018.

Not all of those are people who want to move permanently to NZ; some are students on a study visa, others want to work in NZ for a while, while others are wanting to join family already on the country. There are currently five types of visa, outside of a holiday visa, that people can apply for. There may be some overlap for your situation, and the application process is definitely complex. So, to avoid, wasted time, unnecessary expense, and even disappointment, it makes sense to work with an Auckland immigration lawyer to help you through the maze of visa types.

Types of Visa For New Zealand

Auckland immigration lawyers can help you understand the best vis category for you to apply for. With Covid, more and more people want to live in New Zealand which is ranked three in the Bloomberg Covid Resilience table.

Here are five visa categories:-

1) The Working Holiday Visa: This type of visa allows young adults between 18-30 years old to come to New Zealand for up to 12 months. They must have enough money saved to support themselves during their stay here. If they do not meet this requirement then they will need to return home before applying again. It also requires them to find employment within three months of arrival or face deportation.

2) Student Visas: Students from overseas studying at universities in New Zealand can apply for student visas which allow them to live and study in the country. These visas last one academic year. After completing studies, students can extend their stays by another two years if they wish. However, there are restrictions as to what courses they can take. For example, only certain degrees qualify for extension. Also, students cannot change course once enrolled unless they get permission from Immigration New Zealand first.

3) Work Permits: People looking to start working in New Zealand after arriving on a tourist visa can apply for a temporary work permit. To obtain such a permit applicants must prove that they have sufficient funds to cover living expenses for six months. Once approved, employers must provide accommodation and pay wages equivalent to minimum wage. Employers are required to give workers four weeks’ notice prior to termination.

4) Permanent Residence: PR applications require evidence of good character and financial stability. Applicants must show that they intend to settle in New Zealand permanently. A person seeking permanent residence needs to demonstrate that he or she has been resident in New Zealand continuously since 1 July 2014. Those under 30 years of age must wait until reaching 31 years of age before being eligible for PR.

5) Family Reunification: Families wishing to reunite in New Zealand often use this route because it does not involve any form of sponsorship. Instead, families simply file a petition together. All members of the family must appear in front of the Migration Tribunal where they present documents proving relationship and intention to remain in New Zealand indefinitely.

If you would like further information about these options, you can contact McVeagh Fleming. They are a law firm on Quay St in central Auckland. You can get their contact details here.

McVeagh Fleming – Auckland Immigration Lawyers www.mcveaghfleming.co.nz.