Immigration Help

I have been wanting to relocate to New Zealand for some time. For the past several months I have been researching what it would take to make this dream a reality. I have however, hit a few snags.

I am unsure if I should enter the country on a working holiday visa and use that to secure lasting employment and switch to a working permit. Or should I just enter with a visitor permit and search for employment? I am unsure if customs and immigration would just laugh at me if I arrived with no return ticket.

I am also not in a profession that is listed under the long term skills shortage list. So even if I secure employment it looks like I will be still kicked out of the country inside 2.5 years. What other options are there?

Alas I have no family that lives in New Zealand and I am unmarried, so I find my list of options becoming quite short.

I am open to suggestions. Thanks.

Tavis Xavier
Age 27
Single
Account Manager - Bank of America

Hi Tavis,

You'll struggle to find employment without a work permit (i.e., on a visitor permit). if can you get in on a "working holiday visa", I'd suggest you do that - there are heavy penalties for companies who employ staff who are not permitted to work in NZ.

You'll also not be granted entry at all without a return air ticket on a visitor's permit.

I got in (from South Africa) by coming on a 1-month visit, securing employment, and then applying for a work visa. (Took 4 months)

- David

Thanks for the info David.

I guess working holiday is the best way to go, that way I can work a little and search for lasting employment. I guess I can transfer from working holiday visa to working permit once I find a full-time position?

Hi Tavis,

Definitely a good plan. As to whether you can migrate to a work permit, that's a complicated question which I can't give you a straight answer on. a work permit does depend on more than having a job lined up, although the job offer is hugely important.

I was just reading this article - might be helpful (This forum won't let me post URLs until I've made 10 posts, so remove the spaces from the following first:

ht tp : // echievements . com / articledetail . php ? artid = 40303 & catid = 231

- David

Wonderful. Thank you.

You could try this site for info. There's an immigration section right the blue line that says "Sub Forums".
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=83

I can't comment much about New Zealand but the best plan appears to be going for a Working Holiday visa. I doubt you'd get far unless you had a return ticket booked though.

For a travel agency I'd recommend:
http://www.downunder-travel.com/

I've flown a bunch of times to Australia now and they have the cheapest prices that I've found. I always go on a long stay ticket that allows one change.