We turned in our Visa paperwork. There were 150+ pages.
Ever wonder what is involved in becoming a resident of a foreign country? Well if that country is NZ (which has similar rules to many other nations, including the US) it involves :
1. Full medical evaluations and paperwork including blood tests, urine analysis and chest x-rays.
2. Full police background checks and letter of good conduct from your home country and every country that you have lived in over the past 10 years.
3. Certified documentation of all of your qualification (degrees, certifications etc)
4. Full course transcripts from your schooling
5. If married it requires documentation of the "stable and genuine" nature of your marriage. This includes marriage certificated, bank statements, photographs, leases etc.
6. Documentation of the type of work, and hours worked for all positions held in your field.
7. Originals or certified copies of all of your identifications. Full original birth certificates, passports and so forth.
8. Ability to prove proficiency in English.
9. A permanent job offer and contract for employment within New Zealand.
10. and of course - thousands in fees.
All of the above is true for the "skilled migrant category" which is the type of visa that we are hoping to obtain. As Permanent residents we would be able to live, work and buy property within New Zealand. As we are hoping to "settle" in Christchurch and really make it home we are very anxious about getting this type of visa. Our application was lodged later than would be ideal but it is our hope that having a standing job offer and a skill that is included on the long term critical shortage list for New Zealand might allow it to be expedited.
If the time frame for our visa does not allow for us to enter on a resident visa then we will apply for work visas (much faster process) while our resident visas are being processed. Unfortunately I do not believe a work visa will allow us to buy property and will make a fair amount of the day to day more complicated and so our fingers and toes are crossed for the full resident visa. Prayers and positive thoughts on our behalf are gratefully accepted!
Have you ever been curious about moving to New Zealand?
The New Zealand government immigration site
Our recruitment group in New Zealand - ask for Julie!
