Visas & Advice Detail
NZ visa Q&A
In the first of a monthly Q&A column, Sally Tomkinson of The Emigration Group answers questions from readers of Emigrate New Zealand
My partner and I are hoping to emigrate under the Skilled Migrant Category and submitted our EoI last month. We recently heard that changes are being made to the Skilled Migrants Category, and would like to know whether this will effect our application.
The Thompsons
Amendments to the Skilled Migrant Category are due to come into effect on 04 February 2008, and primarily affect whether an applicant's job or job offer in NZ is assessed as 'skilled employment', and which qualifications will be recognised for the award of points.
From this date an offer of employment in NZ will only be awarded points as part of a Skilled Migrant Category application if specific requirements regarding qualifications, number of years work experience, and / or a minimum salary level are met.
If you would like to discuss your eligibility under the amended Skilled Migrant Category in more detail, please give us a call on 0845 230 4374 and we'll be happy to advise you.
Sally Tomkinson
My daughter emigrated to NZ in 2002 and we are about to follow her under the Family Visa scheme early this year. We have not put in our EOI yet although I have everything ready and feel pretty much clued up about the process.
Yesterday my daughter rang me to say that the government has announced that there are changes coming to the Family scheme (she was not sure if it was the Family or the Family Quota scheme, which does not apply to us). There seems to be nothing about it on the internet yet, although my computer has gone down and I'm having to use my neighbours, so I don't have as much access as I would like. Do you have any information about this, like: which scheme do the changes apply to, are there changes to the sponsorship system, when does it come into effect and will there be new forms to complete?
We are going to put in our EOI in January so I don't know if any changes would affect us or not in so short a timespan.
I would also like to ask you from when the Immigration Year runs. Are there better times than others to submit an EOI?
Carole Baker
Changes have recently taken place under the Family Sponsorship scheme, whereby the sponsor of a 'Parent' residence application must show evidence of an annual income of no less than $29,897.92. I am a little confused when you say that you are ready to lodge an EOI for your application, as Family Category applications do not need an EOI to be lodged,instead a completed Residence Application form is submitted with your documentation.
Alternatively, if you are claiming points on a Skilled Migrant application for Family Support in NZ and so will be submitting an EOI with an offer of employment in NZ, your application may be affected by the Skilled Migrant category amendments effective 04 February 2008.
The 'Immigration Year' runs from 01 July to 30 June,but there is no particular optimum time to apply as the visa allocation system is managed sufficiently as to ensure that visas are available from beginning to end of the visa year.
If you would like any further advice or clarification, please give us a call on 0845 230 4374.
Sally Tomkinson
For further information:
The Emigration Group
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