Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: SMC Job Search (WTR) Visa to Resident Visa Process

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Posts
    181

    Default SMC Job Search (WTR) Visa to Resident Visa Process

    Hi all!

    I promised myself to share my experience when I get my passport back with the blue sticker and it arrived this morning!

    This is for those who applied for Residence under Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) from overseas without job offer, whose application was deferred for 12 month and granted Job Search (formerly known as Work-to-Residence) visa valid for 9 months. I read in other threads that instructions should be explained in the letter that came from immigration, in my case, the instruction wasn't clear when it comes to what I really needed to do. It didn't say anything about the three-month in skilled employment, the list of requirements as evidence that I needed to submit nor when should I submit it. So I'm sharing what I learned and how I did it, this is by no means the ONLY way to do it but it's what got me my residency.

    • Get Skilled Employment
      This is self-explanatory, get a job that is related or in line with the skill you lodged in you residence application. I know some people are left with no choice but to get ANY job to get by, but remember that with this kind of visa, time is ticking (9 months), you knew what you were getting into early on, you can avoid to be in a situation that you will be forced to get any job to get by if you've prepared enough, make sure you have enough savings or friends who can help you out in this period until you land a job that will help you get residence. Working on a job not related to your skill will eat up time, valuable time that you could be spending on finding the right kind of job.

      When you get a job offer in your line of work, please make sure that it is an on-going permanent position, some people encountered problems with employment contracts indicating "fixed term" or similar case (see this thread), you're best bet is to go for a permanent one, or have a contract that doesn't indicate any concept of fixed term and/or contractual employment. Make sure that the contract at the very least states Remuneration Details (Schedule 1) and Job Description (Schedule 2), it's better to make this adjustment sooner than later.


    • Probation Period
      I didn't know about the 3-month employment probationary period until I arrived in NZ, back in my home country it's usually 6 months. I learned from forums that I needed to be in the skilled employment for three months before my residence visa could be approved, it only made sense to me when I learned about the probation period. What I did was to complete the requirements (I'll list that next) and submit them on the third month of employment, I wasn't aware that alternatively, I could have sent the job offer earlier so immigration could start processing it.

      The pro and con of submitting on the third month:
      Pro - All requirements can be submitted at once, including the 3-month skilled employment, no questions from CO
      Con - Wasted a week waiting for my files to come from Beijing (where I originally applied) to Auckland branch.

      The pro and con of submitting earlier:
      Pro - Files can be sent from original branch to you NZ branch while waiting to complete your 3 months employment
      Con - You visa can't be approved until you complete your 3-month employment, you may need to send further proof from employer, only then processing can proceed.

    • Requirements
      These are the documents I sent, this list is non-exhaustive so if you have other docs that you think will help include them:
      • Certified Copy of Passport (If you don't plan to send you passport immediately, I sent mine after they asked for it, some people includes their passport but it's up to you)
      • Payslips for the Past Three Months
      • Salary Direct Credit Bank Transactions
      • Job Search Visa Approval Letter - photocopy and original
      • Individual Employment Agreement - photocopy and original
      o Schedule 1 – Remuneration – photocopy and original
      o Schedule 2 – Job Description – photocopy and original

      I also sent a cover letter (click attachment Cover Letter.txt) stating all documents included, feel free to use the format.

    • Migrant Levy Fee
      It's 310NZD for me, you might want to check Form and Fee Finder for the latest and accurate amount

    • Timeline
      13JUL - Sent Documents to Henderson Branch
      17AUG - Received email from CO that he's handling my case
      22AUG - Approved in Principle
      23AUG - Sent Passport + Migrant Levy Fee Payment Form
      13SEP - Received Passport with Residence Visa


    Hope this helps!
    Last edited by anonimoose; 13th September 2012 at 11:30 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    37,822

    Default

    Thanks for this really helpful post.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Pilipinas->Auckland NZ
    Posts
    299

    Default

    Good Job! Thanks for the info.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Bangladesh
    Posts
    161

    Default

    really its very helpful

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Sri Lanka
    Posts
    41

    Default

    Cool work. Thanks mate.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    India
    Posts
    97

    Default

    Nice Write up buddy.... Really helpful...!!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    3,697

    Default

    Really good details !

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    PH->NZ
    Posts
    60

    Default

    Thanks anonimoose!

    This is very helpful. I'm in the process of submitting my documents as well. Though mine, I plan to submit a month earlier coz I phoned INZ and they mentioned that my papers aren't here yet. So hopefully when I submit, my documents can be transferred here in Auckland.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Iran
    Posts
    34

    Default

    Thank you very much anonimoose

    That was a great description. Very useful

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Posts
    181

    Default

    Welcome! I must also warn you that Henderson branch processing times doesn't look good at this time. You're better off with Queen street immigration branch. Mine took about 2 months all in all while a friend in similar situation just took 1 month with Queen street.

    Goodluck everyone!

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •