Holiday visa turn into a Student visa

[nickicrook]

Hi

Is it possible to come out to NZ on a 6mth holiday visa and apply for Student Visas whilst here in NZ?

[JandM]

Yes, in theory. But you would have to get the timings right. A student visa takes time to process, and if it didn't come through before the end of the holiday visa, you would either have to leave NZ in the meantime, or get an extension for the holiday visa. Overstaying is illegal, and you don't want it on your record, even when it's due to waiting for INZ - it can come back to haunt you when applying for visas anywhere in the world later in life.

[nickicrook]

So they dont mind you arriving at immigration and telling them youre going to apply for a student visa once they let you through the gate?

[JandM]

I haven't heard of anyone who's done that. What is legal, and what appears 'normal' and quickly passable to the the Immigration officials at the airport, who screen out the unusual, can be totally different. Don't forget, a visitor is supposed to be someone who is firmly based in another country, and has set plans for going back there at the end of their (limited) stay. As soon as you do something that shows you don't neatly fit that definition, you may be subject to in-depth questioning.