Experience of NZ

[Karen Phillips]

Hi! If you want to ask questions about life in NZ, I am happy to help (no obligation). I am a Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand, have dual nationality and recent experience. Please feel free to ask me anything that will help you get to NZ, decide if you want to go, find a visa etc. www.workstudylivenewzealand.co.uk. Karen

[Karen Phillips]

I guess it's also relevant in terms of the sorts of questions I might be able to answer that while in NZ I worked in Higher Education and Real Estate, recruited students and tutors, mainly in the IT field and have a network of IT-related colleagues and friends. I lived for 11 years in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty on a lifestyle block for much of the time and miss it every day - especially the beaches, the cafes, the food, the sun.. I was there with my husband and daughter - who went through Intermediate and High School in Tauranga before Vic Uni and Auckland Uni. My husband was in the food industry - avocado oil and my daughter started work in Events management at a very large hotel in Auckland. Oh, and I was District commissioner for Pony Club for a few years.

[girlwithanewf]

I guess it's also relevant in terms of the sorts of questions I might be able to answer that while in NZ I worked in Higher Education and Real Estate, recruited students and tutors, mainly in the IT field and have a network of IT-related colleagues and friends. I lived for 11 years in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty on a lifestyle block for much of the time and miss it every day - especially the beaches, the cafes, the food, the sun.. I was there with my husband and daughter - who went through Intermediate and High School in Tauranga before Vic Uni and Auckland Uni. My husband was in the food industry - avocado oil and my daughter started work in Events management at a very large hotel in Auckland. Oh, and I was District commissioner for Pony Club for a few years.

Lots of experience there and it sounds as if you had a great life in NZ. Was there a specific reason why you returned to the UK?

[Karen Phillips]

Hi - it's all about whanau as they would say in NZ! All three of my grown up "children" are now living in the UK and I also have an elderly father-in-law who needs a bit more support. I am not promising I won't go back though! Kia ora!

[Karen Phillips]

Hi anyone reading this!

I would just like to clarify that although I am a Licensed Immigration Adviser for New Zealand, I am very happy to help anyone where I can on an entirely pro bono basis. I am fully qualified and have some fee paying clients but I am still building my business so I learn a lot from supporting people through the Forum. If I suggest you look at my website, it wil be because I have tried to include newsletters and infomation about life in NZ as well as what I hope are useful links. I will not ask you for money unless there is an extensive anmount of work invoved and we have discussed all the possibilties and any costs in advance. As well as being a LIA I am a wife, mother, former employee and employer, drinker, concert-goer and much more!

Kind regards

Karen

[Heynekamp]

Hi Karen,
If you could share some do's and don'ts regarding the long term business visa process and what to expect. How long to expect? What is the smallest business that would be considered beneficial to New Zealand? How in depth should the marketing research be? How to put it all together; the application has much overlap to the business plan. I've written my business plan just being diligent with my planning and will copy pieces for use in the LTBV application. Should I attach all articles I found for my research into the appendix? (I am) How is the best way to safely and quickly ship it without paying FedEx $500+ (about to find out). I'm submitting my application shortly and after I go through the process, successful or not, will post my experiences.

[Karen Phillips]

Hi. Sorry, only just seen this. Will go back to my notes and see if I can offer any enlightenment. I do know that the Business Migration team based in Wellington can be very helpful with LTBV applications. Cheers. Karen

[Karen Phillips]

Hi again. Here's what I have found out so far. How long it will take to process depends largely on how novel and exciting your business seems and how easy it is to get information from the paperwork you submit. A representative of teeh Business Migration Branch told me at a meeting in December that whenever they get something new and exciting it goes straight to the top of the pile. Then, it all depends on whether or not you have submitted everything and if it is easy to find the infromation when they need it.

I can't find any reference to how large or small a business needs to be. The key issue (as you are obviously aware) is about "benefits to New Zealand. I imagine you have read Section BC4.15 in the INZ Operations Manual. It says:

A business may be considered to benefit New Zealand if it promotes New Zealand's economic growth through, for example:
introducing new, or enhancing existing, technology, management or technical skills; or
introducing new, or enhancing existing, products or services; or
creating new, or expanding existing, export markets; or
creating employment for a New Zealand citizen or resident; or
revitalising an existing business; and
in the opinion of a business immigration specialist it appears likely that the business will be trading profitably at the time any subsequent application under the Entrepreneur Category is made, or clearly has the potential to be trading profitably within 12 months after the application is made.

So, explaining clearly how your business fits into one of these categories will really help your case.

They are looking for evidence that you have done your homework. You obviously have experience in running a business of this type or you wouldn't be applying (I assume). What they want to see is that you can clearly demonstrate that such a business could survive in the NZ economic environment and add something new. The key word as always is "evidence".

The following tips came indirectly from INZ. In putting it altogether, you are recommended to divide all your supplementary material into the same categories as the application form and separate them into different tabs. It is recommended that you use bullet points or a table whenever possible. Ensure your executive summary is very specific to your business in New Zealand. Make sure you provide evidence that you have experience of running this type of business and of your knowledge of how it would work in NZ. Evidence of your research is essential. Do you know of any registration requirements, professional organisations for that business type? This can help. Ensure your financial projections are realistic and that you provide evidence that you have the necessary funds both for the business and for your maintenance while your business gets going. Whenever possible, provide certified copies to avoid the need for originals to be couriered back and forth. Supply a cover letter, listing all the contents - provide numbered sections and cross-references to all information so that it can be found easily. Do make sure you have also included all the other mandatory lodgement requirements such as your passport, birth certificate, medical and character checks, details of any partner or children to be included (this includes proving the genuiness and stability of your partnership). Don't just include such things as receipts - without some system of numbering and an attached explanation of how they help your case. Sorry, I can't help with postage from the USA. From the UK, it is significantly cheaper and quicker to send by airmail with a signature requirement and insurance than by courier. If I can be of further help, just let me know. Kind regards again. Karen

[Heynekamp]

That is very valuable information. I have pretty much done what you have recommended and will submit Monday when I get my 2012 financials to enclose. I will go back and beef up some sections. I have printed and enclosed all my research for reference. I will keep everyone posted here.

Cheers,
Mic

[Baurox]

Hey Karen. I sent you an email from using your site relating some info about me and what process I would need to go through. Thanks!