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Thread: Accredited Employer Visa --> Permanent Resident Visa

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
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    New zealand
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    Default Accredited Employer Visa --> Permanent Resident Visa

    Hi,

    I am currently on a Accredited Employer WTR Visa and my husband is on visa similar to my visa's T&C's, except that he can work for any employer. Our Visa was issued 6 months back with a validity till Sep 2015, i.e another 18 months and we are having a good time here in Wellington and we simple love the country I was recently researching on my options to obtain a PR status. I got confused after reading the visa framework and would like to clarify it directly with experts here

    The framework says , one who is on a 'Work to Residence (Talent)' visa can upgrade to residence visa after 2 years.
    1) So does this mean that me, my husband and daughter automatically become Permanent residents after 2 years (or) Do we need to apply again (if so, How can we apply and which category)?
    2) After 2 years, Do we really get the PR directly (or) only a Ordinary resident visa ? If only ordinary resident, how long should we wait to apply for PR ?

    If we can only obtain ordinary residence visa after 2 years even with 'Work to Residence (Talent)' visa, and then wait for some more time before we can apply for PR visa, we might very well apply for Residence Visa straight away instead of waiting for another 18 months, so that we can get the PR much quickly. Is my understanding right here ?

    Also is there a big difference between ordinary resident visa and permanent resident visa in terms of working, living and other benefits.

    I tried to be clear, but if this post is confusing, you can understand how confused i am

    Thanks,

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    37,824

    Default

    Here are the regulations about qualifying for Residence after two years on the WTR. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...quirements.htm

    And here are the regulations about qualifying for PR after two years on the WTR. (The difference is in the level of your salary.) http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/30628.htm

    Here's an old thread where people were discussing this issue. http://www.enz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41587

    Also is there a big difference between ordinary resident visa and permanent resident visa in terms of working, living and other benefits.
    No. Benefits, as in state payouts, vary as to their conditions, and you'd have to research individual ones for the details, but I don't think there's any resident/PR difference there. One thing that's often mentioned is that, although a resident is immediately entitled to domestic rates as a student, they can't access the student loan scheme http://www.studylink.govt.nz/financi.../student-loan/ until after two years as a resident. The main difference between residence and PR is when it comes to travel - a resident gets two years' travel conditions allowing them to come and go at will, but if they were out of NZ after the travel conditions end, their visa could lapse and they wouldn't be entitled to come back in and resume their NZ life. Getting PR after two years (minimum) as a Resident http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...quirements.htm gives the person the right to travel in and out freely from then on.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    New zealand
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    Default

    Wonderful. Perfect info that i wanted. Now if we get a resident visa in the interim, Can we still be eligible for PR exactly after staying for 2 years in NZ, considering the salary requirements and if i continue to be with the same accredited employer ?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    I don't know. My guess is that, if you leave the WTR>Residence path to jump to SMC Residence, you wouldn't then be allowed to mix up rules from the two paths, but that's just a personal thought. Why the big push to get PR as soon as possible, when actually, with Residence and travel conditions, you'd have the same possibilities for ordinary life?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
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    Hi Aparna,

    Small world. How are you?

    My 2 cents worth. I was on a work-visa and then applied for residency under SMC within a year of coming to NZ(though I could have waited for another 12 months and qualified for PR after two years) because of quite a few reasons :

    1. Under residence visa, I am no longer tied to a particular employer for work.
    2. Eligibility to apply for a home loan with a 5% deposit at that point in time which was an option that looked far better than paying rent. (Unfortunately not valid anymore) Everyone needs a deposit of 20% now(or 10% for a Welcome Home Loan).
    3. Eligibility to join kiwisaver. (Very valuable for new home buyers who are planning to buy a home, 2-3 years down the line).
    4. Easier to bring parents here temporarily. They can apply for a 3 year multiple entry visitor visa once you become a resident as opposed to applying for a visitor visa each time they want to visit.(http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ors.htm#parent)
    5. Quicker to bring parents here permanently. You can apply for resident class visa for parent's only after you complete 3 years on a residency class visa. (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...oi/default.htm)
    6. Residency rules are getting stricter and stricter as each year passes. It is better to apply for it now than in the future. Once you get a resident class visa and stay here for 2 years, it is just a simple process to convert it to a PR.

    Just see which of the above applies to you and then take the call either to wait or not. You have 2 options : WTR->PR or WTR->SMC(Resident visa)->PR.

    All the above information provided above are to the best of my knowledge.

    Ravi

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