SMC - Approved - timeline

[jonydon18]

Hi there,
my SMC application has been approved. here is my timeline.

2 Jan 2015 - EOI submitted with Civil Engineering job
8 Jan 2015 - EOI selected with 165 point
27 Jan 2015 - ITA received
20 Feb 2015 - application lodged at Chrischurch
24 Mar 2015 - CO assigned at Auckland Central
15 Apr 2015 - contact employer by phone and e-mail
23 Apr 2015 - sent for second person check
04 May 2015 - Approved

[evelina]

Congratulations jonydon18

[JandM]

[nms.sun3]

Congrats

[sheepland]

Congrats! Can I just ask that when you applied at the Christchurch branch how long did they tell you allocation to a CO would take and was your application directed to another branch? Cheers!

[jonydon18]

support officer advised me that it might take 7 to 9 months for allocation to CO, but they transferred my application to Auckland Central in couple weeks

[Dawnb]

Congrats on getting it processed so quickly!
My hubby is a plumber and applied for SMC residency for us both on 20th January 2015. We were invited to apply on 10th February. We submitted our application on 17th February but had failed lodgements (did not supply full birth certificate) resubmitted the application on 4th March and had CO assigned 13th April where we had to send off evidence of partnership which we did on 15th April 2015. We last spoke to our CO 20th April and was told that they were awaiting the police checks back but have heard nothing since. Our work visa runs out on 9th June so was hoping to get the residency visa before then. We are tempted to ring the CO for an update but don’t want to seem like we are pestering her! Auckland Central is dealing with our application.
I am amazing at how quickly yours was processed! Its horrible feeling in limbo!

[JandM]

By all means get in touch now. You are within eight weeks of your existing visa expiring, so it is perfectly reasonable to point that out, and ask, 'Is my Residence likely to be through, or do I need to apply for another work visa?' The eight weeks gives good time to apply for another work visa if necessary. You don't have to leave it right up to the wire. (MANY people have found that if they enquire like that, their Residence magically happens within the next short while.)

[Dawnb]

By all means get in touch now. You are within eight weeks of your existing visa expiring, so it is perfectly reasonable to point that out, and ask, 'Is my Residence likely to be through, or do I need to apply for another work visa?' The eight weeks gives good time to apply for another work visa if necessary. You don't have to leave it right up to the wire. (MANY people have found that if they enquire like that, their Residence magically happens within the next short while.)

Hi we called our CO yesterday and was told they would have a decision to us within 7 days we then asked if there was any chance of having an answer sooner and they said ok Monday. Apparently our file is with the CO’s supervisor for checking with regards to his character. The thing is that my hubby committed a VERY minor misdemeanour he was a teenager – without going into detail it was his first and only offence – however he got he got a 12mth supervision order and he has never been in any trouble ever since had to write a letter outlining the circumstances and why he should be granted a character – he put together a fantastic letter to show that he is remorseful for this misdemeanour and he is now a hardworking, ambitious and mature person and that he has done a lot of community charity work and has ran his own successful business for the past 10 years with an totally unblemished record and we want to make a good and honest life for ourselves in NZ etc. Its going to be a lonnggg weekend waiting sat in limbo land! Has anyone ever been declined on the basis of a minor conviction?

[JandM]

Yes, it's going to be a long weekend for you - sympathies. Here's hoping you manage to think about something else for some of the time.

We've seen many stories on the threads of people with quite serious convictions in their past being granted a character waiver, so there's good hope. (I don't think people who get refused come back and post about it.)