From Work Holiday Visa to Residence Visa

[dweeblet]

Hi All

Forgive me if I'm asking something that was asked before. We have been researching the options for moving to New Zealand. We are at a point where we are definitely taking the jump.

I've seen a lot of posts about the catch 22 of no job without visa but no visa without job.

Our current plan is to get a work holiday visa before we go and use it to get contract work. As soon as we have work, we will then apply for a Skilled Migrant Visa.
It will work out expensive but we are determined to make the move next year.

This is post is more of a sanity check. Is there something we are not accounting for?

I know that aren't many contract jobs compared to permanent jobs but work holiday visas are restricted to part time work.

Does anyone have experience taking this route?

[JandM]

There have been many people on the forum who have moved from a WHV to getting a work visa and then residence when once they were offered a job.

Possible problem - I don't see any mention of an arrangement for South Africans to have a NZ WHV at the moment. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...orkingholiday/ I think there has been one, because there is mention of WHV on this page http://www.nzembassy.com/south-afric...-zealand/visas, but the link there doesn't work now. But maybe you are of another nationality.

Next thing - it is rare for foreigners to be granted residence on the basis of contract work. There are specific requirements, which are very thoroughly investigated. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/30549.htm SM7.15 b iii.

Also, WHV holders aren't restricted to taking part-time work. They can work full-time on a job for a limited length of time. But maybe that's what you meant. What normally happens for a foreigner looking for work in NZ is that the WHV holder, or someone on a visitor's visa, applies for a skilled job. An employer who wants them on a permanent contract first offers them a job on a temporary basis. The WHV holder could start straight away, whereas the visitor would have to apply for a temporary work visa, and wait for that to come through (a matter of weeks only, normally, if they meet the requirements http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra.../requirements/). The employer then offers them a permanent contract, and they can then apply for Residence.

[dweeblet]

Thanks for the advice JandM

Sta Travel through company called Awesome travel seem to be organizing work holidays to NZ for SAns. I'm in contact with them and still trying to research them and press them on the visa type offered before making any commitments

[JandM]

I think you're right to be cautious. Looking up Sta travel, I see they're a UK based company, so my guess is that their offers are on the assumption that the clients will be UK citizens. Certainly, the blurb talks about 23-month WHVs, and those are on the special arrangement for the UK, not available to other nationalities. No tour company can deliver WHVs, which come from the NZ government if they have an arrangement with the government of the other country.

Even if the WHV turns out to be a no-go, you could still carry out your plan by travelling as visitors. I know that would need more money saved, to support yourselves without working at first, but others have done it. This can be useful, if you go for that option. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rd...20June2014.pdf