SMC Visa vs SMC defered vs PR Visa

[ezinir]

What is the difference between SMC Visa vs SMC defered vs PR Visa

[ice]

SMC Visa = The resident visa ( indefinitely ) you get when you successfully go through the Skilled Migrant Category, which entitles someone to live in NZ for ever, NOT PR
The resident visa usually comes with two years of travel conditions in which you can travel in and out of NZ. After these two years are up one usually applies for what you call a PR visa or permanent resident visa which has no travel conditions.

SMC deferred = you receive a Job search visa (JSV) valid for 9 months to look for a job, if you are successful you will be granted a residence visa

SM. 21.10 d. If an immigration officer assesses that a principal applicant has not demonstrated the ability to successfully settle and contribute but can realise their potential to successfully settle in and contribute to New Zealand the principal applicant will be eligible for the grant of a SMC job search work visa (subject to the requirements of WR5 being met) to enable them to realise their potential by obtaining an offer of skilled employment (see SM7) in New Zealand.

e.Principal applicants who are in New Zealand and are granted SMC job search work visas under these instructions will have the decision on their SMC application deferred for a period of nine months.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/43652.htm

PR visa = After two years of living in New Zealand on a resident visa you can apply for a permanent resident visa which entitles you to come back to NZ at any time in your life.

There are some other ways to get the permanent resident visa if you haven't been physically present in NZ for the two years prior to applying for PR like having tax residence status, investment in NZ , business in NZ or having your established base in NZ. But the "having spent enough time in NZ(for two years)" is the most common way someone gets PR and probably the easiest.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...quirements.htm

[ezinir]

Thanks ICE. Please clarify below
Can extend the tranvel in and out after 2 years ?

for PR Visa below is acceptable after successfully getting SMC visa or Before approved?
Under some residence categories, applicants may be granted PRVs straight away, not a resident visa. An example of this is under Residence from Work, where a person may be granted a PRV if they work for an accredited employer, earn a base salary of at least NZ$90,000 per year and meet the normal Residence from Work criteria.

[ice]

Can extend the tranvel in and out after 2 years ?

Well yes you can but it will be on a case by case basis and not for a long period of time.

If you plan to leave New Zealand and return outside of the validity of your travel conditions, you should either apply for:

a permanent resident visa to allow you to return to New Zealand any time as a resident, or
a variation of travel conditions to extend the travel conditions on your resident visa

http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/...conditions.htm

Yes this is another thing if you go down the Work to residence route which is different to the SMC category because it is initially a temporary work visa for two years and not resident visa like with SMC and you have to work in NZ for the employer who supported your application for two years before you can apply for residence visa (or permanent resident visa but only if your employer is accredited and you earn a base salary of at least NZ$90.000)

Work to Residence
Work to Residence - for people who meet one of the following criteria:
are qualified in occupations that are in demand in New Zealand
have a job offer from an accredited employer, or
have exceptional talent in sports or the arts.
A Work to Residence visa is a temporary work visa that allows you to apply for a Residence from Work residence visa later. The advantage of Residence from Work is that you do not need to send us an expression of interest before applying for residence.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...k/workperm.htm

But in terms of rights and living in NZ permanently a resident visa is exactly the same, hypothetically you could live in NZ with a resident visa until you die without ever having to get a PR visa , its just that you can't travel outside with expired travel conditions thats why everyone usually applies for the PR visa after two years.

[ezinir]

Thanks ICE for the detailed clarification