Australian (with Indonesian citizen partner) got Job Offer for NZ Employer - Need info

[melbguy79]

Hi, I'm new this forum and i really need information from all of you.

I'm an Australian citizen with Indonesian partner. He's been living with me in Australia on a visitor visa for the last 12 to 13 months.
We actually planned to apply for a partner visa in Australia.
But then, I've been offered a job with a NZ employer based in NZ, and I'm currently still considering this job offer.

So, i want to ask,
1. How my partner will be able to live and work with me in NZ?
2. as an Australian citizen, What kind of visa will i be required to get? (Residence or Work visa?)
3. How does my visa impact my partner?
4. How about the processing times of this visa? and also for my partner when we apply for his visa?

Thank you for your time and assistance.

[JandM]

2. As an Australian citizen, you have the right to live and work in NZ, and can arrive without any other formalities. However, you need to make the point to INZ that you intend to make your home in NZ, and get your (automatically issued upon arrival) residence visa endorsed with travel conditions. See the paragraph here http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/...dresidents.htm starting 'If you intend to stay in New Zealand long term...'

1 and 3. You will be able to sponsor your partner for a partner-sponsored temporary work visa. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...milystream.htm (You count as a NZ resident.) You will need to provide evidence of partnership, which, for INZ, means living together. See these threads with discussion and examples of what other people have used. https://www.google.co.uk/#q=site:enz...tnership+proof Overkill on this is GOOD - the more evidence of different kinds you can give, the better. And keep on collecting while the processing is happening, as INZ usually ask for more, just before the visa is issued, so as to be sure they are not giving a visa to someone whose relationship has broken up in the meantime. If you travel ahead of your partner, you will need to collect and show evidence of how you keep up contact to maintain the partnership - phone and skype records, for example, and emails, and any financial transactions between you. Having to be apart should not adversely affect his application, since you can demonstrate the need for you to go because of the job offer, and the need for him to sort out his visa in order to join you.

Later on, you will be able to sponsor him for the partner-sponsored residence visa - you need 12 months' solid evidence for that, and it takes longer to process, so it's probably preferable for you to start with the work visa (which only needs around three months up to the date of application), so he can join you in NZ as soon as possible.

The partner-sponsored work visa is an open visa, which means the holder has the right to live in NZ, and work at any job offered. They don't need to prove any qualifications or work experience.

4. Timings. There is no delay for you. As you'll see here http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branc...ocessingtimes/, INZ say that most work visas are processed in around a month.

[melbguy79]

Thank you so much. It's very helpful.

One last question.
Is it possible for my partner to arrive on visitor visa and apply onshore?
would that be easier?

Thank you

2. As an Australian citizen, you have the right to live and work in NZ, and can arrive without any other formalities. However, you need to make the point to INZ that you intend to make your home in NZ, and get your (automatically issued upon arrival) residence visa endorsed with travel conditions. See the paragraph here http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/...dresidents.htm starting 'If you intend to stay in New Zealand long term...'

1 and 3. You will be able to sponsor your partner for a partner-sponsored temporary work visa. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...milystream.htm (You count as a NZ resident.) You will need to provide evidence of partnership, which, for INZ, means living together. See these threads with discussion and examples of what other people have used. https://www.google.co.uk/#q=site:enz...tnership+proof Overkill on this is GOOD - the more evidence of different kinds you can give, the better. And keep on collecting while the processing is happening, as INZ usually ask for more, just before the visa is issued, so as to be sure they are not giving a visa to someone whose relationship has broken up in the meantime. If you travel ahead of your partner, you will need to collect and show evidence of how you keep up contact to maintain the partnership - phone and skype records, for example, and emails, and any financial transactions between you. Having to be apart should not adversely affect his application, since you can demonstrate the need for you to go because of the job offer, and the need for him to sort out his visa in order to join you.

Later on, you will be able to sponsor him for the partner-sponsored residence visa - you need 12 months' solid evidence for that, and it takes longer to process, so it's probably preferable for you to start with the work visa (which only needs around three months up to the date of application), so he can join you in NZ as soon as possible.

The partner-sponsored work visa is an open visa, which means the holder has the right to live in NZ, and work at any job offered. They don't need to prove any qualifications or work experience.

4. Timings. There is no delay for you. As you'll see here http://www.immigration.govt.nz/branc...ocessingtimes/, INZ say that most work visas are processed in around a month.

[JandM]

Yes, if he can get a visitor's visa, he could apply from onshore. The difficulty with that is that a visitor's visa is, specifically, for someone who intends to make a visit and leave again at the end of that time, and he obviously doesn't mean to leave at all if he can help it. And he would have to make a declaration of the reason for his visit, which is a legal document, so it's very serious to be found out not telling the truth, or not the whole truth.

However, in some cases, INZ do allow an Australian to sponsor their foreign partner for a NZ work visa BEFORE they move, and that would be a better bet for you if they would let you do it. See this old thread http://www.enz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40660 - I thought it wasn't possible, but then the person spoke to INZ and it was allowed. It seems to depend on individual circumstances, and being able to show proof that you are definitely going to be living in NZ, for which you could be well placed, since you can show your job offer.

[melbguy79]

Thank you so much, JandM! It's really helpful for us.

Is there any visa restrictions for visitor visa NZ?
(For example just like "No Further Stay" in visitor visa australia which we can't apply for further visa)
and How long the visitor visa valid for?


Thanks!

Yes, if he can get a visitor's visa, he could apply from onshore. The difficulty with that is that a visitor's visa is, specifically, for someone who intends to make a visit and leave again at the end of that time, and he obviously doesn't mean to leave at all if he can help it. And he would have to make a declaration of the reason for his visit, which is a legal document, so it's very serious to be found out not telling the truth, or not the whole truth.

However, in some cases, INZ do allow an Australian to sponsor their foreign partner for a NZ work visa BEFORE they move, and that would be a better bet for you if they would let you do it. See this old thread http://www.enz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=40660 - I thought it wasn't possible, but then the person spoke to INZ and it was allowed. It seems to depend on individual circumstances, and being able to show proof that you are definitely going to be living in NZ, for which you could be well placed, since you can show your job offer.

[JandM]

The details are here. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...rs/default.htm

Notice particularly the sections 'Proof that you plan to leave New Zealand' and 'How long can I stay?' - these are the parts that are likely to be a problem for your partner in his situation. This directive about 'look, see and decide' may POSSIBLY be of use http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rd...20June2014.pdf, but there is a balance to be struck between giving answers to INZ that will get them to grant the initial visitor's visa, and telling the truth (which probably wouldn't), because when, shortly afterwards, he would be applying for the partner-sponsored work visa, and his name came up in the INZ computer, it would show up that he hadn't been entirely frank in the first application, which CAN be considered as fraud. Fraud can get visas cancelled and give a black mark that will stay on record for any future applications for whatever country.

So beware of what may seem like an easy option...

[melbguy79]

Ok. Thank You JandM!

The details are here. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...rs/default.htm

Notice particularly the sections 'Proof that you plan to leave New Zealand' and 'How long can I stay?' - these are the parts that are likely to be a problem for your partner in his situation. This directive about 'look, see and decide' may POSSIBLY be of use http://www.immigration.govt.nz/NR/rd...20June2014.pdf, but there is a balance to be struck between giving answers to INZ that will get them to grant the initial visitor's visa, and telling the truth (which probably wouldn't), because when, shortly afterwards, he would be applying for the partner-sponsored work visa, and his name came up in the INZ computer, it would show up that he hadn't been entirely frank in the first application, which CAN be considered as fraud. Fraud can get visas cancelled and give a black mark that will stay on record for any future applications for whatever country.

So beware of what may seem like an easy option...