Hi Guys .. long time lurker first time poster here.
I require some help with regards to applying for a work visa.
My history is a bit varied so this make take a while:
Timeline:
June 2013 - Moved to NZ on student visa to join my patner here and moved in with my patner in city A.
July 2014 - Completed my Level 7 Graduate Diploma in IT.
October 2014 - Patner moved to city B for work and secured a fulltime job in her field. I continued worked a part time job in city A.
April 2015 - I had not yet secured a fulltime job so applied for a patnership based visa.
Later in April 2015 - Got a fulltime job in city C and soon after recieved my renewed open 1 yearwork visa based on patnership (We kept a lot of proof of staying together and visiting each other during the time) so didn't bother applying for a new Visa.
Both of us wanted to get some experince in our jobs as it took us a long time to find them before we moved together.
March 2016- Just when i was about to apply for my work visa based on my job i was job situation changed went from full-time to casual(company board fight was being potentially being liquidated). So reapplied for patnership based visa and got one in May 2016
June 2016 - Company was bought over and the new owners offered my full-time employment and willing to support any Visa I apply for.
Long story short me and my partner are fed up of living in different cities and would like to move in together in the same city finally. So i am going to apply for a Work Visa but I'm not sure which one I qualify for.
I work as a web developer and currently earn 52000k anually. I have just about 2 years work experience.
Since i got a job as my company was bought over, my job was not advertised.
Although my job is on the Long Term Skill Shortage List I don't think i qualify for that work visa as i have less than the required minimum of 3 years experience. I'm not sure if I would be successful with a Essential Skill Work Visa either as my job was not advertised.
Also my patners job is not on any shortage list and she works in a small city where I cannot get a job in my field.
Please help me with my possible options.
EDIT: Also We qualify for SMC residency with over 200 points but are both overweight(I was over 44 BMI) and working on getting that down before we apply(I have lost 30kgs in the past 3 months 20 more to go)