Hi,
I would like to ask few questions about Skilled Migrant Visa:
1. Does passport has to be valid for at least 14 months from the day of applying for SMV? That’s what I’ve heard.
2. I’d like to claim close family points. Do my (actually my partners cause shes the main applicant) family members have to be NZ residents or they can be on work visa?
3. Do I have to send my passport to Immigration office? I’ve heard that processing time can take up to 9 months. If so I wouldn’t be able to leave the country for the whole time?
4. I’ve heard that to apply I have to be already on temporary visa in NZ. My girlfriend has now Essential Skills Visa and I have Partnership Work Visa both valid till July. If we apply for SMV let’s say in March and processing will take more than till July and we will not be granted another visas in the meantime then we will be automatically denied SMV?
5. In the points indicator there is an option “I have work experience that is relevant to my skilled employment” and you can choose 4 years or 6 years. My girlfriend who is the main applicant have more than 5. Immigration officer told me on the phone that if it’s less than 5 then I should choose 4 if it’s more than 5 then 6 years but he seemed not sure. Is that correct way to calculate the points?
6. The same thing with New Zealand work experience where I can choose 1 year, not less. He said if it’s more than 6 months then I can choose 1 year if not then it doesn’t count.
7. My girlfriend includes me in her application even though we are not yet living together for 12 months (since May 2016) and we are aware she cannot claim points for my qualification. I found thread on the forum where someone posted something about rule R2.1.15.5 from Operational Manual. According to that rule if my girlfriend would be granted residency let’s say in April then as soon as we reach 12 months of living together in May I’m gonna be granted residency too? Is that right?
8. Since my points would not be taken into consideration because we are not living together long enough (but I will still be put in the application) do I still need to take IELTS exam and provide results?
Thank you very much for your help