SMC VS Talent Work Visa

[DPIK]

Hi Everyone,

I would like some advise about these 2 visas. I went on INZ and read about it but still feel none the clearer according to my situation.

Got a job offer with the start date of 26/6/17. Have to apply for medical practise license first before visa. My offer letter says as an accredited employer, they will support application for a NZ work visa under work to residence policy. Is that the Talent Work visa? Can i apply for SMC instead with a job offer in need to get into NZ at least 1 1/2 week before the starting date? Need to be in there in advance for medical check etc.... as stipulated in the offer letter.

SMC seems to take a long time to process.... Do they fast track SMC application based on circumstances? Just wondering which is better esp. in my situation.

Many thanks

[ChrisMwn]

Hi Everyone,

I would like some advise about these 2 visas. I went on INZ and read about it but still feel none the clearer according to my situation.

Got a job offer with the start date of 26/6/17. Have to apply for medical practise license first before visa. My offer letter says as an accredited employer, they will support application for a NZ work visa under work to residence policy. Is that the Talent Work visa? Can i apply for SMC instead with a job offer in need to get into NZ at least 1 1/2 week before the starting date? Need to be in there in advance for medical check etc.... as stipulated in the offer letter.

SMC seems to take a long time to process.... Do they fast track SMC application based on circumstances? Just wondering which is better esp. in my situation.


Many thanks

Fundamentaly SMC is for residence and could take 6-12 months currently. A talent visa application (which is for temporary entry) might take a month of so, from lodgment. You will need your registration from the appropriate medical registration body for both your SMC application and your "Talent Visa" ("Work to Residence, talent, Accredited employers instructions" (see below).

It would not be realistic to expect residence under SMC by June, even if you were able to lodge that application immediately, and it sounds like you haven't even started the process of gather documents, and medical registration.



If you are eligible under SMC, you can apply at any time, and don't need to remain for 2 years on the Work to Residence (talent) visa and then apply for residence under Residence from Work categories!!

You need a work visa before you can work in NZ. You might expect that a "Talent Visa" in London might be processed in around 4-6 weeks, possibly sooner.

You will need a full INZ medical (and police clearances) before you can apply for your Talent Visa, which can then later be used for SMC application.


WR1.10 Requirements for offers of employment
Offers of employment from accredited employers must be:

for employment in New Zealand in the accredited employer's core area of business activity and where the accredited employer will have direct responsibility for their work output; and
for a period of at least 24 months; and
for full-time employment, (that is it amounts to, on average, at least 30 hours per week); and
current at the time of assessing the application and at the time of grant of the visa; and
genuine; and
for a position with a minimum base salary of NZ$55,000 per annum; and
accompanied by evidence of full or provisional registration, or eligibility for such registration, if full or provisional registration is required by law to take up the offer; and
compliant with all relevant employment law in force in New Zealand.
Note:

~ Compliance with relevant New Zealand employment law includes but is not limited to:
* a written employment agreement that contains the necessary statutory specified terms and conditions
* meeting holiday and special leave requirements and other minimum statutory criteria
* meeting health and safety obligations.

~ For the avoidance of doubt, the minimum base salary excludes employment-related allowances (for example overtime, tool or uniform allowances, medical insurance, accommodation).

~ Where an employee is to work more than 40 hours per week, the minimum base salary must be calculated on the basis of 40 hours work per week.

~ The minimum base salary requirement of NZ$55,000 (see WR1.10 (f)) may be waived for applicants who have exceptional talent in a declared field of art, culture or sport and who hold an offer of employment in that field from an accredited employer.

[DPIK]

Thanks. Medical registration application has started. We qualified for both visas. Seems like it is better to apply for Talent visa so it enables us to get there in time to start work and apply for SMC from there.

Thank you

[ScottNZ]

This is interesting. So then can you tell me why anyone would go the Essential Skills visa route and have to prove that no Kiwi could do the job; via the Labour Market Test when the Talent visa does not require this?