Hi!
I'm from Argentina, aged 34, currently living in Wellington, and I've been working as a temp in an accredited company in NZ. I have a Working Holiday Visa that only allows me to do temp/casual work.
The thing is that the company I am working for has offered me a permanent position for indefinite time as if I were planning to stay indefinitely here (which I am actually). I'll have the job offer in written and the contract next week and my paperwork is all ready and ok BUT! I am not sure if INZ is going to grant me with a work to residency visa or what kind of visa will I be able to apply... The company is willing to help me with the whole process and so; they were planning in giving me a contract for unlimited time (not a 2/5 years contract) but the thing is that my job position is not under any of the shortage lists or anything and I don't have a university degree (my job offer is based on my skills and experience).
Obviously HR department is aware of this situation and they are talking with my manager to explore my options (they are quite used to employ migrants luckily) and I am planning on going to INZ next week but I just wanted to know if any of you have had a similar experience and could help me check my options
Also, I am married and my husband is going to apply for a partnership visa. Do you know if he has to wait until I am granted with my visa or can we do the application together? He is a graduated Industrial Engineer from Argentina as well, hasn't got a job offer still mostly because IPENZ is giving us hard time with his degree equivalences and some companies have asked for the equivalences in NZ.... Do you think his degree and experience will be helpful for our work to residency visa in case I am so luckily to get one??
Thanks everybody!!! Cheers!
Paula