From Work Visa to Resident Visa (based on Partnership)

[SvenM85]

Hi everyone,

wondering if you can help guiding me in the right direction regarding my future visa application

I am due to renew my current work visa (based on partnership with a NZ citizen) later this year and am wondering whether to go for another work visa (based on partnership) or whether it is the right time to go for the Resident visa (based on partnership).

Situation: I arrived in NZ in January 2015 (26 months ago, on a working holiday visa) and am in a relationship with a NZ citizen since April 2015 (23 months now). We have been living together since July 2015 (19 months now).

Since moving in together I had 2 successful applications for Work Visas based on Partnerships (my current work visa expires in October).

Wondering whether I have stayed long enough to get a resident visa approved (We definitely have enough evidence of our ongoing and stable relationship and my previous work visas were approved in just a few days). I assume the 'evidence' is similar to the Work Visas and the only difference would be the cost of the two types of visa? How long does it usually take to assess a Resident Visa application, I assume a lot longer than the standard work visas?

Many Thanks,

[JandM]

Since you obviously have 12 months' evidence of partnership to hand, you can submit for partner-sponsored residence any time you like. How long? - yes, normally longer than the work visas, and it can run to 6 months+ for some, but it's quite often less when people have had successive work visas. As ever, though, you can't ever be sure, and it takes as long as it takes. Don't forget to keep collecting evidence because they will probably ask for more for the time of processing just before issuing the visa.

[SvenM85]

Since you obviously have 12 months' evidence of partnership to hand, you can submit for partner-sponsored residence any time you like. How long? - yes, normally longer than the work visas, and it can run to 6 months+ for some, but it's quite often less when people have had successive work visas. As ever, though, you can't ever be sure, and it takes as long as it takes. Don't forget to keep collecting evidence because they will probably ask for more for the time of processing just before issuing the visa.

Thanks JandM. One question, would processing time (let's say they cannot grant my residence visa before my current work visa expires) affect my ability to continue working for my employer? Or would they issue a temporary work visa in case my residence visa is still in progress?

[Kimmy8888]

Hi there,

Would u.mind sharing what have evidences u provided in the past successful.working visa?

Thanks

[SvenM85]

Hi there,

Would u.mind sharing what have evidences u provided in the past successful.working visa?

Thanks

Hi there, definitely. I had provided:
- Cover letter and timeline (highlighting key milestones)
Official documents with both our names on it:
- shared tenancy agreement
- bond lodgement forms
- power contract and some invoices
- car insurance
- bank statements (we do not have a shared account but I highlight bank transfers from her to my account, usually on same day as I pay for rent)
Social:
- some photos and facebook updates
- mail received together (e.g. from my family)
- evidence of trips together (hotel bookings, flight tickets)
- references (contact details of friends and family who can endorse we are in a relationship)

Hope this helps

[JandM]

Thanks JandM. One question, would processing time (let's say they cannot grant my residence visa before my current work visa expires) affect my ability to continue working for my employer? Or would they issue a temporary work visa in case my residence visa is still in progress?

You must not leave yourself without a valid visa in force. If you get to within a few weeks of expiry of the old visa, it's okay to ask if the residence visa is likely to come through in time, and if the answer is 'no', then you'd need to apply for another partner-sponsored temporary work visa. If you do this so it is lodged before expiry of the old one, you will be covered, because INZ can issue an interim visa to keep you legal while processing a temporary visa, but they CANNOT issue an interim visa while processing a residence application. If it comes to the point that you are issued an interim visa, as you will see from this link https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...isa-conditions, when applying for the same kind of visa as you have already got, the interim visa will have the same conditions so you will be able to continue working.