I was wondering, let's say you don't qualify for SMC at the end of the 2 years Employer Assisted Work Visa (10 points short), would it be easier to apply for an Essential Skills Visa with that same employer? The only hassle seems to be the requirement of proving no Kiwis were available for the job, but one would think this shouldn't be necessary if you had been working for that employer for the last 2 years. I mean, what would be the point of asking the employer to prove such thing when they already have someone they trust working for them for the last 2 years?