SMC Resident visa with job offer

[ozman750]

Dear Senior Members,
I need an urgent advice. I am civil engineer from Pakistan and I got a job offer from NZ. I applied for essential skills work visa but that was declined because Immigration NZ was not satisfied that my propsective employer made genuine attempts to hire NZ citizens or Residents before offering me the job. Now I want to apply for SMC resident visa based on the same job offer and I have following questions:

1- If I apply for SMC Resident visa, does my emoloyer still need to provide evidences that he made genuine attempts to hire nz citizens and residents before offering me the job? Or is it only required for work visa and not for SMC resident visa?

2- As Civil Engineering is in Long term skills shortage list...and to fulfil requirement of Long term skills shortage list, I am required to provide a Letter from Engineering NZ( formerly IPENZ). If I dont claim points for Long Term Skills Shortage ( as my score is 170 without bonus points for Long Term Skills Shortage), do I still need to get letter from Engineering NZ?

I shall be very thankful if someone can advise on above 2 questions.

Regards

[JandM]

1. No, there is no labour market test for an application under SMC. See here https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...-visa#criteria on the Criteria tab.

2. I'm not sure. I THINK not. ChrisMwn, do you know?

[DannyGreen]

As you already have 170 points, you don’t have to claim points for LTSS and therefore no need of letter from Engineering NZ. It’s lengthy and costly process to get your experience assessed from Engineering NZ. I was in the same situation and I chose not to go for Engineering NZ.

[JandM]

Thanks - that's helpful.

[ozman750]

Thanks @JandM

[ozman750]

Thanks DannyGreen

[nick_nav]

Totally Agree with DannyGreen. 160 point should be enough to be selected out of the pool. no need to further delay with unnecessary assessments.

[Juniper]

Question - are you having your qualifications assessed at all in order to get your 170 points? I'm wondering if you might be referred to Engineering NZ in any case, since NZQA doesn't like to assess anything to do with engineering.

[ozman750]

Hi Juniper, I have submitted my Engineering Degree to NZQA for IQA. They have previously assessed civil engineering degrees of my friends as NZQF level 7 education.

[ozman750]

I have another question...Skilled experience should be in comparable labour market...as my experience is not in comparable labour market and I am also not claiming points for Long Term Skills Shortage but I have a job offer from New Zealand. Therefore, my experience does not need to be in comparable labour market and I shall still get points for my experience in non comparable market as I have job offer. is my understanding right?