Hi all :-)
we have lodged our SMC application on 10/10/2018 (I am main applicant + my partner is a secondary applicant) and received the letter that our application will be allocated within the next 3 months. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening with the current backlog. Our current work visa will expire on 23/02/2019 and we will most likely not receive the decision about our SMC application by then. So we have decided to apply for a work visa + partnership visa now to avoid the situation of issuing interim visa that will not allow me and my partner to work whilst waiting for the decision of the visa (we are both changing the type of visa - me from partnership to work and vice versa).
I have a few questions and would be very grateful for your advice and experience with this.
1. Do we need to provide all the docs, we have already provided with our SMC appplication, again - including passport photos and copies of passports, employment agreement etc., proofs of partnership and even Employer Supplementary Form?
Or is it enough just to write a cover letter stating that all the docs have been provided with the SMC application no. xxxxxxxx, no need to prove there are no NZer's to do the job (as per the special allowance in Essential Skills instructions for those on Essential Skills visa awaiting a decision on their SMC application) and we can supply only INZ 1015 (Essential Skills) and 1198 (Partnership) forms? If yes, is it enough to submit only copies (not certified copies)?
2. Is this the correct form to supply - INZ 1015 (Essential Skills) for me as a main applicant? Is there any special field in the form to tick to let them know that the employer does not have to prove there are no NZer's to do the job?
3. Is this any faster to get the approval of this 1 year visa than usual Essential Skills Visa without SMC lodged? I do not quite understand why would they want to check on the same application twice
4. Does it matter if we lodge these 2 applications online or as the paper application?
Thank you all for sharing your experience and knowledge regarding this matter