Starting process for SMC

[rach&lou]

Hi all

We are looking at starting the process for SMC. Hubby would have 180points. He has just got a job offer which is great but obviously they want him asap and not knowing how long the SMC can take, we are unsure of what to do. Can we get something like temporary visas until SMC comes through? I'm a little nervous as we have two kids to aged 11 and 9 so would assume they would need something like a student visa? Which I assume we pay foreign student fees? And for me a temp visitor visa?
Looking for a bit of advice really as think nerves and excitement is impacting my ability to understand processes haha
Sorry you have all probably been asked these same questions time and time again.
Thanks in advance
Rach and family x

[Kelerei]

Your husband can apply for a Work Visa; the processing time on these are far shorter than typical Resident Visa processing times.

Some Work Visa categories that he can look at:

• If his employer is accredited by INZ and his salary is above a minimum threshold (which, might I add, is increasing on October 7th), then the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa is the one to go for. This is one of the easiest Work Visas to obtain (speaking from my own experience), but it's only an option if his job offer is with an accredited employer.
• If he works in an occupation on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, there's an appropriate Work Visa for this too.
• If neither of the above is an option, there's the "catch-all" Essential Skills Work Visa.

If your husband is granted a Work Visa, the following options become available to you and your children (you can apply for them while your husband's Work Visa is under consideration, but they won't be granted unless and until his Work Visa is):

• You may apply for the Partner of a Worker Work Visa or the Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa if not. Take note of evidence required to prove your partnership (both from other threads here and from E4.5 in the ops manual), as this seems to trip people up (on this forum, anyway!) more often than it should.
• Your children may be eligible for the Dependent Child Student Visa or the Child of a Worker Visitor Visa.

[JandM]

And... breathe...

I know there is a lot to take in, but the answers are out there on the INZ website.

Before, at the same time as, or after applying for Residence under SMC, your husband can apply for an Essential Skills Temporary Work Visa https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...-visa#criteria (see the other tabs for what to do and how). Or else, if the employer is accredited, he can apply for the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...-visa#criteria, only notice that this last visa will only be available in this form for applications made until 7th October, so you may not be ready in time. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/abou...oyer-work-visa Or if the job is on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, he can apply for the Long Term Skills Shortage List Work Visa. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...-visa#criteria

You and the children can get visas matching whichever temporary visa he goes for for length of time. For you, you should look at this. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...lders#criteria For the children, look at this one. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...-visa#criteria In your case, you would have the right to take any job you were offered, skilled or not, but you don't have to work if you don't want or need to. The children will have the right to attend school, NOT at foreign rates, on the same footing as local children.

You can apply for all four temporary visas at the same time, linking them with a covering letter, then INZ will work them all as one case, supplying information you don't know to begin with, such as his visa number, as it becomes available.

[JandM]

Snap!

[rach&lou]

Thank you both, really appreciate your guidance