Immigration

Immigration

Skilled Migrant Resident Visa

If you have a skilled job, or job offer, in New Zealand, as well as occupational registration, qualifications and/or relevant work experience, you may be able to apply for residence as a skilled migrant.

The new Skilled Migrant category uses a revised points scale where the above factors are weighted depending on the type of qualification, length of work experience and/or your level of remuneration.

Talk to us about:

• The criteria, as some aspects are not as straight forward as they may seem.
• Common pitfalls that can prevent applicants from making a successful application.

Immigration

Green List: Straight to Residence and Work to Residence

New Zealand has implemented a Green List for highly skilled and in-demand workers with the aim of addressing ongoing skill shortages by making recruitment and retention easier for specific roles which are in shortage in New Zealand. The Green List is divided into Tier 1 ‘Straight to Residence’ and Tier 2 ‘Work to Residence’.

The main requirement for both tiers is the need to have a job, or job offer, in one of the occupations on the Green List and to meet the specified requirements for that occupation.

We can assist you with:

• Ensuring you meet the registration, qualification, or experience requirements.
• Advice on whether your particular role is a substantial match to an occupation on the Green List.

Immigration

Accredited Employer Work Visa

Whether you are an employer who is looking to recruit from overseas, or a potential employee who has been offered a full-time job in your field of expertise in New Zealand, you will need to understand the obligations of the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme, as it is the main type of work visa in New Zealand.

An Accredited Employer Work Visa allows the holder to work in New Zealand for an accredited employer for up to 5 years. However, the scheme continues to undergo significant changes as it attempts to balance New Zealand’s need for skilled workers while preventing migrant exploitation. It is therefore crucial that you seek up to date advice.

We can help you with:

• Ensuring you understand the necessary requirements at the time you apply.
• Providing guidance to employers as to how to become accredited and successfully recruit from overseas.
• At JB Morrison we can also provide you with employment law assistance to ensure you are fully compliant with your employer obligations. See our employment page.

Immigration

Study to Work Pathway

It can be a daunting situation finishing study as an internal student and not knowing how to transition into the work stage of your life in New Zealand. It can be even more difficult if you are not aware of what exactly you need to apply for.

Contact us to discuss:

• What your long-term options to work in New Zealand are.
• Formulating a plan to assist you in achieving residence, if that is your goal.

Immigration

Parent Category Visas

New Zealand’s Parent Resident Category uses a queue and ballot system to allow a strictly limited number of visas to be issued to parents of New Zealand residents or citizens each year.

Parents wishing for a more direct route can apply under the Parent Retirement Category which involves nominating investment funds and undertaking to invest them in New Zealand.

Our immigration lawyers are experienced in:

• Evaluating your situation and providing advice to make sure that your application has the highest chance of success.
• Advising and keeping you up to date as to how the changes to immigration policy will affect your eligibility.

Immigration

Work to Residence Pathways

Some roles and visa categories provide a pathway to residence once you have worked in the role in New Zealand for at least 2 years. Knowing that you have such a pathway can make the move to New Zealand easier for you and your family.

Get in touch with to us early in your journey to discuss:

• Whether the work to residence pathways are possibilities for you and the specific criteria you would need to meet.
• If you are not eligible, we can evaluate what other options might be available to you.

Immigration

Active Investor Plus Category Visas

New Zealand has introduced two simplified investment categories; Growth and Balanced. The new categories are designed to give investors more choice in regards to the type of risk and amount of investment required, with the ability to choose investments that are lower risk such as bonds, equities and even property development.

Talk to our immigration lawyers about:

• The potential for your investment proposal to meet Active Investor Plus requirements.
• Sound legal guidance in relation to the criteria to be met, the transfer of investment funds and timeframes, whether it be in respect of the Growth or Balanced category.

At JB Morrison, we can also provide you with commercial and business law expertise to support your application. See our business page.

Immigration

Entrepreneur Work and Residence Visas

If you have entrepreneurial skills and relevant business experience, you may want to migrate to New Zealand to establish or purchase your own business to work in. If that is the case, you will need to make an application for an Entrepreneur Work Visa and later, apply for an Entrepreneur Resident Visa.

Our immigration lawyers will assist with:

• Preparing a credible business plan and compiling all required supporting documentation.
• Lodging your application and communicating with Immigration New Zealand on your behalf.

In addition, JB Morrison is well equipped to provide legal advice in relation to setting up, or buying into, a business in New Zealand. See our business page.

Immigration

Partnership Work and Resident Visas

You may be wanting to bring your partner with you to New Zealand, or you may be the partner of a New Zealand resident or citizen wanting to joint your partner here. Either way, applications which are based on a partnership require careful preparation.

Our immigration lawyers can help you and your partner with:

• Guidance on the best application to make in your circumstances and the evidence which will be required.
• Advice on the specific criteria applying to you, such as English language requirements and minimum wage thresholds.

Immigration

Employer Accreditation Process

There are 3 steps in the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme process – employer accreditation, job check and the Accredited Employer Work Visa.

• In order to apply for an AEWV, the employer must first apply for and be granted employer accreditation.
• Once an employer has accreditation, they must apply for a job check in order to hire a migrant for that role. Before applying for a job check an employer may need to advertise to check there are no New Zealand citizens or residents available for the job.
• Once a job check is approved, a migrant can apply for an AEWV.

Under the AEWV there are a range of verification steps at the application process through the accreditation, job check and work visa steps, as well as post-accreditation checks.

Immigration

General Immigration Advice

At JB Morrison, our immigration lawyers offer advice in relation to all visa categories. We do not apply a one size fits all approach – we evaluate your situation and needs, explain to you whether there may be an issue and provide advice as to how best to proceed.

The immigration landscape changes rapidly, but our advice is up to date and comprehensive. Get in contact with our Immigration team to discuss the options available to you today.