Help at hand to tackle visa inquiries
Full reopening of borders has more people wanting to come here for work and play
It’s been a long time but at last NewZealand’s borders are fully open. This meanstravelling in and out of the country is back to pre-Covid days. The maritime border isnowopen and eligible travellers can enterNew Zealand by sea. The cruise ships are back and, although there still seems to be somehealth risk in being on board, the tourists are coming.
Openborders alsomeanvisa waiver travellers and work, working holiday, visitor and student visa holders can leave and return to NZ, if their visa conditions allow for this.
Citizens Advice Bureau Napier are oncemore getting clients asking questions relating to living inNZ.
So, what do all thesedifferent visas mean?
Avisitor visa will allow you to stay inNewZealand forup to nine months.
If you wish to stay longer than your visitor visa allows, youmaybe able to apply for a further three months’ stay (you mustdo this before the current one expires).
Thismeans you can stay inNZ for upto 12 months.
The process for applying for a three-month extension to your visa is the sameas for applying for a visitor visa for the first time.
First you need an idea ofhowlong you plan to stay andwhyyou want to visit (for example, for a short holiday, to study, to work).
Youcan then look at the ImmigrationNewZealand website for information about what your visa options are.
Youcan also find out the conditions of your chosen visa, the eligibility criteria, application process and fees.
Youcan apply for your visa online or by completing the appropriate printed application formandsending it (along with the relevant documents) to the nearest receiving office (for example a Visa Application Centre, if you are applying from overseas).
There are several different work visa categories for peoplewhowant to work temporarily in NZ.
The eligibility criteria, conditions and application requirementsdiffer depending on the visa.
Onthe ImmigrationNewZealand website there is anonline tool to check which kind of work visa you could apply for.
Whatyour options are depends on whether you already have a job offer, which country you are from according to your passport, and your age. Using the online tool, you can also see a side-by-side comparison of the eligibility criteria, conditions and what the visas allow youto do.
Someof thekeyworkvisa categories are:
■ Accredited employer work visa— if you have a job offer from an accredited employer (this visa replaces the essential skills work visa).
■ Specific purpose or event work visa— if youneed tocometoNZfor a specific event or purpose.
■ Post-study work visa— allowsyou to work here if you have completed a qualification inNewZealand.
If applying online, you will need aRealMe account. If you need to apply using a paper form, you can download it, and the corresponding guide and checklist, from the ImmigrationNewZealand website.
Makesureyou check what kinds of documentation you will need to provide along with your application.
Read the webpage about the visa you are applying for, carefully, to check what you need to apply.
Different people have different needs, though, and there aremany variables.
For example, recently a client askedCABabout the best and easiest wayto bring a familymemberinto the country.
There is another type of visa called a partner of anewzealander resident visa.
This visa allows you get family memberstoNZand forthem to stay indefinitely. Youmust be either aNZ citizen or resident to apply for this visa. You don’t have to be living in NZto apply but you do have toshow that youhave been living together outside ofNZfor five years or more.
Your partner will need to be either overseaswhenyou apply or have been back inNZfor less than three months.
Another visa is called a child of a worker visitor visa.
If you have a work visa your dependent children can visityou in NewZealand with this visa and study forup to three months.
They must be 19 years or under. Youcan apply for visas for your children at the sametime youapply for your work visa.
Your children will only be granted visas after yourownapplication is approved. However, if you want your children to study formorethan three months, they’ll need student visas.
Information about eligibility, how muchit costs, andhowto apply is on the immigration.govt.nz website or go to theCABwebsite, cab.org.nz, and type in “how do I apply for a visa to cometoNewZealand?”
If this sounds rather daunting or complicated, volunteers atCAB Napier can help you get the right information or fill out forms.
Ifmoreassistance is required, we can put you in touch with our volunteer Chris, whohas a special interest in immigration inquiries.
Wealso have an immigration adviserwhovisits our bureau every second Monday. So, if Chris can’t help with your issue then our immigration adviser can.
Sometimes it’s reassuring to talk to someone, either face to face, or on the phone. CABare here to help.
Anyone needing advice can contact the Napier Citizens Advice Bureau in Bower House, Bower St, Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm. At present we are still seeing people face to face so pop in or call us on 06 835 9664 or 0800 367 222. Alternatively, you can email on napier@cab.org.nz. Confidentiality is assured.