[quote:bbd9f5591c="hannahgail001"]So did you simply travel to NZ and then look for a job? My husband and I are trying to move to NZ and I was told the best way to short circuit the long immigration process was to travel over there and look for a job on vacation.[/quote:bbd9f5591c]

Yeah, its a shortcut. Can be stressful though. I had lots of companies that would have liked to have hired me if I already had a general purpose work visa or residency. But they didn't want to go through the immigration hassles (shortcut for them is to hire only people not needing sponsorship).

You do have the issue of them having to show proof that you are more qualified than any Kiwis they may have interviewed. This clause is waved with priority occupational positions (i.e. IT, Medical). And special shortage situations (Queenstown needs people at the resorts/attractions).

You can extend your VV up to 9 months (have a CCard with at least 9K each avail? That will show you can support yourself)

[b:bbd9f5591c]Visitors Visa/Work Visa[/b:bbd9f5591c] - You can't "work" on a Visitors Visa. You can look for work while on one, and then once you have the job offer submit for a Work Visa.

I didn't personally work under the table. NZ Embassy did tell me that people do it a lot though! (Sorry Taffy, so much for no comment. I'm still a little peeved at them :icon_wink: )They are the ones that told me I didn't need any paper work to work and a one way ticket was ok!

Don't get kicked out of the country like I almost did on your first day - Have a "proposed" return flight for 3 months after you get there on paper. You can decide later to pay for your ticket, extend your visa, etc. They luckily gave me a week to get that sorted since Qantas was closed at that time of morning.

Don't leave your valuables in a car at a car park. You may get them stolen, and be without a passport and look kind of shady when telling immigration that you can't get your visa stamped because you don't have your passport b/c it got stolen, conveniently in that first week.

Hmm, I smell another edition to the Carman Kiwi Comic coming up. An informational "what not to do" when you first get to NZ. The first edition is the Carman Crime Wave - http://movetonz.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=400

[b:bbd9f5591c]TIP[/b:bbd9f5591c]

I did volunteer, unpaid, at a non profit organization to get some NZ experience, and to just do something with my time. They have a pretty extensive network if you want to try that route. Great for networking, getting to know some Kiwis, and doing something worthwhile. http://volunteeringnz.org.nz/