WARNING: Bring EVERYTHING with you!

Hi guys,

We went to the Immigration Office today to apply for work visas (cos I've got a job offer - Yay! ::): ), and thought we'd have no problem cos we'd been really organised and brought everything with us from the UK and got my new job contract and employer form filled out etc. Or so I thought....

We're applying for a work permit through my job being on the POL (IT Project Manager for a web company) - and Darren's applying for a general work permit on the back of mine (through our 'de facto' relationship). Sounds simple. BUT....

To prove the length of our relationship (4 years) we needed to show some, if not all of the following:

Joint bank accounts dating back [b:b6a0cef7ea]at least[/b:b6a0cef7ea] a year
Mortgage statements as far back as poss
Bills in both our names
Council Tax statements as far back as poss
Letters from friends, family (and people in 'authorative positions' if poss) stating that they have known us as a couple for x years
Photos from over the years :icon_eek: icon_exclaim.gif

We took a letter from the bank stating that our joint account had been open for over 2 years, a joint bank account statement and a copy of our tenancy agreement for the house we've just rented here (to prove we're planning to be together once we're here cos that's another thing you have to prove!!), but this wasn't enough.

Also, the immigration officer questioned the fact that I could be considered under the POL. (Despite the fact that my employer-to-be phoned the office yesterday to ask about the form she was filling in and [i:b6a0cef7ea][b:b6a0cef7ea]they told her[/b:b6a0cef7ea][/i:b6a0cef7ea] that the job is on the POL...). Plus - [b:b6a0cef7ea]You need to make sure that your qualification is [i:b6a0cef7ea]exactly [/i:b6a0cef7ea]related to your job[/b:b6a0cef7ea] if you're going through the POL, and if it's not, that you can justify that it is. (My degree is New Media Production, but I 'managed projects' throughout the course and spent my final year managing a team of 5 on my major project - she eventually accepted this!).

So, to cut a long story short, after thinking we had everthing they'd need to see, we don't! We now have to spend the evening phoning our ex-local council, mortgage companies, solicitor who handled our house purchase 2 years ago etc. to get them to send us confirmation letters. Wonder how long that'll take.... I expect it'd be easier to get married!! :icon_wink:

Anyway, that aside, we put our EOI in yesterday for the next draw, so who knows - we might have residency by the time they approve our work permits!! Ha!

So just a warning - bring [b:b6a0cef7ea]EVERYTHING [/b:b6a0cef7ea]with you that could be used to prove [b:b6a0cef7ea]ANYTHING [/b:b6a0cef7ea]you are stating in your applications!

Jod
:icon_evil:

Hi Jodi, Congrats on your new job! :icon_biggrin:

Thanks for the tip, me and Frodo are in the same boat (although you never know what might happen between then and now) re: 'defacto'.

Hope you get it all sorted.

Milliemoo :icon_wink:

Hi Jodie,

I think even if you got married, you still need to prove you've been together for at least 12 months, and have some kind of future!

But as a tip, NZIS are quite happy to accept letters from friends stating they have known you to be in your relationship for however long you've been together.

[jamesthecarman]

Or just find a Kiwi to marry :icon_razz:

[Lisa]

Tut Tut James :011:

Lisa :icon_razz:

[Jodie]

Don't know what Darren would say about that one!! :icon_lol: