Skilled migrants

From now on people who score 140 points or more in the skilled migrant category will automatically be allowed in.

Applicants with between 100 and 140 points who have a guaranteed job will also find it easier to gain residency.

Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said an additional three thousand places will be made available for the next two financial years.

He says the changes announced today will help employers needed to recruit skilled workers from overseas for their business growth.

- NEWSTALK ZB

Good news although finding a job first before getting the residency is kind of difficult (convincing potential employer)...

Pulsarblu

I read in our expat magazine that both Oz and NZ are trying to encourage more skilled people into their countries by amending the visa structure so it's more user friendly. Good news for a lot of people. Pity they haven't got a similar need for ageing parents. :icon_sad:

Aging parents, and I am one, will always be needed believe me. Have a lovely Christmas and a safe flight to the island.

[quote:5f8ddeea9a="Daisyspop"]Aging parents, and I am one, will always be needed believe me.[/quote:5f8ddeea9a]

Are the NZIS aware of this though? :icon_biggrin:

Thanks for the good wishes, Daisyspop. We're really looking forward to the trip now. Let's just hope I can stay out of trouble on the run up and there'll be no more mishaps.

There's more...
Skilled Migrant Category selection process changes
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The Minister of Immigration today announced changes to the Skilled Migrant Category selection process that will give priority to highly skilled migrants and those with jobs or job offers in New Zealand.
Applicants will continue to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for residence and gain points for their skills, qualifications, experience and other indicators of their ability to settle successfully in New Zealand.



Previously, the EOIs were then ranked and applicants meeting the set selection point were invited to apply for residence. Since September 2004, the set selection point has remained at 100.



Under the new selection process, highly talented migrants who score 140 points and above on their EOI for residence will automatically be selected from the pool and invited to apply for residence.



Applicants who score between 100 and 140 points and have a New Zealand job or job offer will be ranked and selected in sufficient numbers to meet the New Zealand Immigration Programme numbers for skilled and business migrants.



If enough places are available, other EOIs may be selected on the basis of specific criteria which the Minister of Immigration will set every six months.



Break in selections
There will be no selection of EOIs from the Pool between 22 December and 31 January 2006. The last selection under the ?old? selection mechanism will be on 21 December. The first selection under the ?new? selection mechanism will be on 1 February 2006.



Change to period that EOIs remain in the Pool
The period that EOIs remain in the Pool will increase from three months to six months.



Change to work to residence permit period
The period that applicants are granted a work to residence permit has been reduced from two years to six months. A provision has also been included to allow for the grant of a further work permit for a maximum additional period of three months, where the principal applicant has an offer of skilled employment but requires a further work permit to meet the three month requirement. This applies to applications for residence under the SMC received on or after 21 December 2005.



The two-year period still applies to applications received before 21 December 2005.



Some selected EOIs will not be invited to apply for residence
Expressions of Interest selected from the Pool on or before 21 December 2005 that:



on 21 December 2005 have not resulted in an invitation to apply for residence; and
do not include a claim for points for an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand or current skilled employment in New Zealand; and
have a claim of total points of 100 or 105

will not be invited to apply for residence on the basis of that EOI, unless the person expressing interest in that EOI is in New Zealand on 21 December 2005.



People affected may submit a further EOI to the Pool up to and including 21 June 2006. There will be no further fee payable. People who wish to submit an EOI in this manner need to contact the EOI team at eoiteam@dol.govt.nz.




Additional places for skilled migrants with job offers
Due to high demand for places under the SMC, an additional 3000 places will be available over the next two financial years for skilled migrants with offers of skilled employment. A further 1000 places will be made available to skilled migrants, taken from other immigration categories.



The new selection policy takes effect after today?s EOI selection. All EOIs received after this time will be selected on the basis of the new policy.



More information
For full details of the policy, see Amendment Circular No. 2005/12.



See also our questions and answers.



Our Operational Manual will be updated early in January 2006 to reflect these changes.

[quote:d4bf40897f="Mother Bear"]Let's just hope I can stay out of trouble on the run up and there'll be no more mishaps.[/quote:d4bf40897f]
So how is your ankle doing, Hopalong? Perhaps if you took some falling lessons, you could get a job as a stunt woman in Kiwi film. Zoe Bell and Andy Sirkis can't have all the fun.

Sorry read my topics the wrong way round. Look at my post in EOI section and help people :icon_biggrin: :icon_biggrin:

To avoid endless figure trawling. How significant is 3000 extra places? For comparison how many people got selected with job offers last year?

Obviously pretty important information for me as, without going to Uni again, a Job Offer is the ONLY way I'm getting PR in NZ :icon_sad: :icon_sad: Don't know what to think at the moment quite close to the end of a dream yet at face value nothings changed for me it seems.

The first report on this that I read implied that raising the passmark made things easier for those >140 but more difficult for those between 100-140. The original post here makes this sound like good news for everyone. I'm confused ... but that's not surprising! :icon_confused:

for what my two penny worth is worth, i reckon those with a job offer should be okay regardless..

Stevey, I can see why you might be a tad disappointed at this but as I've said, I think you will be okay when you get job is squared off.

don't let set backs like this stop you though mate..
remember those poor buggers in steerage in the 1800's..