Business Visa

[essexgirl]

im not sure if this is the right place to put this but has anyone on here over 55 gone over on a business visa.

My mum is over 55 and it is the only way we can get her over she already runs her own business here.

Has anyone done it his way ? any advice ?

[Taffy]

As long as she has the experience, then the LTBV is a good route to go if all else is unobtainable. There are some specific rules to going this way, like having to employ kiwis etc. The idea is that if they let you run a business, it must contribute to the economy or society.

It's quite a tricky route to take though, so be prepared for a bit of work!

[macfod]

we aplied and my wife was the name on the application and she was 54 at the time..we have since changed it to her toyboy( thats me at 50) just to be sure when applying for residency...but they are very helpful...
but, its hard work so be prepared for little back as far as income.

[MotherBear]

With getting PR via the normal routes, once you have it and if you have it without any restrictions, you're free to do what you want i.e. work or not work and work at what you want to. However, with the LTBV, I believe you have to continue to slog at it for quite some time as they monitor your progress to make sure you're complying with their regulations and making a success of the business. It's certainly not a quick fix to get PR. If your mum wants to continue to run a business for several years, that would be OK. I've got it in my mind that they monitor you for 5 years, but I may be wrong. Certainly the original LTBV is for 3 years so I don't know if they keep an eye on you after that.

I guess, there's always the risk, if the business doesn't get off the ground, the opportunity to get PR could be snatched away again.

Edited to add: In here on page 20 it does mention about the 5 years for evaluation although it seems to imply it's an evaluation of the LTBV category itself rather than the applicant's business.

[fevziye99]

Originally Posted by MotherBear

With getting PR via the normal routes, once you have it and if you have it without any restrictions, you're free to do what you want i.e. work or not work and work at what you want to. However, with the LTBV, I believe you have to continue to slog at it for quite some time as they monitor your progress to make sure you're complying with their regulations and making a success of the business. It's certainly not a quick fix to get PR. If your mum wants to continue to run a business for several years, that would be OK. I've got it in my mind that they monitor you for 5 years, but I may be wrong. Certainly the original LTBV is for 3 years so I don't know if they keep an eye on you after that.

I guess, there's always the risk, if the business doesn't get off the ground, the opportunity to get PR could be snatched away again.

Edited to add: In here on page 20 it does mention about the 5 years for evaluation although it seems to imply it's an evaluation of the LTBV category itself rather than the applicant's business.

MB - on that line of thinking, if a person comes to NZ based on Skilled Immigration program, and they do NOT have a job, how is then a work permit issued? (I'm assuming, they would have to find a job, and then apply for a work permit)?

Which brings me to my 2nd question - what if once they arrive they decide not to work (no WP has been issued as of yet), but utilize their own skillset to open a business here - how will that change the entire equation? would a WP be issued on them being self-employed?

[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by fevziye99

MB - on that line of thinking, if a person comes to NZ based on Skilled Immigration program, and they do NOT have a job, how is then a work permit issued? (I'm assuming, they would have to find a job, and then apply for a work permit)?

Yes, that's right. You can't get a WP without a job offer. If you have a PR application underway and want to work, you can apply for a WP to allow you to work until the PR comes through.

Originally Posted by fevziye99

Which brings me to my 2nd question - what if once they arrive they decide not to work (no WP has been issued as of yet), but utilize their own skillset to open a business here - how will that change the entire equation? would a WP be issued on them being self-employed?

If you have PR you could do that but not without it. If you want to run your own business and don't have PR, you would need to apply for a Long Term Business Visa.

[macfod]

Entrepreneur Category
To be eligible for residence in New Zealand under our Entrepreneur Category, you need to have successfully established, and be self-employed or working in, a business that is benefiting New Zealand.
You may have applied for, and gained, a Long Term Business Visa or Permit so that you could establish the business, and now wish to apply for residence. Or you may have held a Work Permit granted under another category that allowed you to establish your own business and you now want to apply for residence.



If so, you:



must have established, purchased, or made a substantial investment of at least 25 per cent in a business operating in New Zealand
must have been self employed or, if you’re a part-owner, have worked, in that business for two years before you apply for residence as an entrepreneur
or any partner or children who are with you must not have sought social welfare assistance.

This is what I understand is the situation.