WP through Family stream.

[Cfrances]

Hi everyone,
I would really appreciate any advice or comments on my situation

I had a working holiday visa for i year and that expired in June but because I have a fixed term contact that ends in Sept I was issued a temporary work permit until then. My partner has a working holiday visa which also expires in Sept.
We are thinking of staying on for another year. His job is listed on the skills shortage list and his employer would like him to stay on for another year. However after Sept I will have no offer of employment. We are thinking of doing the following:
My partner will apply for a temporary wp under the essential skills policy and at the same time I will apply for a wp under the family policy as I am his partner. Sorry for the long winded story ( this immigration stuff is pretty complicated). I would be so grateful for any advice/thoughts on this. Is is likely I will get a wp throught the family policy if I dont have an offer of employment? Is it likely he will even get one either as the recession hits NZ?

Any thoughts welcomed!

[MotherBear]

I think you are going along the right track although you can do it via the temporary work permit/partnership route rather than the Family Category. If your partner gets his WP and it is for more than 6 months, you can get a WP off his back, so to speak. I don't think it means you HAVE to work, but it will buy you some time to look for another job.

Your partner holds a New Zealand work permit

If your partner holds a work permit for more than six months we may grant you a work permit for the same length of time your partner is allowed to work in New Zealand.

You must show that you are in a genuine and stable relationship with your partner. Your partner must:

* be eligible to sponsor you
* meet the character requirement for partners supporting partnership-based temporary entry applications’
* intend to be in New Zealand for the period you apply for in your application
* provide a completed Form for partners supporting partnership based temporary entry applications (INZ 1146) PDF.

From here.

[Cfrances]

Thank you for your advice mother bear and luckily you have pointed out something crtical that I have missed!

My parther has been offered a six month contract now and I have just seen that:

Your partner holds a New Zealand work permit

If your partner holds a work permit for more than six months we may grant you a work permit for the same length of time your partner is allowed to work in New Zealand.


I wonder do they mean six months or more or more than six months ( as in 7 months would do)?

thanks

[MotherBear]

It could be that INZ would only grant work permits in lumps of 6 months i.e. 6 months, 12 months, 18 months etc.