Submitting an Expression of Interest is the first step to applying for a Skilled Migrant visa category. The form outlines your general background information and consists of a skilled worker point system. You must claim points on the basis of your age, qualifications, skills, work experience, and (close relative in New Zealand) etc. The first section of the form requires standard immigration information to help Immigration New Zealand ensure that you are of good character, fall in the defined age bar, are in good health, and that you do not present any security risk to New Zealand and its citizens.
Once you submit your Expression of Interest against your Skilled Migrant visa, it is then put into the selection pool in case you have a job offer or your points total up to 100 or more. Applicants with 140 points or more are automatically selected to apply for the skilled worker immigration visa category. If there still remain some vacancies, Immigration New Zealand selects as many additional applicants with 100 points or more as possible during their fortnight selections.
Information on the Expression of Interest form is thoroughly check and verified at this stage. Applications with misleading information or those that are incomplete are rejected and send back to the applicant. On the other hand, selected applicants are sent an Invitation to Apply.
Applicants who have been selected from the EOI pool are sent an official Invitation to Apply (ITA) At this stage, the applicants will be required to furnish evidences against the claims made in their Expression of Interest form including police clearance certificates, medical reports, proof of English language proficiency and other documents related to your education, skills, work and experience, passports and the applicable fees.
Once an application has been received, it is assessed for New Zealand’s Permanent Residence. Apart from verifying that the applicant meets all the skilled migrant visa requirements, he/she is further assessed on his/her intended ability to settle successfully in New Zealand. At this stage, some applicants may also be called for a round of interview at the New Zealand Embassy.
If an applicant successfully passes all the over mentioned stages and has proved his/her ability to settle in New Zealand and contribute significantly to its economy, the applicant is offered a residence visa or permit. Some applicants may receive a work to residence permit instead, which will give them a period of nine months to obtain employment in New Zealand.
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An amalgamation of excellent working environment, comprehensive policy framework, high growth opportunities and diversified market place, New Zealand is among the most lucrative destinations for establishing a business or investing in an existing one. The Government of New Zealand has designed special business immigration visa categories that allow foreign entrepreneurs and investors to come to the nation and contribute significantly to the country’s economy.
There are mainly three types of visas that are offered by Immigration New Zealand under the business visa category.
- Investor Visa
- Entrepreneur Work Visa.
- Employees of Relocating Businesses