Indo-New Zealand Immigration Consultancy

Immigration questions_

•What is Immigration ?

Immigration is the act of coming to a foreign country to live. Throughout history, people have moved from country to country for many reasons. Many immigrants have an easier adjustment if they settle near others from their homeland. Through the years, a number of large cities have developed ethnic neighborhoods, many of whose residents are immigrants from the same country.

Immigration Policies

The extent to which any country allows immigration depends on how much that country needs to attract new citizens. Australia and New Zealand require immigrants.

Immigration to most countries is now based on a quota system so that the number of immigrants from any particular country or region is restricted. Skilled persons can apply for immigration under 2 categories (1) Independent - one who does not have a close blood relative. (2) Family sponsorship - one who is sponsored by a close blood relative, who is a citizen of that respective country. There are changes to the points system from time to time to regulate the intake and meet the quota system. Immigrants qualify according to preferences, often calculated on a points system. Points are awarded for job skills, age, education, language ability and personal factors.

Top

•What are the basic Immigrant Categories?

There are four main categories for residence applications to New Zealand: General Skills, Business Investor, Family, and Humanitarian.

•Why does Australia and New Zealand require immigrants ?

Australia and New Zealand are young and dynamic countries where immigration is the foundation for economic growth. They invite immigrants between the ages of 20 and 45 as there is a growing demand for skilled personnel (Professionals/Trades persons) to join the work force. Since they are unable to meet this requirement within their country, the Governments of these countries have promulgated a policy which allows the citizens of the world to settle permanently and partake of the economic growth and prosperity of their country.

•What income support do I need to have to successfully immigrate?

Sufficient personal resources to support yourself and your dependants for the first 24 months in NZ are expected. New permanent residents are not eligible for benefit from NZ Income Support in these first 2 years, except in emergency cases.

•Within how much time after the Immigration application is approved, do I have to move to New Zealand ?

Generally within One year of the grant of visa, but the final arrival in New Zealand can be delayed by another two years provided the applicant enters the country once, and gets a Returning Resident Visa.

Top

•Do I Need To Pay Settlement Fees?

Once your residence application is approved in principle, you may be required to pay a settlement information fee and a migrant levy.

Settlement Information Fee

Migrant Levy
If these fees are payable, they must be paid before your residence visa is issued or residence permit is granted.

Settlement Information Fee

A settlement information fee of NZ$90 applies to all successful principal or sole applicants whose residence application is approved.

This applies to all categories of residence application, except the following:

Refugees, and
Citizens of Samoa.
Migrant Levy
A migrant levy of NZ$235 for each person (up to a maximum of NZ$940 per application) applies to all successful principal applicants and accompanying family members under the following categories:

General Skills; and
Business Investor; and
Entrepreneur; and
Employees of Relocating Businesses.
Under the Family category, a migrant levy of NZ$125 for each person (up to a maximum of NZ$500 per application) applies to all successful principal applicants and accompanying family members.

However, this levy will not apply to applicants under the Family category who are citizens of Samoa or people applying on the basis of their relationship to a person granted residence under the special policy for refugees.

Top

•How long does the process take?

In regard to the preparation of your documentation, after you have received our formal instructions, the process normally takes between 4 and 10 weeks for you to gather the documents we require and a further 8-10 weeks for us to prepare, lodge and process your residence case. Processing times are often dependent on where the case is lodged, which officer is processing it and whether or not any problems arise.

Once the application is approved you will be generally be granted around 12 months from that date to enter New Zealand.

Most of our clients therefore retain our services for between one and two years. The first year is to get the paperwork correct and the visas issued and the second year is spent assisting clients with the settlement process.

Application related questions Which family members can be included in the principal applicant's immigration application?

A spouse who is legally married to the principal applicant may be included in the application. A de facto partner may be included if the principal applicant and de facto partner have been living in a genuine and stable relationship for at least two years at the time of application. A de facto partner is a partner in a heterosexual or homosexual relationship.

A dependent child (whether natural or adopted) of the principal applicant or spouse/partner may be included in the application for permanent residence, if he/she :

Top

1. (a) is single and aged 17 to 19 years: and

(b) has no children of their own; and

(c) is totally or substantially reliant on the principal applicant or spouse/partner for financial support, whether living with them or not.

Or

2. (a) is aged 16 or younger; and

(b) is single; and

(c) is totally or substantially reliant on the principal applicant or spouse/partner for financial support, whether living with them or not.

If the parents of a dependent child included in NZ residence( immigration) application are separated or divorced, the applicant parent must have the right to remove the dependent child from the country in which rights of custody or visitation have been granted.

Top

•Which documents must I include with my application?

You must include the:

--Fully completed application form;

--Correct application processing fee

--Passports or travel documents for yourself and each family member included in the application;

--Two passport-size photographs of each person in the application;

--An original (or certified copy) of each person’s full Birth Certificate. Full birth certificates must include the names of both the child and its parents. Adoption papers for adopted dependent children;

Top

--Original or certified copy of marriage certificate, if applicable;

--Police certificates for every person 17 years and older in the application. You must submit:

--A police certificate from your country of citizenship

--certificates from every country in which you have spent more than 12 months in the past 10 years;

--completed Medical and X-Ray certificates (these must be less than 3 months old);

--Proof of English language ability;

Evidence required for application in certain categories (see below)

--Documentation of the qualification for which you are claiming points;

Top

--Proof of work experience: this can include letters of reference, pay slips, contracts, job specifications, job assessments, tax records;

--Letters/contracts offering employment, if applicable;

--Proof of settlement funds, if you intend to claim points in this category;

--Proof of relationship to you relatives in New Zealand, if claiming family sponsorship;

--Assessment of spouse’s qualifications, if applicable

•Who can qualify ?

Persons between 18 & 45 years for Australia
Persons between 18 & 55 years for New Zealand
Managers, Administrators, Professionals with Degrees
Associate Professionals with Diplomas
Trades persons with trade certificates and/or extensive work experience

Top

•What is the adult minimum wage in New Zealand?

All employees aged 16 years or more must be paid the statutory minimum wage. For employees aged between 16-19 years this is $4.55 per hour, $182.00 for a forty hour week. For employees aged 20 or more, this is $7.55 per hour, $302.00 for a forty hour week.

If an employee is provided with board and lodging, a deduction of 15% for board and 5% for lodging can be made.

•Do I Need To Pay Settlement Fees?

Once your residence application is approved in principle, you may be required to pay a settlement information fee and a migrant levy.

Settlement Information Fee
Migrant Levy
If these fees are payable, they must be paid before your residence visa is issued or residence permit is granted.

Settlement Information Fee

A settlement information fee of NZ$90 applies to all successful principal or sole applicants whose residence application is approved.

This applies to all categories of residence application, except the following:

Refugees, and
Citizens of Samoa.
Migrant Levy
A migrant levy of NZ$235 for each person (up to a maximum of NZ$940 per application) applies to all successful principal applicants and accompanying family members under the following categories:

General Skills; and
Business Investor; and
Entrepreneur; and
Employees of Relocating Businesses.
Under the Family category, a migrant levy of NZ$125 for each person (up to a maximum of NZ$500 per application) applies to all successful principal applicants and accompanying family members.

However, this levy will not apply to applicants under the Family category who are citizens of Samoa or people applying on the basis of their relationship to a person granted residence under the special policy for refugees.

•Which family members can be included in the principal applicant's immigration application?

A spouse who is legally married to the principal applicant may be included in the application. A de facto partner may be included if the principal applicant and de facto partner have been living in a genuine and stable relationship for at least two years at the time of application. A de facto partner is a partner in a heterosexual or homosexual relationship.

A dependent child (whether natural or adopted) of the principal applicant or spouse/partner may be included in the application for permanent residence, if he/she :

1. (a) is single and aged 17 to 19 years: and

(b) has no children of their own; and

(c) is totally or substantially reliant on the principal applicant or spouse/partner for financial support, whether living with them or not.
Or

2. (a) is aged 16 or younger; and

(b) is single; and

(c) is totally or substantially reliant on the principal applicant or spouse/partner for financial support, whether living with them or not.

If the parents of a dependent child included in NZ residence( immigration) application are separated or divorced, the applicant parent must have the right to remove the dependent child from the country in which rights of custody or visitation have been granted.

Pointes test questions

Top

Duration

Normally each of the above mentioned countries have standard procedures that differ one to another hence leading to a different time schedule for processing an immigration application from initial lodgement to visa grant. This does not include the time taken to obtain Assessment of Qualifications, English Language Test, Medical Examinations, which are required for up-front loading of an application with the respective High Commission. This will depend mostly on how soon the applicant can comply with necessary documentation etc.

The approximate processing times experienced by us are as follows : AUSTRALIA 10 to 12 months
NEW ZEALAND 6 to 8 months

The above are only indicative and do not reflect the actual process that the Immigration office undertakes. This could vary on a case-to-case basis and depends on the existing work load and policies that are introduced.

The Points Test

Who can qualify is determined by a "Points Test", where points are awarded on various factors such as Employability and Level of Skill, Education, Years of Experience, Proficiency in English and Sponsorship (for those who are sponsored by close blood relatives). The points test is a scale which is used by the Visa Officer to determine whether an applicant qualifies for migration or not. It is important to note that the 'points test' undergoes changes from time to time and one has to study well, one's chances of qualifying and should lodge an application when the situation is favourable. A formal Assessment is mandatory, prior to lodging an application.

Top

Preliminary Assessment with relation to ‘Points test’

The process of assessment requires a thorough understanding of laws and regulations which are regularly being revised and policies and procedures which are modified to meet the objectives of the current Government of the day. To ensure that your application would likely succeed, we undertake a preliminary assessment of your Résumé, based on the current 'points test', considering each factor as mentioned above and will advise if you are to proceed with lodging an application. If married, please photocopy the enclosed Assessment Questionnaire, fill in details of your spouse and return to us with applicable documents and assessment fee requested herein. The assessment fee includes an assessment for your spouse also and is applicable for Australia & New Zealand.

If the reader of the above text wishes to engage our services, we shall be most pleased to be of assistance, in handling your case for the entire process of migration, starting with a preliminary assessment, up to lodging an application, obtaining your visa, and ensuring you a BON VOYAGE.

List of Enclosures required for a Preliminary Assessment from Applicant /Spouse:

1. Assessment Questionnaire duly completed.
2. Photocopies of educational qualifications/Employment certificates
3. Detailed job description of each employment (indicate designation)
4. Non-refundable fee of Rs. 3,000/- in favour of Taurus Infotek,Pune, towards forwarding charges and other administrative costs.

•How are points for work experience calculated?

Points for work experience are calculated on the basis of 1 point for every 2 complete years' work experience that is relevant to the qualification claimed. Note that the work must be relevant, in the mind of the immigration officer, to the qualification for which points have been claimed. Work experience must be full-time which, for immigration purposes, is considered to be 30 hours or more per week. Work experience at less than 30 hours per week can be accumulated to the point that it equates to a full-time equivalent. Extra work experience points can be claimed for work experience in New Zealand.

Top

English langue questions

•What is IELTS?

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, and this is the standard that the NZIS have decided will act as definitive proof to them of the English language ability of applicants for residence under General Skills and Business Investor categories only.

•Which IELTS examination do I need to sit?

There are two tests within the IELTS system: academic and general. The NZIS will accept either test result. For NZIS purposes, the general test is acceptable, but the academic will also be accepted. Applicants who need occupational registration, may be required to sit the academic test, and should check this out in advance, with the appropriate body.

How can the minimum standard of English be met and what exactly does "English Background" mean? And what are the documents required for proof?

Where the minimum standard of English is applicable, it can be met in one of two ways. Applicants are required to either provide a current IELTS certificate which shows a minimum band score of 4 (for Business policies) or 5 (for General Skills Category) in each of the 4 components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) of the IELTS General or Academic Module.

Alternatively the minimum standard can also be met by providing evidence that an applicant has an "English speaking background". This is defined as completion of combination of primary, secondary and tertiary education at institutions using English as the medi1um of instruction. An applicant is also considered to have English speaking background if they have been lawfully employed full-time in an occupation in New Zealand for a minimum of 12 months and English was the language of employment.

Top

•Do I Need To Meet English Language Requirements?

General Skills Category
Business Categories
ESOL Pre-purchase
Family Category Applicants
General Skills Category
Principal Applicants
All principal applicants must meet the specified standard of English language if applying under the General Skills category. You must therefore provide either:

a Test Report Form (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged) from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), showing achievement of an "Overall Band" score of 5 or higher in the IELTS General or Academic Modules; or
evidence that you have an English speaking background. A full list of acceptable evidence of having an English speaking background is found in the Guide to Applying for Residence in New Zealand; or
evidence which satisfies a visa or immigration officer that, taking into consideration that evidence and all the circumstances of the application, you meet the minimum standard of English. Some examples of such evidence are found in the Guide to Applying for Residence in New Zealand.

Top

Note: Even though evidence of an English-speaking background or evidence of circumstances which suggest that you meet the minimum standard of English is provided, you may still be required to provide an IELTS certificate. In such cases, the IELTS certificate will be used to determine whether the minimum standard of English is met.

Your residence application will be declined if you, the principal applicant do not meet the minimum standard of English.

You may instead pre-purchase English language tuition (ESOL) and be approved if you:

have been working lawfully in New Zealand for the 12 months prior to the date your residence application is lodged; and
meet all other residence requirements for approval.
Non-Principal Applicants
All accompanying family members aged 16 years and over included in General Skills category applications may either show they meet the minimum standard of English or pre-purchase English language tuition (ESOL).

Business Categories (Excluding Long Term Business Visa)
Principal and Non-Principal Applicants
All principal applicants and accompanying family members aged 16 years and over must either meet the specified standard of English or pre-purchase ESOL tuition if applying for residence under the Business categories.

Under the Business categories, you meet the minimum standard of English if you provide either:

a Test Report Form (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged) from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), showing achievement of a minimum band score of 4 or higher in each of the 4 components of the IELTS General or Academic Modules; or
evidence that you have an English speaking background. A full list of acceptable evidence of having an English speaking background is found in the Guide to Applying for Residence in New Zealand; or
evidence which satisfies a visa or immigration officer that, taking into consideration that evidence and all the circumstances of the application, you meet the minimum standard of English.

Top

ESOL tuition is pre-purchased from Skill New Zealand by paying the required charge to the New Zealand Immigration Service. The charge includes New Zealand Immigration Service and Skill New Zealand administration costs.

If your application is approved but you are required to pre-purchase ESOL tuition, New Zealand Immigration Service will advise you of the amount of ESOL tuition charge to be paid. You have six months to pay this tuition charge. Your Residence Visa or Residence Permit will only be issued after this payment is made.

Failure to pre-purchase the ESOL tuition within the specified time frame may result in your application being declined.