3 Common Visa Mistakes Employers Make and How to Avoid Them
Hiring staff from offshore can be tricky, especially if you don't have your ducks in a row. Be prepared and informed about the hiring process to avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes.
Here are three common visa mistakes employers make and how to avoid them:
1. Not making a genuine effort to recruit locally
It's important that locals get first priority for job opportunities in New Zealand and that your company has genuinely tried to advertise the role in New Zealand and engage with and interview local candidates. Hiring offshore candidates is a last resort when you can't find locals to fill the position. It’s worth noting that Immigration New Zealand will also consider this during their visa assessment.
2. Not assessing the skill level of the role within the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) framework
The skill level of all occupations across every industry is currently assessed under ANZSCO. Occupations under Level 1 - 3 are considered skilled (with Level 1 being the highest), while levels 4 and 5 are considered less skilled. ANZSCO evaluates the skill level needed for a job rather than assessing the skills of individual workers.
Before you offer a job to an offshore candidate, it's important that you assess the ANZSCO skill level of the role. The job's ANZSCO skill level/classification will affect the duration of the visa, pathway to residence, whether or not the candidate can bring their partner and/or children with them under a Partnership Visa, etc. It's worth noting that there are exceptions and grey areas in the assessment of ANZSCO classifications.
3. Not keeping track of overseas staff’s work visa expiry date
Technically, the employee and visa holder are responsible for keeping track of their work visa expiration date. However, if your employee continues to work for your company, it is important to ensure that their visa is up-to-date and relevant to their current occupation, as this will impact your company's compliance with NZ immigration and employment law. We recommend setting a reminder at least three months before their visa expires.
Questions? Shoot us an email at hello@nothandco.com or phone Arno on +64 22 641 9411
