Things We Wish Our Clients Knew Before Starting Their Visa Application Process
As your Immigration Adviser, it's my job to simplify your visa process and make it as stress-free for you as possible (and we're pretty good at it if you don't mind us saying so ourselves 😉).
With that said, here are some truths (and hard limits) that we wish our clients knew before starting their visa application process and embarking on their immigration journey.
Immigration isn't a one-size-fits-all process; everyone's experience varies, and visa outcomes depend on a client's personal circumstances.
Not everyone who wants to make New Zealand home is able to.
Applicants, Immigration Advisers, Lawyers, Case Officers, right up to the high-ranking Immigration Managers and Government officials, all must follow due process, immigration law & policy. There is no such thing as a “shortcut” or “getting a visa by favour”.
Honesty is always the best policy.
Character and medical issues can have an impact on visa eligibility, but it doesn’t automatically rule you out.
Visa processing timeframes vary and depend on several factors:
The type of visa - some categories take a bit longer to assess than others
Unforeseen complications that may arise during processing or extenuating circumstances that require further assessment
Immigration New Zealand’s workload
For most Skilled Residence Category applicants, English language requirements are unavoidable for the principal applicant (exceptions are in place for specific nationalities/tertiary study, etc.). Your partner and/or dependent children included in your application also need to meet the English requirements, but can pre-purchase ESOL.
Applying for a visa in New Zealand is costly. It is essential to be prepared financially before beginning the visa application process.
Being granted a work visa to live and work in New Zealand does not automatically make you eligible for a Residence Visa.
Questions? Get in touch today for a chat about your immigration journey.
