November 23, 2017
This blog explores some of the aspects of immigration law and how it affects people already in New Zealand who want their partners to join them. In order to obtain a visa through partnership, the couple must be “living together in a genuine and stable relationship”. For more information, refer to our blog – Partnership Visas – how can you prove that you are living together in a genuine and stable relationship. Many clients ask us what length of time they need o have lived together in the same physical residence before submitting their visa application. There is no set […]
November 16, 2017
If you have recently submitted an application for a temporary or residence visa, you may receive a letter from Immigration New Zealand requesting for further information. If Immigration New Zealand holds concern about your application, they will ask you to clarify and respond to their concerns and submit additional supporting evidence. These are referred to as “PPI Letters” and can often be the cause of great panic to an applicant. A PPI Letter will deal with concerns regarding your ability to meet one or more of the requirements of the visa. This could include, for example, your bona fides (genuineness), […]
November 14, 2017
For many immigrants to New Zealand, the ultimate goal is to become a citizen. It is understandable because there are certain privileges only available to a citizen such as to hold a New Zealand passport and to represent New Zealand in international events. Some public service jobs are reserved for New Zealand citizens only. Transiting from a resident to a citizen may seem straightforward – an applicant must be resident of New Zealand for at least 5 years, be present in New Zealand for a significant period during the 5 year period, be of good character, have sufficient knowledge of […]
November 13, 2017
We often see stories where the local community is rallying around a well-loved migrant when their visa has been declined. While we empathise with those we read about, it is clear that there is a lack of understanding of immigration policies and procedures. If you don’t want to find yourself in the same position, it pays to obtain professional advice to ensure that you know what you need to do when applying for your next visa. Many people speak of “renewing their visa”. This can be misleading because, technically, there is no such thing as a visa renewal in New […]
November 8, 2017
Several Queen City Law lawyers including Principal Marcus Beveridge, Associate Bradley So, Consultant Jack Cheng and Solicitor Shi Sheng Cai (Shoosh) were invited to present at the Legalwise Immigration Law Intensive: Key Changes seminar. The seminar was a great success. Marcus Beveridge the post chairman of NZAMI and immediate convenor of the New Zealand Immigration and Refugee Law committee chaired the presentation and was warmly received by approximately 60 or so lawyers in attendance. Queen City Law lawyers, Bradley, Jack and Shoosh presented on 3 topics. Bradley provided an overview of Investor Category updates and “Hoops and Hurdles” in […]
November 3, 2017
New Zealand welcomes foreign investment. It is a country with an open economy which provides plenty of opportunity for investors with capital, entrepreneurial track record and international connections. The World Bank reports that New Zealand has been ranked as the easiest place to do business out of 185 countries. Ranking highly on the ease of doing business index means a country’s regulatory environment is more conducive to starting and operating a firm. This post is looking at some of the investments in New Zealand that are considered acceptable by Immigration New Zealand and its relation to the Overseas Investment Office […]
November 1, 2017
If you are a happy couple looking to migrate to New Zealand or if Immigration New Zealand is doubting your relationship, you should take the time to read this post. Partnership Visas – what relationship evidence do I need in order to prove that I am “living together in a genuine and stable relationship” with my partner? The partnership visa is a great way to bring your loved one to your side. It can enable your partner to obtain either residency or an open work visa. To do so, you need to prove to Immigration New Zealand that you are […]
October 30, 2017
Limited Visas are often granted to people that have a potential risk of remaining in New Zealand unlawfully after their visa expires. It is Immigration New Zealand’s way of giving you an opportunity to come to New Zealand for an express purpose even when they see potential risks within your application. This often happens if Immigration New Zealand believes that you are not a “bona fide” applicant (for example, you have not traveled to New Zealand before or do not have sufficient ties to your home country). If your Limited Visa is due to expire, read on and find out […]
October 27, 2017
“I have a new job, but I still have a lot of time left before my current visa expires, can I update my work visa using a variation of conditions?” Things do not always go to plan, sometimes you can find yourself in a situation where you have finally gained a work visa but your employment situation has not worked out or you have found an even better opportunity. If you hold a work visa that states your position, the company you are working for and the region where you are currently working, you will have to update this before […]