Overview, Description & Tips: Interview Questions (NZ Visa - Skilled Migrant Category)

Who gets interviewed?
     - applicants who do not have job offer in NZ

Purpose of the interview
     - for the immigration to have an idea of the applicants' preparedness for migration and to check that expectations for their move to NZ are realistic

Focus of the interview
    - employment prospects in NZ and ability to gain skilled employment

Duration of the interview

   - 30 to 45 minutes

Description:

Part 1 - Identity Questions

     This is just to ensure the case officer is talking to the right person. These include birthplace, educational attainment and birthdate.

Getting a New Zealand Visa

The process in applying for a visa varies depending on the type of visa you want to apply for and the visa type you want will greatly depend on your current situation and your purpose. 
Questions have to be answered before starting with your application. Do you just want to tour around NZ or work here for a specific period? Do you want to study in NZ? Are you a businessman and wants to put up your own business here? Are you a  skilled worker? Do you want to migrate to NZ?

There are many options to get an NZ visa and the first step we took was to visit the Immigration NZ website. The site's interface made it easier for us to process our application. In our case, we applied directly to INZ since having an agency to take care of an application costs more.  The INZ website is pretty much direct and the instructions are generally easy to understand and follow. With the help of our friends who already made it to NZ, friends assisted by agencies and NZ visa-related forums, we got those gray areas answered and clarified. 

If you plan to work and live in NZ, a resident visa under Skilled Migrant Category is a great option if you don't have or can't get a job offer. This is the visa type we applied for which took us around 1 year and 9 months to process. Definitely, getting a job offer will expedite the entire process. It is important to check the skill shortages before proceeding with your application. See http://skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz  for more details. 

Keep posted for more info about getting an SMC visa.

Applying for Visitor Visa with Deferred RV

'If my spouse and son would join me in traveling to New Zealand, can they temporarily get a Tourist/Visitor's visa?  Will it not cancel their application for residence?'

We asked our case officer this question and here was her answer:

From Job Search Visa to Residence Visa

I'm holding a Job Search Visa.  As soon as I obtain skilled employment in New Zealand, what steps should I take to get my Residence Visa (RV) approved?

We were told by our case officer that once my husband obtained a skilled employment in NZ and worked in that employment for 3 months, we need to send her copies of  the following for further assessment: