This weeks blog is a game of two-halves, with the first part focussing on the trials and tribulations of telling your children, that you are about to uproot them, to move to another country. The second half, is focussed on the slightly more technical aspects of actually including those children in your application (there are different rules for different visas).

The inspiration for this blog came from a conversation I had with a potential client earlier in the week. Bob (not his real name) was contemplating the big move, along with his wife (who was already onboard) their two children - somewhat less enthusiastic. As we discussed the various steps involved, and some of the challenges, the topic of “when and how do we tell the kids” came about. Bob was already knee deep in some teenage angst, having dropped this particular bombshell on his children already.

It’s official, we have a new Government, consisting of (from left to right) the ACT Party, the National Party and New Zealand first. This is a significant first for New Zealand with three political parties sharing the reigns, something that our MMP system has never managed to produce, although we have had some close calls.

This election was was equally touch and go for a while, with no one sure as to whether we would need NZ First in the mix.

New Zealand has voted…well just under 79% of us did at least, in what felt like one of the biggest election campaigns in living memory.

This election may not have seen the same turnout of previous years or a landslide victory for anyone, but it certainly captured the nations attention.

When I work on a commercial matter whether it be a business purchase or a negotiating a dispute resolution one of my first actions is usually to talk to the client’s accountant.

Among the most crucial relationships a business can establish and foster is the one between its lawyer and accountant. A harmonious working relationship between these two experts can provide multifaceted benefits to your business.

All too often I hear from applicants who have landed themselves in some hot water with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) because they have either failed to declare something or something they declared was in fact not the truth.

INZ treats this stuff pretty seriously and rightly so, and for some applicants it can spell the end of their visa journey…but what happens if you genuinely made a mistake or someone else made that mistake on your behalf?

A big part of what we do here at Turner Hopkins Immigration is coaching people not only on the Visa process, to reach a successful outcome, but we also give plenty of advice on the job search - which usually forms a key role in the Visa process anyway.

I have always been a big advocate for the power or a strong and useful network as part of that job search process, particularly in a country like New Zealand, where who you know, often weighs in far heavier that what you know.

If you have never heard of a Rube Goldberg machine, then the above image might not make much sense, but to bring everyone up to speed, they are basically a clever and very complicated machine (or group of machines) that makes a simple process (like switching on a light) as complicated as humanly possible - with often ludicrous, over the stop steps, added just for fun.

If you have ever tried to decipher what our current Skilled Migrant category looks like or how it operates, with the very simple end goal being to attract skilled, employable people - you could be forgiven for thinking that INZ have created their very own Rube Goldberg machine.

Your application is lodged, you think you have done it right, after weeks and months of sweating over which pieces of paper to find, do all the documents stack up, did the courier make it in time…and then, that email from INZ arrives, the one that says “we need more information” or even worse “we have some concerns”.

Even a really well prepared application can still lead to INZ requesting more information or worse, telling you they have some “concerns” that you need to address. Nothing causes more fear, stress and panic that one of these dreaded letters…

For most migrants, finding a job is not only a key to a new life, but the cornerstone of a Visa application, and so there is a lot to be said for how this process works, what doesn’t work and some of the most commonly made mistakes.

We have assisted a lot of people over the years to secure Residence in New Zealand and as part of that, we have figured out a useful tips when it comes to the job search. If you are planning on a move here, or are here and seeking a job offer, to then pursue various Visas, the following might just be useful in tackling that rather large task.

Paul Janssen, our Immigration Specialists, speaks to Radio New Zealand on the issue of migrant exploitation - a topic gaining significant media attention.

New Zealand is a unique place and that is part of the reason so many people want to move here. Our geographic location, being relatively neutral on the world stage, high standard of living (albeit the cost is higher now) and our incredible scenery makes us a unique and very attractive proposition for many different types of migrant.

A meeting with the Minister of Immigration, upcoming Visa rule changes and thoughts on the current NZ immigration landscape.

Thinking about joining your partner in New Zealand or have a partner you want to bring across? This could be a good start in understanding what's involved and how the process works.