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.

There is an unfortunate truth in the world of visas, which is not specific to New Zealand, but applicable to any immigration system, where human beings are involved in making decisions that impact on other peoples lives - that truth is that the outcome and the process involved to reach that outcome are very heavily influenced by the person who ends up processing the application.

You can have one set of rules, one set of standard operating procedures and one organisation in charge of all of it and yet, applicants of a similar background with similar situations can end up experiencing the process and coming out the other side, in very, very different ways.

I think I say this every year, but I cannot believe how quickly the end of this year has arrived - and what a year it has been. There has been plenty going on in New Zealand over the last 12 months and there is potentially a lot more to come on the Visa front in 2024. With a new coalition Government in place, who have a vastly different view of the world, we are all shuffling towards the edge of our seats to see what might be announced (I dont expect it to be soon however). \

We wind up the year with a bit of a recap and a look to the future. We also line up for more of our free immigration seminars in 2024 (the first one takes place in January) and we have a small (and very useful) gift available for our regular readers (more below or in the original email).

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

With immigration featuring in the news more than ever before, we dig in to the current options available and what the future might hold…

With over 200,000 applicants are being approved through the one-off 2021 Resident Visa program…many will be looking at options for their parents to follow them. With borders opening, what pathways exist for parents looking to join their children in New Zealand?

Important dates for border openings in Ne Zealand

Immigration New Zealand have now announced the timeframes for implementation of the new policy

Under the new rules, all employers will have to obtain accreditation in order to secure the employment of a migrant worker on an employer assisted work visa.