New Zealand is one of the emerging economies in the world which is in constant need of highly skilled and educated workforce in all areas of field. In order to cope up with this ever increasing demand of the skilled workforce, a visa category of skilled migrant has been devised by New Zealand.
This category of skilled migrant visa gives an opportunity for skilled workers from all around the world to start working in New Zealand and get permanent residence in the country. The basic eligibility criteria for an individual to apply for this skilled migrant visa have some basic requirements which include:
- The age limit is 22 years (should be 20) to 55 years.
- Applicant must be healthy and fit.
- No previous criminal record/Good character.
- Proficient in English (both written and spoken).
Visa Application Process
Submitting an expression of interest
The very first step to apply for this skilled migrant visa category is to submit an expression of interest. The required form for this process asks for the basic background information and it also includes skilled worker point system. You are required to claim points on the basis of your skills, qualifications, age, work experience and any close relatives living in New Zealand etc. To ensure that you are of good character and health, meet the age requirement, and you don’t have any previous criminal record, the very first section of the form asks for standard immigration information to help Immigration New Zealand.
The EOI Pool Draw
After the submission of your expression of interest for your skilled migrant visa, the form is then put into the selection pool in case you have any offers for job or if your points add up to make a total of more than 100. If the applicants have total points of 140 or more, they are selected to apply for this visa category of skilled worker immigration. If there are any additional vacancies remaining, the Immigration New Zealand selects as many applicants as required, in the further selection, who have more than 100 points or more.
The information you fill on the expression of interest form is checked in detail and the information is also verified in this stage. Any application which is incomplete or has misleading information is then filtered out and rejected. Whereas, the selected applicants receive an invitation to apply.
Your invitation to apply
An official invitation to apply (ITA) is sent to the selected applicants from the EOI pool. In this step, the selected applicants are required to present evidence in order to support their claims they have made in their expression of interest form, which includes certificates of clearance from police, documents of education and proof on English language proficiency, work experience, skills, required passports and the fees that are applicable.
Assessment and Approval
The received applications are further assessed for the permanent residence of New Zealand. In addition to verifying the provided information by the applicants whether they meet all the requirements for skilled migrant visa, they are further assessed for their ability to successfully settle in the country. Some of the applicants, at this stage, can be called for an interview by the New Zealand embassy.
If the applicant passes all the aforementioned steps and is successful in proving his worth to settle there and play a significant role in the county’s economy, the residence visa or permit is offered to the applicant.
If you are planning to get a visa and migrate to New Zealand, Immigration Enterprise is there to help you each step of the way in getting a skilled migrant visa to New Zealand. A team of experts is always available to provide you with their quality services and to properly guide you in a professional manner and to help you through the immigration process. All you have to do is to pay a visit to Immigration Enterprise so that you can obtain the skilled work visa and get all the information about immigration to New Zealand.
Expression of Interest form (INZ 1100)
Submitting the expression of interest is the first step if you are going to apply for the skilled migrant visa (SMC). In this application form, the applicant provides information about one’s self, siblings, previous experience, and other relevant factors including points for skills. The EOI form is then assessed by the authorities and if it is credible, an invitation is sent to the applicant. This form can also be filled online with a fee.
How Does EOI work?
The process of submitting the EOI form requires the applicant to claim points and if the score is 100 or more, the application is put into the EOI pool. The applicants with points more than 140 are selected every fortnight and the applicants with points 100-140 are also selected depending upon the available vacancies or job offers.
The EOI with lower points can also be selected depending on the availability of seats. The EOI is valid for 6 months and if the applicant does not get selected in this period, the EOI is no more valid and the fee for the application is also non-refundable.
However, if the applicant is selected then he/she is required to provide all the documents that are relevant and required for the completion and verification process. The documents may include proof of English language proficiency, medical and police certificates and any other documents of your education, experience and skills. The authority also holds the right to inquire about the credibility of the documents from the people or organizations that are referred by the applicant in the form.
Some Important Requirements
- The applicant must be of Good Character. No previous criminal record, no potential security threat or prison time, no deportation from any country, and no involvement in any kind of criminal or dangerous activity are some of the important requirements.
- The applicant must be of Good and Sound Health. Medical certificates are required to ensure that the applicant is healthy and fit.
- The English language skills are also must. The applicant should have a minimum level of required English Knowledge to meet the minimum standards. An IELTS certificate or any kind of recognized qualification entirely in English can be produced by the applicant to meet the language proficiency requirement.