UVISA Immigration

11/08/2024

Major Immigration New Zealand Fee Increase

The National / ACT / NZ First coalition government has announced a major increase in application fees.

Fee increases are generally between 30 - 50%.

See table below for details -

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/media/immigration-fee-and-levy-table-rates-from-1-october-2024.pdf

Increases come into effect from 1 October 2024.

If you would like to move your application ahead before this fee increases takes effect, get in touch with us.

Note that some Accredited Employer Work Visa holders are eligible to extend their work visa from three to five years. This can be done now, regardless of when your current work visa will expire. As such, we recommend you get in touch so we can look to submit your application now before the fee increase.

Please contact us on 07 777 5035 or email [email protected] today.

05/07/2024

JOB FOR MASTER BLASTERS
We have an employer looking for highly skilled and experienced water blasting technicians for commercial buildings.
Suitable candidates must be fluent in English and able to work at heights. Must be of good character and physically fit and able.
The role requires overtime work (long days) and weekends at times, as work sometimes requires urgent completion within tight timeframes.
All working hours are paid at a competitive hourly rate.
Great employer who looks after staff really well, growing team in successful business based in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty (upper North Island).
August start date. Onshore applicants and those with a current work visa that can be varied are preferred.
Employer is willing to offer support for work visa application or renewal of work visa for suitable candidates.
Send CV and copy of current work visa (if in NZ) to [email protected] Please include work references if available.

03/07/2024

JOBS FOR MASTER BLASTERS
We have an employer looking for highly skilled and experienced water blasting technicians for commercial buildings.
Suitable candidates must be fluent in English and able to work at heights. Must be of good character and physically fit and able.
The role requires overtime work (long days) and weekends at times, as work sometimes requires urgent completion within tight timeframes.
All working hours are paid at a competitive hourly rate.
Great employer who looks after staff really well, growing team in successful business based in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty (upper North Island).
August start date. Onshore applicants and those with a current work visa that can be varied are preferred.
Employer is willing to offer support for work visa application or renewal of work visa for suitable candidates.
Send CV and copy of current work visa (if in NZ) to [email protected] Please include work references if available.

26/05/2024

News for international teachers - government budget update

NZ government announces $53m in funding for teacher recruitment and training in New Zealand to train 1500 local teachers and recruitment 300 overseas teachers to relocate to New Zealand.

Estimated demand for additional 680 teachers over the next 3 years as well as enough teachers to replace the large cohort of educators reaching retirement in the next four years.

Funding will go to costs for schools to recruit overseas teachers, as well as 130 places in the BeTTER Jobs Programme, which matches beginning and returning teachers to selected schools facing recruitment or retention challenges.

If you are looking to make the move to teach in New Zealand, then get in touch with us and we can help you find out how to make it happen.

See more about grants for overseas trained teachers here:

If you're curious about becoming a teacher, studying, recently qualified, already teaching or considering a new path, you'll find plenty of helpful information here.

23/05/2024

Pacific Access Category (PAC):
The 2024 Pacific Access and Samoan Quota ballots will be open from 8am on Monday 20th May – 5pm on Sunday 30th June.

Please note that applications are being accepted online ONLY for 2024. No paper registrations will be accepted this year.

Please click here to find the guide for registering online for PAC:
A guide to registering online for the Pacific Access Category for Fiji and Tongan citizens (immigration.govt.nz)

Please click here to Register for PAC:
Pacific Access Category Resident Visa | Immigration New Zealand

11/05/2024

07/05/2024

In-person 'Visa Clinic' at Otahuhu Community Centre this Friday 10 May.

Pre-register your interest here: https://turnerhopkins.formstack.com/forms/registration_form or simply turn up on the day.

This is a walk-in service, so please arrive early to secure your spot. Bring your family and any relevant documents you may have.

📆 Friday, May 10 - 3pm to 9pm
📍 Otahuhu Community Centre - 10 High St, Otahuhu
🌟 45 min. consultation - NZD$200 (cash only)

We are a group of Immigration Advisers and Lawyers who are are passionate about solving complex immigration matters hope to help local community solve visa problems. We will be offering in-person consultations.

We hope to see you there.

06/05/2024

Immigration and visa advice at in-person 'Visa Clinic' in Otahuhu this Friday 10 May.

We are Immigration Advisers and Lawyers who are are passionate about solving complex immigration matters. We will be offering in-person consultations at Otahuhu Community Centre.

📆 Friday, May 10 - 3pm to 9pm
📍 Otahuhu Community Centre - 10 High St, Otahuhu
🌟 45 min. consultation - NZD$200 (cash only)

We hope to see the local community access expert immigration advice. We are here to help solve visa problems.

Pre-register your interest here: https://turnerhopkins.formstack.com/forms/registration_form or simply turn up on the day.

This is a walk-in service, so please arrive early to secure your spot. Feel free to bring along a support person and any relevant documents you may have.

See you there!

18/04/2024

Great option for a family looking to get into their first home in New Zealand.

🛌 4 🛀 1 🚘 4
📍 2 Store Road, Whatawhata, Waikato

My latest listing on RateMyAgent.
20109492
https://rma.reviews/HNeBcjgUZkcV
..

16/04/2024

Immigration Update - Work Visa Extensions

Immigration has reneged on prior announcements and is not offering extensions to AEWV Work Visas to five years for everyone.

Extensions are limited to only some applicants.And they are not really extensions.

See more details here: https://uvisa.co.nz/work-visa-extensions/

10/04/2024

The day has finally come to right the wrong that Muldoon’s government did to our Samoa community back in 1982, which has been a black mark on our country’s name since then. The power of the state does not extend to removing citizenship from ethnic minorities for political expediency. Good to see the Green Party bringing this bill to parliament, and both ACT and NZ First standing up for principles of law and supporting now. Now let’s see if either Labour or National, who have sat on this matter for four decades, can find the courage to remove this stain on our name and do the right thing by our people who were disenfranchised.

ACT and New Zealand First have shocked Parliament tonight by supporting a bill to select committee that would provide entitlement to New Zealand citizenship for a group of people born in the then Western Samoa whose citizenship was removed by law in 1982.

09/04/2024

UVISA UPDATE

WORK VISA SYSTEM CHANGES

Visa system tightens for lower skilled workers and more requirements for employers.

Minister wants to turn down the tap as the flow of people into New Zealand has become unsustainable.

Plans to open up immigration more as the economy recovers later in 2024.

Announced changes to Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme. came into effect on 7 April 2024.

More information for AEWV holders and employers here:

The Government is making changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Find out what these changes mean for employers and visa applicants.

09/04/2024

UVISA UPDATE

JOB CHECK CHANGES - VISA SYSTEM GETTING TOUGHER

Job Checks to be more rigorous. Advertising must be for 21 days. Visa applicants to show 3 years work experience or relevant qualifications. Skills Match Report from Work and Income needed. English test needed for lower skilled workers.

Accredited Employers must make sure they are employing staff full-time.

08/04/2024

Very disappointed to see this sudden flip flop on policy -

The previously announced roles will now not be added to the Green List after all:

Paving Plant Operator
Metal Fabricator
Pressure Welder
Welder
Fitter (General)
Fitter and Turner
Fitter-Welder
Metal Machinist (First Class)
Panel Be**er
Vehicle Painter
Road Roller Operator
Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement

Previous plans to add these 7 roles to the Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement will also not progress:

Driller’s Assistant
Earthmoving Labourer
Earthmoving Plant Operator general
Linemarker
Machine Operators not elsewhere classified
Mechanic’s Assistant
Road Traffic Controller

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-work-to-residence-and-occupations-on-the-green-list

Skilled Residence Pathways remain unchanged since mid 2023. Pathways remain through higher salaries or holding higher qualifications and 1-3 years working in New Zealand in skilled work.

Sector pathways also remain available for some occupations, through work in caregiving, ship’s master, qualified deck crew, corrections officer, electrician, drainlayer, plumber, diesel or automotive mechanic.

The Government is making changes to occupations eligible for Transport Sector Work to Residence and Green List Straight to Residence visas.

08/04/2024

UVISA UPDATE - INZ GETS TOUGH ON WORK VISAS

Employers supporting migrant workers must now advertise for 21 days, check with Work and Income to fill roles locally (for lower skilled roles, verify workers have relevant skills.

Green List workers and highly paid workers are exempt.

Contact 07 777 5035 or email [email protected] for assistance.

07/04/2024

UVISA UPDATE
WORK VISA CHANGES - VISA SYSTEM GETTING TOUGHER
Lower skilled migrants to be granted only 3 year max on work visas. Will need to meet English tests too. Green List or highly paid workers exempt.

07/04/2024

UVISA UPDATE

JOBS ADDED TO GREEN LIST

New roles added to the Green List from today:

Corrections Officer
Sterilisation Technician
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Databased Administrator
Systems Administrator

Get in touch with us to find out more.

07 777 5035
[email protected]

07/04/2024

UVISA UPDATE

TEACHERS STRAIGHT TO RESIDENCE

Secondary school teachers can seek Straight to Residence (STR) from May.

Teachers overseas and in New Zealand can apply.

05/04/2024

Immigration Update - Secondary school teachers moving to the Straight to Residence pathway

Announcement from the Immigration Minister to add Secondary School Teachers to the Green List Tier 1 to create a fast-track to residence for teachers overseas.

New policy is to come into effect from May 2024, the policy details are yet to be released.

From the Minister's announcement, it appears the new policy will only apply to overseas teachers.

It is not yet clear whether it will only apply to secondary specialist teachers in Maths, Science and Technology, or all secondary teacher. Specialist teachers in Maths, Science and Technology are prioritised in obtaining Post-Study Work Visas at present.

For teachers already in New Zealand, the fastest path to seeking residence is likely to be under the Skilled Migrant Residence pathway, with 6 points from registered teacher status and 1 year of work experience -

6 points required for Skilled Migrant Residence
- 5 points from occupational registration as a teacher and full 1 practising certificate AND
- 1 point from 12 months working in New Zealand in full-time, skilled work e.g. registered teacher earning at least median income and market rate.

All teachers in primary school, and secondary teachers already onshore, are likely to just need to have 12 months work experience as a teacher in NZ, hold registration and have a full 1 practising certificate in order to be eligible to seek residence.

If you would like to know more, please contact our team at [email protected]

See announcement here:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/secondary-school-teachers-moving-to-the-straight-to-residence-pathway

17/03/2024

The maximum length of an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) increased to five years for people earning at least the median wage, and to three years for some care workforce employees. Current AEWV holders who meet eligibility criteria can apply for the balance of the longer visa.

Employers of eligible applicants first need to send a request to their eligible employee(s) to apply for their AEWV balance. They can do this by reusing the job token originally used to request the migrant apply for their AEWV.

As previously communicated, some employers have not been able to reuse job tokens for some AEWV employees. This issue has now been resolved and employers (or their advisors) can log in to Immigration Online to reuse a job token.