Immigreat - NZ and Aus Immigration Experts

10/04/2025

INZ have announced steps to make it easier for visitors from the Pacific!

03/04/2025

Planning to apply for a visa?

If you choose to get immigration advice, ensure you’re using a licensed adviser or exempt person, like a New Zealand lawyer to avoid relying on illegal advice.

Applications submitted or prepared by unlicensed advisers or non-exempt people will be declined or returned.

Find out more: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-online-applications-lodged-by-unlicensed-or-non-exempt-persons

31/03/2025

🚨The Perils of Applying for Residency Before You’re Eligible🚨

With more and more migrants coming to the end of their 2 year work to residence period, INZ are seeing a marked increase in residence applications. As a result, we are also seeing an alarming increase in the number of residence applications being declined where people have applied before they have met the experience requirement.

Common questions we get from applicants that approach us too late in the process are "what difference does one day make, why can't INZ just approve it, it's only one day!". Or "So what if I am 10 cents short of being able to claim those two years of work experience, surely that won't matter!".

The answer to this is entrenched in immigration policy, the instructions clearly state the if an applicant does not meet the residence instructions, the application MUST be declined. It's important to understand that Immigration Officers do not have discretionary powers when assessing residence applications. If the applicants does not meet the requirements, the application MUST be declined.

Besides losing your $6,450 application fee, the consequences of applying before you are eligible can be disastrous. Here’s why rushing your application can hurt more than help:

🔴 A rejected application leaves a permanent mark on your record. Not only will this impact on your ability to apply for further visas in NZ, you will also be required to inform any other country that you plan on entering, that you have a visa decline against your name.

⚠️ Applying when you're not eligible can be seen as fraudulent or providing INZ with false or misleading information. If INZ believe you're not being truthful about your eligibility, you could face serious consequences, including character issues which could impact your status in NZ.

⛔ Applicants could age out or go unlawful as a result of the decline, which may well mean an end to any future residence pathways in NZ.

We see sooooo many Facebook posts where people are encouraged not to waste money on "Agents" and just apply themselves. Ask yourself though, are those people going to refund you your $6,450 if it goes wrong? Yes, there are lots of people that applied for residence themselves and got it right, however, that was also before the massive increase in application fees. What you don't see on Facebook is how many people get it wrong, something I see on a daily basis.

The best approach? **Wait until you're eligible** and get expert guidance to ensure your application is on track. Even if it's booking a paid consult to check your eligibility and thought process.

Yes, Licensed Immigration Advisers do not come 'cheap', but they are far less of an investment than paying $6,450 twice for a residence application.

Reach out to us and let us help you get it right first time.

Regards,
Stuart Scrimgeour
Licensed Immigration Adviser - 202100671
Registered Migration Agent - 2418414

Send a message to learn more

14/03/2025

INZ has announced that it will be tightening up the health requirements for dependent children. this will include families applying for visas to enter NZ, and those already in NZ. These changes will take effect from 17 March and I believe we will see INZ taking a much stricter stance on health or special educational needs.

If you have a child that may be impacted this, why not reach out, let's see if we can help navigate this for your family.

24/02/2025

This is tremendous news for primary school teachers, from 26 March 2025 this occupation will join secondary teachers on the tier 1 of the Green List, thus making them eligible to apply for Straight to Residence.

Get in touch with ASAP if you want to discuss your options and pathways moving forward.

20/02/2025

INZ have announced phase two of the AEWV changes will come into effect on Monday, 10 March 2025, and include:

- The removal of wage thresholds for all AEWV and Specific Purpose Work Visa.
- End of Sector Agreements within AEWV (no longer required without the median wage threshold).
- Amending the Work and Income engagement requirement to be declaration based.
- Increasing the income threshold for partners and dependent children of AEWV holders.
- Reduction in minimum experience required for AEWV.
- Changes to the maximum continuous stay and visa durations for certain AEWV holders.
- Extension of the ability to reuse job check numbers when applying for a further work visa for the same roles.
- Recognising certain roles as ANZSCO Skill Level 3 (which were previously recognised as skill level 4 or 5).

18/02/2025

Not a lot of additional information, but it's good to hear that the Parent Boost visa is at least progressing. I know there are a lot of family out there counting on this, including mine, because of the state of the parent residence visa.

28/01/2025

This makes for interesting reading and the stats give the general public an insight into how much work goes on behind the scenes for INZ

2024 was yet another big year for Immigration New Zealand (INZ); busier than ever with visa processing, shaping our services for the future, resettling refugees, managing the border and much more.

27/01/2025

27/01/2025

The New Zealand government have announced a Digital Nomad visitor visa to allow high value tourists to visit NZ while still earning and income from their offshore employers. This will target the likes of highly skilled IT professionals and influencers.

The visa will be granted for up to 9 months, and visitors will be able to work while in NZ, as long as they do not earn any income from NZ employers. Primarily this visa will be to promote workations to highly skilled visitors who will spend money and boost the local economy while in NZ.

Thankfully this will remove the confusion around being able to check in with work while on holiday or visiting NZ.

Fortunately this will be available immediately as this is not a new policy that is being created, it's just a varied condition to General Visitor Visas.

Get hold of us today if you are interested in applying!

The announcement comes after a high-profile economist said the economy recently performed the worst in the developed world.

24/12/2024

As the year draws to a close, Nikki and I have had a chance to reflect on how blessed we've been again this year to be involved in so many people's immigration adventures!

From our family to yours, we wish you a joyous and blessed Christmas filled with warmth, love, and cherished moments with your loved ones, wherever they may be in the world.

We are incredibly grateful for the trust you have placed in us throughout this year. It has been an honor to guide you on your immigration journey and support you in achieving your dreams.

May the spirit of the season bring you peace, happiness, and renewed hope for the New Year.

Immigreat wish you all a very Merry Christmas, a Meri Kirihimete and a Geseënde Kersfees!

Take care,
Stuart and Nikki

18/12/2024

Burning Questions - Xmas Edition
Let us know your questions and Stuart will try answer them in our last Q&A video for 2024!

16/12/2024

INZ have just announced a number of reforms to the AEWV policy to be phased in from January 2025. These include:

- Accredited employers no longer needing to complete online modules from January 2025.
- Median wage threshold requirements will be removed from March, applicants will need to be paid market rate.
- From April interim visas will be changed to allow additional work rights.
- A new job check process will be brought in mid-2025
- From November 2025 additional pathways will be introduced for seasonal worker.

More info available at https://customer.immigration.govt.nz/mail/view/k16c698pznc4h1zz13gky2_rnj0c3ldyg022z8lclcdjknmd49fz9xvpgfy9hl4c8zdb426y3tynh35mrrvqb

30/11/2024

🚨 𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒! 🚨

We regularly assist clients who have been convicted of a crime while in NZ and I'm amazed at how few migrants understand the impact of a criminal conviction, and how this impacts their ability to remain in the country.

Of greater concern is how many lawyers don't understand how certain outcomes can still have grave consequences for migrants. In most cases, lawyers who don’t have specific experience in the immigration space will actively try to secure a discharge without conviction. What they don’t realise is that even though the migrant gets a discharge without conviction, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞.

If you are facing charges or have you been convicted of a crime, including DUI, while in NZ on a work or residence class visa, you risk having your visa cancelled or being issued with a deportation liability notice.

I can’t stress how serious this is, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞!

We’re here to help guide you through the process, protect your rights, and provide expert assistance to explore the best options moving forward.

📧 𝐃𝐨 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲, reach out today for a confidential conversation and let’s see how we can help maintain your lawful status in NZ. Not only are we highly skilled immigration professionals, but we are also experts in the criminal conviction and character waiver space.

18/11/2024

Burning Questions - Week 3
, drop your questions in the comments and Stuart will try answer them in Friday's Q&A video!

18/11/2024

Afternoon team, apologies for the delay in getting this one up, but the severe weather caused some technical difficulties for us on Friday.

Check out Immigreat Consultants Ltd’s video.

10/11/2024

Burning Questions - Week 2
, drop your questions in the comments and Stuart will try answer them in Friday's Q&A video!

07/11/2024

Morning Team,

Check out the answers below from the first week of our Q&A series. Looking forward to some more great questions next week!

Enjoy your weekend!

Check out Immigreat Consultants Ltd’s video.