W3.135 Principal applicants under the General Skills category seeking... (04/02/2002)

W3.135 Principal applicants under the General Skills category seeking an offer of employment in New Zealand

1. Principal applicants under the General Skills category who:
   1. have a points allocation which is within 5 points of the General Skills category passmark for the week in which their residence application was made, and
   2. have not been awarded points for an offer of employment, and
   3. have met health, character (see A4 and A5) and English language requirements (see G6), and
   4. have made their application for a work visa or permit under Temporary Entry policy within one month of the date of the letter from the NZIS advising that they are eligible to apply for the work visa or permit, and
   5. are bona fide applicants (see E5.1),

   may be issued a work visa allowing a maximum stay in New Zealand of 6 months or a work permit current for a maximum of six months, to allow them to seek an offer of employment in New Zealand in terms of G4.15 “Offer of Employment” or G5.25 "Non-relevant offer of employment" (see G2.33).

2. For offshore applicants, if the application for the work visa is approved, principal applicants must travel to New Zealand within the 9 month deferral period of the residence application, (that is, 9 months from the date of the letter from the NZIS advising that they are eligible to apply for the work visa).
3. If the intended date of arrival in New Zealand is later than 3 months from the date of the letter from the NZIS advising that they are eligible to apply for the work visa, the visa will provide for the grant of a work permit allowing a stay in New Zealand for the balance of the period of the 9 month residence deferral only.
4. Principal applicants already in New Zealand, will be granted a six month work permit. Principal applicants wishing to travel outside New Zealand and return during the currency of the work permit, must apply for a multiple entry work visa.
5. Work visas or work permits issued or granted under this policy will be endorsed with conditions that allow work for any employer.
6. Principal applicants granted a work permit under this policy will, upon application, be eligible for a further temporary permit only if they have submitted evidence of an offer of employment to the NZIS. Any further temporary permit will be made current for a period sufficient to allow further assessment and finalisation of their application for residence.
7. Principal applicants must provide:
   1. a completed Application to Work in New Zealand, and
   2. evidence of sufficient funds for their maintenance and accommodation for the currency of the work permit (see W2.25.1) or sponsorship for the currency of their permit (see W2.25.5), and
   3. evidence of travel tickets, onward travel arrangements or sufficient funds for the purchase of onward travel tickets (see W2.30), and
   4. a contact address within New Zealand.

      Note: Funds for maintenance and accommodation must be additional to any funds for which applicants are claiming points as Settlement Funds (see G5.20).

8. Spouse, partners or dependent children of principal applicants issued or granted a work visa or permit under this policy who wish to accompany the principal applicant to New Zealand or remain in New Zealand with the principal applicant, must apply for temporary visas in their own right (see E4.5) and pay the applicable fee.
9. When considering applications for temporary visas or permits from spouses, partners or dependent children of principal applicants immigration and visa officers should refer to Z6.1.

Effective 04/02/2002