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SM1.5 Overview (28/08/2017)

  1. Application for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category is a two-stage process: people wishing to submit an application for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the prescribed manner (see SM2.1).
  2. EOIs that meet prerequisites for health, character, English language and age, and have a total of 100 or more points for employability and capacity building factors, are entered into a Pool of EOIs.
  3. EOIs that meet a selection point threshold set from time to time by the Minister of Immigration are selected from the Pool (see SM2.5).
  4. EOIs selected from the Skilled Migrant Category Pool may result in an invitation to apply for a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category (see SM2.10) if the claims made in the EOI concerning health, character, English language and employability and capacity building factors are assessed as credible by an immigration officer.
  5. Applications for a resident visa made in the prescribed manner must be made within four months of the date of the invitation to apply (see SM3.1).
  6. A Skilled Migrant Category application will be approved if an immigration officer is satisfied the requirements for health, character, English language and employability and capacity building factors are met.
  7. If a principal applicant otherwise meets all requirements for the grant of a resident visa under the Skilled Migrant Category but does not have points for employment in New Zealand (SM6) or has not studied full time for two years in New Zealand resulting in the award of a Doctorate or Master’s degree:
    1. the decision on the the application will be deferred (see SM3.20); and
    2. subject to meeting the requirements of WR5 Skilled Migrant Category Job Search Instructions, the principal applicant will be eligible for the grant of a work visa to allow them to obtain an offer of ongoing skilled employment in New Zealand.
  8. If an offer of ongoing skilled employment (see SM6) is obtained during the deferral period, the application may be approved.

Effective 28/08/2017

PREVIOUS IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS

SM1.5 Overview (18/05/2020)

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