Hi everyone, in March i am going to visit my sister who lives in Christchurch NZ. She is currently there with a working holiday scheme visa with her boyfriend which they have managed to extend beyond the initial 2 years and have no intention of coming back to the UK. I am 32 in March so unfortunately i cannot obtain a working holiday visa, so my intention is just to go over on a holiday visa and apply for a work visa while i'm there. I am a fully qualified carpenter/joiner so getting work should'nt be a problem, maybe just the work visa. I also would have no intention of returning to the UK. I would be very grateful if anyone could give me any information on the matter. Thanks.
1
joolz2
I don't know, but it sounds as though your sister and her boyfriend could give you all the advice you need.
2
westwood
If your sister has been here for more than 23 months, then she must now be on some other sort of visa other than WHV.
3
pixiertw10
Us Brits can get another WHV - the IEP Work Exchange - through BUNAC, up until we're 35 :-)
4
kazza77
Hi there,
I am a kiwi and have worked in the Immigration area before, I'm not an expert... but I'll try to help.
Be a bit careful about coming in the country on a holiday visa with tools of your trade etc, you never know they might pick it up at the airport and send you back.
But plenty of people do come here and job hunt once they're here. Check if your trade is on the current skills shortage list, if it is then you could very likely get a job offer once you arrive and then get a work permit that is specific to that employer. With the amount of work going on in Christchurch in the very near future with the earthquake this could be likely, but check the Immigration skills shortage list to be sure. You could also try to apply as a skilled migrant before you get here, more complicated, but you might be able to get in. Sorry, I'm out of date on whether carpenters are on the skills shortage list now.
Hope this helps.
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