Taking the long term view in visa preparation

Many people overlook the importance of preparation and just start their visa application when they feel they meet all the criteria, and just go. While some visa applications can be done like this, and certainly the NZeTA does not require much planning or forethought, the more complex the visa, the more planning it will need.

Some visas are inherently more complex than others, for example residence visas, partnership based visas, visitor visas from certain countries, and so on. With partnership visas for example we like to start planning these as early as possible because by far the majority of clients do not have enough evidence to submit a solid application when they feel they are ready to apply.  Taking a long term view with a managed approach allows partners to take their time and gather and generate specific evidence without as much stress as there would be if they have to search though all their things for sufficient evidence.

Residence visas as well may need more preparation for some applicants than for others. The application may require some preparation in terms of changing jobs, getting a qualification or changing employer. By maneuvering early and adjusting your situation so you will meet the criteria in the future, residence then becomes possible. But just aiming for a future situation is not always enough, because New Zealand’s immigration policies change very often so managing the process fluidly is most important.

By managing the process we keep an eye on changes and even predicted changes to start any adjustments as early as possible. For example if a change in policy means suddenly that an English test becomes necessary, having time to study and prepare for it can make the difference between success and failure.