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Backpacker Extended Stay Opportunities for New Zealand
If you have a working holiday visa and you’re looking for ways to extend your time in New Zealand beyond your working holiday visa expiry, there are a couple of ways to do this–
- through the automatic seasonal work extension
- through the working holiday visa extension for previous work in the viticulture and horticulture industries
- through a permanent job with an employer
1) Seasonal Work Automatic Extension
INZ just announced that holders of working holiday visas, expiring between 1 October (2020) and March 2021, are automatically granted a Supplementary Seasonal Employment visa to be able to work in horticulture and viticulture for Supplemental Seasonal Employers (‘SSEs’) and Recognised Seasonal Employers (‘RSEs’). Keep in mind that at this point:
- the work is only for employers who meet the government criteria
- for the opportunity ends in March upon which you will need to find a sponsored job or leave
- its only for work in horticulture and viticulture which generally doesn’t include accommodation.
2) Viticulture / Horticulture Previous Work Extension to WHV Expiry
If you’ve spent 3 or more months working in NZ’s horticulture or viticulture industry, you may be in luck.
The NZ government (through Immigration NZ), have a program aptly named the Working Holiday Extension (WHE) programme. Essentially, if you’ve picked, packed and/or pruned for 3 months, you can get 3 months if you meet the eligibility.
Basically:
- You fill out the application – using an INZ 1153 you can access here.
- You’ll need to print and mail this because you need to include passport photos and proof of employment for those months. These can include, payslips, tax records or a letter from your employer. (BTW, all of these would also be required if you decide to go for permanent visa sponsorship.) The full process is here.
- Pay your fees (about NZ $298)
- Mail it in
Warning: Immigration NZ says the process can take up to 30 business days to process. Having said that, anecdotally, we are being told of exceptional delays in decision time – with many still in the process. INZ may send you an Interim until a formal decision is made. Save that email!
Also, if your original working holiday visa expiry was between 2 July and 9 August and you received an automatic extension to 25 September 2020 (the Epidemic Management Notice), then INZ have told us, you may not be allowed to add the WHE extension to this.
3) Securing a Formal Job with Visa Sponsorship
Keeping in mind that the visa option for you only lasts for 6 months, this may actually be favourable for you as it doesn’t require you or the employer to make a long term commitment if that’s not what you’re looking for.
To go this route, you need to:
- receive a job offer, and
- undertake a formal application process
Importantly, in between these two steps is for the employer, or agency on the employer’s behalf, to do a labour market test to prove that no Kiwis were interested and available for this job.
Sounds reasonably straight forward, right? Alas, it’s not –even for Licensed Immigration Advisers who have to study for years. The processes are changing, some rules are fluid and there’s increased scrutiny of labour market testing.
Minimising cost and risk of decline
Using a professional will increase your chances of success and remove the burden on you and your employer to understand and undertake the process.
Even if your employer claims they have done this many times, unless they’re licensed advisers or lawyers, they won’t understand all the new rules and regulations and one stumble could torpedo your application.
FRENZ are experienced in finding jobs for workers (which is a free service), in worker protections and, through our in-house Licensed Immigration Advisers, securing visas for both people who’ve gotten jobs through us and/or on their own.
Using us you save time, gain peace of mind and, most importantly, increase chances of success.
Our commitment to you includes:
- Working through with you on what you want and need in NZ, and answer questions that range from employment options and your employment rights to what happens in the immigration process and what we need from you (when and how)
- Reviewing your employment offer to make sure its lawful and meets your needs and rights
- Working with your employer:
- to manage INZ’s required “labour market test” (advertising and interviewing to prove there are no Kiwis available for the job)
- direct the employer on what’s required in your agreement and other documents required for your application
- Guide you step by step on what documents you must have or should have to improve your changes of success and how to obtain them.
