NEW ZEALAND IMMIGRATION HELP | PROCEDURE | PROCESS

Our Live in New Zealand team is New Zealand's leading immigration practice. Our team is experienced in every aspect of immigration law from simple to exceptionally complicated matters, and we have the ability to tailor our advice and services accordingly.

As a result of our many years of experience in dealing with migrants to New Zealand, we realise that there is a lot more to providing an immigration service than gaining the necessary temporary visas or residence for our clients. Our Live in New Zealand team will guide and assist you through the whole process from start to finish, providing a service tailored to your particular needs.

Our aim is to make your transition to New Zealand as smooth and stress free as possible. We believe that some or all of the services noted below will be of benefit to most of our clients:

• Free assessment and personal consultation to discuss the details of your application. We contact you, at our own expense, for the consultation!
• Fully transparent fee structure, enabling you to know, before you engage us, exactly what our fees will be and at what stage they need to be paid. A significant part of our fee is dependent upon the success of your application.
• Direct referrals to trusted advisers with whom we have a sound working relationship, such as recruitment consultants, property agents, commercial business agents, banks, financial advisers, investment advisers and accountants.
• Monthly Live in New Zealand newsletter, to keep you abreast of the key topics of likely interest to potential migrants.
• Peace of mind that you are being assisted by a team of leading professionals, dedicated to ensuring that your dreams of a new life in New Zealand become a reality.

IMMIGRATION TODAY

New Zealand immigration law and policy is substantive, complex and changes frequently. In many instances, the decision to approve or decline an application will be made by an individual immigration officer assessing the application on the facts and materials that are actually presented at that time.

There is considerable advantage provided to migrants if sound planning is put in place in relation to identifying suitable options and drafting documentation to provide a clear migration pathway before presentation of applications to Immigration New Zealand (INZ). There are often many ways for migrants to travel to New Zealand and obtain permanent residence although it is very important that a fully informed decision is made in relation to the particular category being chosen and also how the application should be structured.

There are many variables associated with determining a residence pathway and putting together a compliant application. There is much more to the process than merely identifying the category and filling out forms.  As many of our clients who come to our firm for assistance part way through the process have learnt, common issues can be easily identified and rectified before the submission of an application.  Issues encountered in an application that were clearly foreseeable and in most instances that still can be resolved (although not guaranteed) at the very least delay processing of applications significantly and, in relation to Skilled Migrant Category applications, can result in offers of employment being withdrawn due to these unforeseen and unnecessary delays.

It is critical to ensure that your application is made to the appropriate Government representative with all necessary information and documentation appropriately prepared and vetted. Our Live in New Zealand team will ensure that your application is complete, properly presented and has the maximum chance of being successful.

WHERE DO I GET GOOD ADVICE FROM?

In order to obtain the right to indefinitely reside in New Zealand you have two choices.

First, you can assess, complete, submit, and process your own application(s) directly with INZ. The difficulty in taking responsibility for your own application is that you will not receive direct (or reliable) assistance with your application from INZ.  INZ will provide information to you; they will not provide personalised, tailored advice. There is a huge difference between the two.

Second, you instruct our Live in New Zealand team to take full responsibility to ensure you qualify and will therefore obtain residence.

There are three main reasons why our team receives instructions to assist applicants:

1. You may simply not have enough time or the ability to research and understand the regulations in sufficient detail to ensure that you will obtain residence;
2. You may wish to instruct an immigration lawyer (not a licensed immigration adviser) to ensure you qualify and you obtain the required visas in a timely and stress-free manner;
3. You may wish the comfort of engaging a team of leading professionals to ensure if there are unforeseen issues encountered in your application (such as health or technical complications) that you have team representatives who can comfortably deal with any issue no matter how complicated.

Should you decide to instruct our Live in New Zealand team to assist you with your application, you will have access to a firm of professional lawyers who have helped migrants since 1868.  We know every issue you will encounter in this process.

You are shifting from one side of the planet to the other and, as such, it is a difficult and sometimes stressful logistical undertaking.  Our intention is to relieve as much stress from the process as is possible.

When undertaking one of the biggest decisions of your life, it is important to know that you are receiving the best available advice.

LICENSED IMMIGRATION ADVISERS: A WARNING!

Lane Neave and our Live in New Zealand team are not licensed immigration advisers.

We are one of Christchurch's oldest, largest and most respected law firms, and as such, our professional services are regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. Our firm is also a voluntary member of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment that also applies a strict code of ethics.

On 4 May 2010 all individuals who provide immigration advice to migrants must either be licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA) or exempt from licensing (such as professional lawyers).  Before the international implementation of the licensing regime, the competency of immigration advisers varied from fraudulent, to exceptionally poor, to satisfactory (in the context of standard applications).  As a result of significant complaints received from migrants regarding the ability of immigration advisers and the exorbitant fees charged by these advisers (with the absence of regulation) licensing was introduced.

It is important however for prospective migrants to understand that the fact that licensing has been introduced has not resolved a number of issues that migrants still face with (now) licensed immigration advisers.  Our firm has taken over many applications where there has been dissatisfaction expressed by the client in relation to the professional ability, efficiency, and cost of engaging a licensed immigration adviser.

Like the Australian licensing example of immigration advisers, it is our view that it will take a minimum of five to 10 years for the industry to be cleansed of poor service providers.  Our firm, on occasion, has openly expressed concern regarding some individuals who have been able to obtain licences to practice immigration where in our experience in relation to taking clients from these advisers and resolving issues created or exacerbated by the adviser has not only created significant stress for our client; but also additional unnecessary expense.

The key point here when it comes to licensed immigration advisers, is that you do not always get what you pay for.  New Zealand lawyers have been regulated in New Zealand for many years and the service standard you should expect to receive from a lawyer is far beyond the service expectations provided for by the of licensed immigration advisers.  If you require the best and most professional service on the market, hire a lawyer to assist you.

SERVICE FEE AND ASSOCIATED COSTS

Our Live in New Zealand team provides an industry-leading service at a highly competitive and reasonable rate.

• Our fees are fixed and disclosed up front during the initial consultation, before you engage us, so there is complete transparency and no surprises.
• Our fees are not time-based, but flat fees paid in instalments corresponding to the progress of your application. A significant part of our fee is contingent upon success.
• Our fees are extremely competitive and are generally far less than fees charged by licensed immigration advisers.

LANE NEAVE PROVIDE A FREE IMMIGRATION ASSESSMENT AND 30 MINUTE CONSULTATION

We suggest that you contact Lane Neave's Live in New Zealand team first for a free initial assessment and consultation. In doing so, you will have the opportunity to talk through your particular circumstances, determine what needs to be done to achieve success, as well as being advised, upfront, on the fees charged for your particular case. This free service will enable you to determine the value that our Live in New Zealand team can bring to you, making your move to New Zealand as smooth as possible.

OTHER SERVICES

In addition to immigration advice, Lane Neave is a full service law firm, advising on a range of legal issues that will affect migrants to New Zealand. Typically, these may include residential and commercial property purchase, wills and trusts, employment relations, commercial/business law and litigation/dispute resolution.

As a migrant, there are both tax and trust law advantages open to you before New Zealand becomes your home. As a firm, we are aware of these and can provide timely advice to take advantage of these during the immigration process.

If you are seeking a professional immigration service, provided by one of New Zealand’s premier law firms, that will guide you through the process and assist you every step of the way, contact our Live in New Zealand team. We specialise in providing peace of mind to our clients!