Post
by esharknz » Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:06 pm
Hi there,
I've heard of people doing it both ways, either by phone, or coming to the country and looking (all non-visa required nationals). I'm not sure what happens in the case of visa required nationals, should this apply to you.
I've not long been granted a green card, and I would strongly suggest that if you do come in as a tourist, that once you've found a job, you leave the country and apply from overseas, as they will decline an application made by someone on a tourist visa. I've heard of a case where the department itself (Enterprise, Trade and Employment) told a non-visa required national that it would be alright to (successfully) apply while in the country on a visitors visa, as non-visa required nationals are apparently able to change their immigration status while in the country. This application was declined on the basis of being on a visitors permit. Go figure. I've had a very similar run around too with trying to switch from a working holiday visa to a green card. I finally got one by applying from overseas (not my country of citizenship, but i have family in europe who kindly put me up for six weeks while I was waiting).
Another note, jumping ahead a bit, on the green card application form, the spaces left for answers aren't very big. I'd suggest that this form is completed as thoroughly as possible. I ended up including a supplementary answer sheet as it appears they can be quite difficult with applications that haven't had a lot of work put into them. I
