Cheers for sharing

And while the wine is cheap – its so bloody gorgeous I drink way more of it than I ever used to back in the UK. I have to budget for it

As long as you don’t mind drinking plonk that is. (And I don’t)

Migrants actually can claim a tax refund if they dont stay here a full year (in the same way that we can do it when we leave the UK) because they may have overpaid – but that isnt what you are talking about here (its just something I thought of). I think whatever people feel is fair, we have to ask ourselves if we would also think it fair if migrants back home got the same benefits from our government.

On the government encouraging people – ive always thought we should be able to sue New Zealand for misrepresation in advertising with it’s whole “100% Pure” marketing plan, and Stats NZ for producing misleading pamphlets which portray New Zealand as a cheap place to live. Surely it should come under advertising standards

Good post, Avalon.

On a serious point though, while immigrants and work-permit holders can never know exactly how things will work out, the govt. does encourage both, and needs both.

If you have paid taxes here, I think it is fair you should get some back if the worst should happen and you need to go home.

But maybe this should be paid for through some sort of state-sponsored insurance scheme. A small levy on the PR/visa application costs!

(I Know, I know, they’re already expensive, but I’m just floating the idea).

When does “helping friends” become “giving advice”. The crux here is whether it is systemic or not. Does that mean we have to have a system – or that we do it regularly?

Bottom line – everyone answering questions on the Immigration Forums either needs to stop or be registered. The forums and blogs are NOT exempt from this law.

What a balls-up.

I do find it amazing the number of migrants who are here only on work visas – my heart goes out to them, I just don’t understand why they’ve not applied for residency if they have points from work, education or experience.

I accept INZ should give people on a work permit a reasonable amount of time to find a new job if made redundant. As temporary residents there are no benefits or welfare offered. It’s a risk people take, and we just can’t be responsible for everyone’s unfortunate circumstances. After all – this is precisely what many folks in the UK are indeed upset by with (legal) European migrants in the UK.

I’m helping (in an entirely not an immigration advisor way) a few colleagues in exactly this predicament. It’s always their choice to stay or not, I just wish that it were only their choice without being forced into leaving by INZ or their employers pulling the plug.