Legal tips and insights.

Receiving a visa decline from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) can be very stressful and disheartening, especially after investing time, money, and emotional energy into your application. However, a decline is often not the end of the road. Understanding the reasons for the decline and knowing what your legal options are is the crucial next step. This article outlines the common grounds for visa refusal and details the potential legal avenues and practical steps you can take following an adverse decision.

For businesses in New Zealand looking to fill labour shortages, hiring skilled workers from overseas is often necessary because of skill shortages or the limited availability of workers in more remote towns around the country. This process is governed by a strict immigration policy designed to protect both migrant workers and the NZ labour market: providing those job opportunities to Kiwis first. There is a three-stage process that both businesses and the migrant worker need to go through. For Kiwi businesses, Employer Accreditation is the mandatory first step for any business intending to support a migrant worker's application for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). This article outlines what New Zealand businesses need to know about the accreditation process, the requirements, the application stages, and the critical responsibilities that come with hiring workers from overseas.

Over 18,000 Americans immediately looked at moving to New Zealand following Donald Trump’s success in the U.S. elections in November 2024. It is only fitting that we write an article setting out the top five pathways for Americans to migrate to New Zealand, as our country has become an increasingly attractive destination for Americans seeking a lifestyle change, new work opportunities, or the chance to explore its natural beauty. While New Zealand's immigration system can seem complex, there are accessible pathways for U.S. citizens. At MC Legal, we have worked with numerous clients from the US who are now settled in New Zealand.

MC Legal partners with Chartered Accountancy and Advisory firm Marley Loft to explain more about employer accreditation and job check applications with Immigration New Zealand to help support Kiwi businesses find the staff they need to keep growing.

Explaining what a Deportation Liability Questionnaire and Deportation Liability Notice means

General information about what a Request for Further Information (RFI) or Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) Letter is and how you should best approach the response.

On today’s episode of the Law Down Under Podcast, we interview Michelle Chen, a specialist immigration lawyer and director of MC Legal. Having grown up with migrant parents, Michelle is driven by her personal experiences to help individuals and businesses alike with their immigration-related enquiries. Michelle is bilingual and has worked and studied in China and has travelled to several countries, including Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam. In 2022, she started her own immigration practice, MC Legal. Michelle now works closely with businesses to ensure their ongoing immigration compliance, and with individuals looking to call New Zealand home. Today we talk with Michelle about how her personal experiences have influenced her work as an immigration specialist. We also take a look at the regulatory framework in New Zealand, and consider the challenges faced by migrants and businesses alike.

Curious about moving to New Zealand? In a recent podcast, Michelle, a New Zealand Specialist Immigration Lawyer, answers listener questions on visas, immigration processes, and essential tips for a successful relocation.

High-level Overview: · Confirming residency pathways for those who meet requirements under the Trades & Technicians Pathway · Confirming the Skilled Work Experience Pathway, with an introduction of traffic light occupation lists, which determine eligibility for residency · Additional Key Changes that matter