Blog
Making a commitment to New Zealand
Frequently it is necessary to 'make a commitment to New Zealand' in some way or spend a minimum period of time in New Zealand, in order to meet the requirements of some Visa types. 1. Applications for Permanent Residence A context in which 'making a commitment...
Home and Back Again – Criminal Charge on a Temporary Visa
I frequently get asked to write expert opinions for the NZ Courts about how a criminal conviction will harm someone's visa status and their future prospects of staying in the country. Criminal lawyers ask me to do these for their clients, in the hope that the Court...
Deciding whether to file an immigration application or appeal (or not)
Immigration matters with little or no chance of success Sometimes we are approached by a client regarding an immigration matter, but we tell the client their matter has little or no chance of success. At Laurent Law we will tell a client if we believe this. This is...
Further Updates on Skilled Migrant Category – What the 2026 visa changes mean for you
The New Zealand Government has released further details about upcoming changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC). These changes, first announced in September 2025, will introduce two new pathways to residence and update several key requirements. The new settings...
Pushing the Envelope – Out of Policy Applications
In any application for a NZ Resident Visa, everyone has to follow the rules. The visa applicant has to do it. So do visa officers. They are not allowed to make exceptions outside of Government Residence Instructions. While this creates obstacles to getting an...
On the road over Summer
I recently travelled by car to New Plymouth, in part to spend some time with a family member but also in part to see and enjoy some of what New Zealand has to offer by road. I very much enjoyed the trip. In my recent blog about my trip to Melbourne, Australia, I...