Blog
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...
A System Without Review: the real cost of flawed offshore visa decisions
Immigration decisions have life-changing consequences. They determine whether families can live together, whether children are born with both parents present, and whether people can lawfully visit loved ones in New Zealand. For offshore visa applicants, however, these...
A Home in Godzone – for the Right Price
We have been covering the popularity of the NZ Active Investor Resident Visa (AIP) for the last few months. In November I also highlighted the Business Investor Visa (BIV) and the Start Up Visa (SUV). Not sure whether the SUV will see the light of day now - things...