IMMagine New Zealand Services

We do not handle migration to any other country and we are not part of the New Zealand Government. We are private sector specialists in New Zealand immigration. We are proud of the reputation that we have built up over the years. While our head office is located in New Zealand’s largest city Auckland, we act for clients who wish to settle anywhere in New Zealand from anywhere in the world.

The primary focus of IMMagine Immigration is to assist people obtain residence visas and permits for New Zealand but we are skilled in all forms of temporary and long term migration, including visitor, student and work permits and ultimately, in obtaining citizenship. From time to time we are approached by businesses to assist them with filling vacancies.

Although we have a record of success of better than 99% (meaning we have successfully secured Residence Visas for more than 23,000 people to become New Zealanders) we cannot help everyone. If we believe, having carried out a detailed assessment of your options and likelihood of success, that you cannot succeed in your application we will advise you not to make the emotional and financial investment in the process.

For you, the client, success comes when you are advised that we have gained approval for your application. For us, success means a client and their family is settled in New Zealand, happy with their decision and well satisfied with what we have done for them. We see our role as going further than just a successful visa application. In an efficient and reassuring way, our team minimise the time, difficulty and the uncertainty of the entire immigration process, from the moment of initial enquiry to settlement and assimilation in New Zealand.  

Our sister company, IMMagine Australia can assist those that might wish to emigrate to Australia. For more information visit their website or email them by clicking here.

We stand by our clients all the way, handling the complex immigration formalities and providing individual guidance and help so that their arrival and settlement in New Zealand is a warm and welcoming one.

Our Philosophy...

We try to leave nothing to chance and we are very good at doing that after 23 years in the business. We have a simple philosophy in business and life -­ we will treat you as would like you to treat us if we were in your position. And most of us have been - in your position. As many IMMagine Immigration employees have been migrants themselves we know what you face if your dreams and expectations are shattered or you don't get honest and accurate advice. 

With more than 60% of our work coming from referrals we believe this philosophy has stood the test of time.

We are therefore quite happy to put our reputation and experience on the line as far as our clients are concerned. Most clients receive a money back guarantee if we fail to perform. This is offered on a case by case basis. In return we ask that clients accept some responsibility for being both honest with us and committed to the process of filing your application. Our performance guarantee is designed to protect both clients and ourselves.

Our immigration work does not end when a visa application is made and granted...

We know that all clients will feel anxiety while waiting for the bureaucracy to make a decision on their application and even after receiving residence approval. To an extent, they are stepping into the unknown. We keep in regular contact with them from the time of our first meeting until after they are well settled in New Zealand. We co-ordinate client’s essential needs before and after arrival and then provide personal advisory support during those first few tentative weeks in the country. 

We do more than just process your immigration application. We offer a range of services which are aimed at increasing your knowledge of your new home and providing you with a sound background of the country before and after you get here.

We emphasise the fact that our work is only finished when you stop calling us for advice. Sometimes that is years after you landed in New Zealand and at other times it is a few weeks. Either way we are relaxed about it as we recognise there is a lot more to emigrating than filling out a few forms and buying a one way airline ticket.

The range of services we provide includes, but is not limited to the following:

• An in-depth personal consultation, Skype consultation or written assessment of your eligibility for the temporary or permanent visa or permit that you are seeking.
• Assistance and advice in the preparation, lodging and processing of your temporary or permanent visa application.
• A weekly blog called Southern Man – Letters from New Zealand sent directly to all of our clients, keeping them informed on political, economic, national and community developments from the perspective of our Managing Director, Iain MacLeod.
• Information on the climate and weather, schools and tertiary education, health services, taxation, cost of living, sport and sporting facilities, music and culture.
• Facilitating contact between migrating families in their home countries and in New Zealand, thus providing further moral support during the pre-appraisal period and the first few weeks of settlement through our immigration forum for clients.
• Allowing clients to post CVs on our Employment Dating Service section of our website known as Jobs New Zealand.
• Leading clients to the schools that meet their childrens’ specific needs and guiding them to the best shopping, civic, sporting and cultural amenities.
• Introducing clients to experienced lawyers, accountants, doctors, real estate and home rental agents, employment consultants and insurance brokers.
• We even open bank accounts for you!

We also organise temporary accommodation for you if you require it...

As part of our commitment to assisting clients with settlement issues after they land in the country, we have available a fully furnished three bed roomed home in Dannymora (Auckland's Eastern Suburbs) available on a six weekly basis. Because it takes most client's furniture six weeks or so to get to New Zealand by ship they need somewhere affordable, spacious and close to amenities to live in during those first few weeks when they have a limited budget or their time for house hunting is limited and other priorities exist such as job hunting and schooling. 

It can be difficult to find unfurnished rental properties in Auckland but it is very difficult to find furnished properties. In Auckland it is unlikely that you can find anything of this size (160 - 180 square metres) on a short term basis and if you could it would cost several hundred dollars a day. Even a one bedroom unit in a motel costs in excess of NZ$100 a night. 

Our home is available for prices that compare very favourably what a motel would cost but you are going to get a house instead. Click here to view more information.

Fees

Naturally, you will be curious as to what our professional charges are. Our fees reflect the time in the industry, the fact the each Consultant is licensed by the New Zealand Government, knowledge and relationships we have built up with Immigration New Zealand and that we bring to the process to assist people in reaching their migration goal.

Our fees range from as little as a few hundred dollars for work on temporary permits and visas to several thousands depending on the services undertaken on your behalf and the expertise it requires. No two cases are the same so each case is quoted individually based on the complexity it presents. Usually our work comes with a money back guarantee of success.

All fees and terms of business are confirmed in writing in advance of your becoming our client or any money changing hands along with the Immigration Advisers Licensing Authority Code of Conduct. 

We do expect payment of the first part of our fees prior to any instructions being issued. Fees are commonly paid by credit card, telegraphic transfer or bank draft. Our fees are charged on a per application basis regardless of the number of people included.

NZ Immigration Assessment Fee:

In order to carry out a preliminary assessment of your chances of success we have a professional fee of NZ$250 (approx US$200.00) which is to be paid before the assessment will be carried out. We can accept payment by Mastercard, Visa or bank draft. In return for this fee, we undertake a detailed analysis of your eligibility and detail the options available to you. You are under no obligation to take things further. (Get the ball rolling, pay this small fee and fill out our online New Zealand Immigration Eligibility Assessment Questionnaire now).

NZ Immigration Process - Time Frame:

Another commonly asked question is how long does the process take?

The short answer is that this is very difficult to predict with any certainty as the goal posts move all the time. Suffice it to say that we will advise you when we are retained the current and expected time frames but these are always subject to change without notice if the Government alters how it resources the branch your case is being processed through, staff turnover inside the Department, how many case officers we end up by getting, how much verification is done (your risk profile as determined by immigration New Zealand) and so on.

We can generally speed the process up considerably but this cannot always be guaranteed. Once the application is approved you will be generally have around 12 months from that date to enter New Zealand although this differs under different residence categories and even within the same category.

Most of our clients therefore retain our services for between one and two years. The first year is to get the paperwork correct and the visas issued and the second year is spent assisting clients with the settlement process. Click here to read more about the application process and New Zealand's immigration policies.