Immigration

Practical, clear pathways to immigration – providing you with professional and practical advice on immigration requirements and visa types.
Our immigration specialists provide practical, clear guidance throughout the immigration process. We have extensive experience with New Zealand’s immigration requirements and visa types, offering professional advice to migrants and employers alike. We are also a full-service law firm, meaning we also have access to experts in other areas of law, including family, property, custody, and tax, ensuring comprehensive support.

For employers, we work closely with our employment law team to ensure compliance with both employment obligations and the latest immigration requirements.

Visas

Learn about the different types of visa pathways, and which one can best help your situation.

  • Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV)
  • General Visitor Visas
  • Residence through work
  • Partnership & Dependent Child Visas
  • Parents & Grandparents
  • Entrepreneur
  • Active Investor
  • Student Visas

Issues & Appeals

Difficult cases, issues and appeals is something that we can help you navigate. Let our experienced team help you avoid issues, understand what checks are made and be aware of your rights.

  • Character issues
  • Health Issues
  • Accreditation & Job checks
  • Risk of deportation
  • Employer assistance

Employers & LIAs

We partner with employers and Licensed Immigration Advisors (LIA), providing relevant expertise to support your needs.

Assistance with accreditation, compliance and ensure robust agreements are in place for your organisation.
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Great service! Highly recommend to everyone. Arran Hunt sir responded to my question within a short time. Really helpful 👍
dheeraj reddy

Our Approach to Immigration

We believe in providing exceptional service with transparency and accessibility. Clients should feel comfortable contacting their legal advisor for updates, and we regularly monitor the progress of all applications, keeping you informed. We also provide clients with copies of any submissions or responses before they are submitted, ensuring accuracy and clarity in every step. Clients can also access their applications on request, offering complete visibility throughout the process.

At McVeagh Fleming, we understand the financial concerns of clients. To offer clarity and cost certainty, we provide fixed fees for most services. Our fees are competitive, and many clients come to us after paying higher fees for lower-quality service elsewhere.

Honesty is at the heart of our approach. We prioritize your time and money by being transparent about your eligibility. Unlike other firms, we do not submit applications that we believe are unlikely to succeed. If we believe an application will face significant challenges, we advise clients to explore other options, ensuring that they do not waste resources. Declined applications can have long-term consequences, potentially affecting future visa applications in other countries. We work proactively to avoid declines, guiding you through realistic options.

We also take an honest approach with Immigration New Zealand. If issues arise, we will address them directly, fostering a trusted relationship with the immigration officers. This openness leads to smoother resolutions and strengthens our working rapport with Immigration New Zealand.

By choosing McVeagh Fleming, you’re trusting experts in immigration law with years of experience. We prioritize transparency, excellent customer service, and access to related expertise to ensure your application has the best chance of success.

Employers and Licensed Immigration Advisors (LIA)

Employers & Accreditation
Accreditation is not limited to hiring staff on work visas. Employers seeking to support a residence application through employment must also hold accreditation at some stage of the process. Even employers hiring workers on open work visas risk losing staff if they cannot offer a pathway to residence.
Licensed Immigration Advisor (LIA) support
At McVeagh Fleming, we understand the value of Licensed Immigration Advisors (LIAs) working with a firm that has broad expertise and resources. Few firms in New Zealand can offer the combination of immigration, dispute resolution, family law, and general legal expertise that we provide. Whether you need support for day-to-day operations or more complex matters, our team is uniquely positioned to assist.

Visas

Learn about the different types of visa pathways, and which is relevant to your situation. Our team is available for a conversation to talk you through your situation and how we can potentially help you with an application process.

Issues & Appeals

Difficult cases, issues and appeals is something that we can help you navigate. Let our experienced team help you avoid issues, understand what checks are made and be aware of your rights.

Character & Health Issues
Issues as to character and health can arise in any application, and character issues could arise when supporting an application. However, the approach to each can vary depending on several factors such as the visa application time, and the history of the applicant.

Deportation
Facing deportation is one of the most challenging situations a migrant can experience. Deportation not only ends a person's time in New Zealand but can also have lasting consequences.

Immigration Protection Tribunal (IPT) Appeals
For many, the Immigration Protection Tribunal will be their final opportunity for a visa, either seeking to overturn an Immigration New Zealand decision or appealing on humanitarian grounds. These are significant applications and are effectively an appeal being submitted to a tribunal at the same level as the District Court. For this reason, we would always recommend that such appeals be made by a lawyer with expertise in this area.
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It all starts with a conversation

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Recent Insights

December 2024

Deck the halls, not the paperwork: Legal help for holiday travel

If you're traveling to New Zealand to visit loved ones this holiday season and need a visa, consider engaging a lawyer to avoid delays or complications. Many travelers rely on third-party agencies for their applications, but this often leads to costly mistakes. To help you navigate the process smoothly, we’ve prepared a guide to ensure everything is handled correctly from the start.
See More
November 2024

6 tips for Partnership Visa Applications

The financial and emotional costs associated with visa applications make the stakes high. So, to help you navigate the process, we’ve compiled our top six tips for applying for partnership-based visas.
See More
November 2024

Immigration changes to help those buying a business

In a welcome move for business owners, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has revised its policies to make it easier for those buying businesses to keep their existing workforce. From 6 November 2024, this change will streamline the process for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders, reducing delays and red tape that previously made it difficult for new business owners to retain valued migrant staff.
See More

Frequently asked questions

Some things worth knowing about the immigration process.
What are the consequences of deportation from New Zealand?
Deportation can end a person's stay in New Zealand and restrict future travel, as many countries, including New Zealand, limit visa eligibility for individuals deported from any country. Deportation can also impact family members or dependents whose visa status is tied to the deported person.
What should you do if you're at risk of deportation?
Address the situation urgently by seeking expert legal assistance. You may need to appeal to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal or request Immigration New Zealand to reconsider their decision within strict time limits. Experienced lawyers can build a case using legal arguments, past Tribunal decisions, and evidence of special circumstances.
What are the differences between character and health issues in immigration applications?
Character Issues: Focus on past actions and potential risks to New Zealand. These can include criminal convictions or allegations of misleading Immigration New Zealand.
Health Issues: Look at future costs to New Zealand's healthcare system. Applicants may need to seek waivers for certain health or character concerns.
What is required for employers to hire migrants under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme?
Employers must be accredited by Immigration New Zealand, demonstrating they are legitimate businesses, financially stable, and compliant with laws. Employers must also secure job checks for specific roles and adhere to compliance measures, such as notifying Immigration New Zealand if a migrant worker’s employment ends early.
What is the General Visitor Visa, and how can applicants improve their chances
of approval?
The General Visitor Visa allows for single or multiple entries, enabling visits of up to six months within a 12-month period. Applicants must demonstrate they are genuine visitors with plans to leave New Zealand after their stay. Proper documentation, such as proof of purpose and intent to leave, increases the likelihood of approval.