When Life says Otherwise: Finding a Creative Path to NZ Residency
- Dr Edit Fellner-Andrejkovics
- Sep 15
- 2 min read
For years, Zsuzsa and Balazs talked about moving abroad. Life brought both joy and delays, their second child was born and COVID shifted their focus away from relocation. Australia had been on Balazs’ childhood wish list, yet with time passing and visa chances narrowing, New Zealand came up as a more realistic option. What followed was a journey underpinned by determination, creative choices and the support they found along the way.
In their own words
"We’ve been planning to move abroad for years, but then our second kid, Izabel, was born, and COVID shifted our focus drifted from the move. Balazs has always dreamed of going to Australia, but as he approaches 45, the chances for a skilled migrant visa started to dwindle. New Zealand seemed like a real option, but unfortunately, due to the economic recession, employers were less open to offering jobs to overseas applicants, despite hundreds of applications.
Determined, we began looking for alternative solutions to get our visa first, so I could find work more easily once we are in the country. In the meantime, Zsuzsa quit her job to focus on our plans and took the PTE-A language exam, which allowed her to enroll in a 1.5-year postgraduate master's program. This also ensured that Balazs could get an open work visa and work while Zsuzsa studies.
Things started moving quickly when we contacted Edit and submitted our student visa application within days. During this time, Balazs kept applying for jobs and was able to indicate that his visa was in process. This opened doors for him, and just weeks before our departure, he received a job offer. The week after he started working, the employer offered him an AEWV (Accredited Employer Work Visa) and adjusted the contract terms to meet the requirements for a future Straight to Residence visa.
The university program turned out to be a bigger commitment for Zsuzsa than expected alongside managing the family. So we pushed to wrap things up with the university and visa obligations. A few weeks after Balazs got his AEWV, with Edit’s help, we submitted a successful residence visa application that was granted well before the average processing times by the Immigration Office."
Looking ahead
Their story shows how timing and shifts in strategy can turn setbacks into opportunities. The next chapter will bring its own challenges, adapting to a new culture, building a community, balancing work and family. That’s the part no visa can prepare you for.
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image credit @Nico_Boersen
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