Author Archives: Simon Laurent, Lawyer

About Simon Laurent, Lawyer

Principal of LaurentLaw Barristers & Solicitors. NZ immigration law specialist.

Buying a Business – the Easy Way to Residence?

Posted on April 5, 2018

Umm, no, it isn’t.  Here’s why. This post was inspired by a Herald article just before Easter, about an Indian international student who bought a café franchise with a plan to use it to get a business visa.  He did … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Citizenship, Immigration Appeals, Immigration Industry, Immigration Problems, Immigration Visas, Politics, Practice of Law, Property, Refugees | 2 Comments

In the News This Week: Partners and Overstayers

Posted on March 29, 2018

The importance of immigration to life in New Zealand is underscored by the amount of media attention it receives.  This week is no exception. Partnership Visas Still a Sore Point It started with my blog in February, which sparked some … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Citizenship, Immigration Appeals, Immigration Industry, Immigration Problems, Immigration Visas, Politics, Practice of Law, Refugees | 2 Comments

What’s on the Government’s Immigration Menu for 2018?

Posted on March 1, 2018

That’s really like asking what the weather will be like in Auckland tomorrow.  The new Labour-led coalition Government has only been in the chair for a few months, and the Minister himself has said little.  However, from a couple of sources … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Citizenship, Immigration Appeals, Immigration Industry, Immigration Visas, Politics, Practice of Law | Leave a comment

SUCCESS STORY: IT Call Centre Staff Win Residence Appeals

Posted on December 14, 2017

In a series of decisions published in the last month or so, a large group of our clients had their declined Skilled Migrant Residence applications turned around by the Immigration & Protection Tribunal (IPT).  This is already producing a ripple … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Immigration Appeals, Immigration Industry, Immigration Problems, Immigration Visas, Politics, Practice of Law | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Kiwis First” – Labour Inherits Immigration Policy

Posted on November 29, 2017

In a June posting I predicted that the Labour Party’s promises to slash the numbers of migrants to New Zealand had already been trumped (excuse the expression) by policy changes introduced under the National-led Government.  That appears to have come … Continue reading →

Posted in Immigration Industry, Immigration Visas, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Labour’s Immigration Policy – More Election Rhetoric

Posted on June 14, 2017

Yesterday the New Zealand Labour Party announced its immigration policy in the run-up to the September General Election.  As today’s interviewer on Morning Report picked up on, it appears Labour appears to be lining itself up alongside the xenophobic New … Continue reading →

Posted in Immigration Industry, Immigration Visas, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Residence and Health – When is it Time to Call it Quits?

Posted on May 30, 2017

I am in the unusual position of supporting a recent change in Immigration policy which restricts people’s ability to apply.  This situation is illustrated by the recent case of Sanita Devi who failed in an application to the High Court … Continue reading →

Posted in Immigration Visas | Leave a comment