“I had made the decision that I wanted to stay here for the rest of my life,” says Erik. “But I was really nervous about making sure I got the application right – I didn’t want to mess it up.”
When Erik* followed his partner to New Zealand six years ago, he didn’t have plans to stay. “It wasn’t really my first choice to come here,” he says. “I didn’t know too much about the country and wasn’t initially keen on the idea.” But that soon changed.
Erik came to New Zealand on a Holiday Visa, and his partner on an Essential Skills Visa. Originally from South Korea, he had been living in America before coming to New Zealand. Like many visitors to the country, Erik quickly fell in love with the great lifestyle and friendly people. “I just felt really connected here – the people are so nice!” he says.
That’s when he sought out Aaron’s help. “I had made the decision that I wanted to stay here for the rest of my life,” says Erik. “But I was really nervous about making sure I got the application right – I didn’t want to mess it up.”
Erik works as a primary school teacher, and another staff member suggested he contact Aaron. “She had moved here from Sweden. Aaron helped her understand what was needed and just made the process really easy,” says Erik.
“Aaron talked with me about what my plans were and explained the guidelines for gaining my Essential Skills Visa. He talked through what paperwork was needed and what the requirements were.
Erik says that having Aaron’s help not only made the process straightforward but gave him the confidence that everything was under control. “Aaron is the most efficient person I’ve ever worked with,” says Erik.
“He’s a great communicator, reliable, and to the point. He was always in touch about anything I needed to know, any changes to the rules, and anything else that could benefit me. I’d definitely recommend him to anyone else applying for a visa – he is great to work with.”
Erik is now teaching Year 5 students in Mt Eden and loves every minute of it (well, some minutes more than others perhaps!). “This is my home now; I love teaching here and love the country. When my colleague told me about Aaron, she said, ‘trust me, you’ll love this guy’ and she didn’t lie!”
If you need help making New Zealand your home, contact Aaron Martin, our principal immigration lawyer, for help today.
*name changed due to anonymity
