- Numerous American friends, when the subject of my immigration status came up, have said to me things to the effect of, "Why don't you just become a citizen?" To the Americans I have known, it really seems that people, or at least law-abiding people like me, should be able to just go down to the DMV, fill out some paperwork, and get citizenship. Time and again I have had to disabuse my friends of this misconception. What matters when it comes to obtaining citizenship is your "status" while you're in America, and your status can be difficult to change. Years spent as a student do not count. Neither do years on a work visa unless your employer is willing to sponsor your green card. Marrying an American works, as a thousand films and television shows have taught us, because it allows a change of status to permanent resident. But if you wish to follow the rules, as I do, then it must be a bona fide marriage. And if you take important personal decisions such as marriage seriously, then you may not wish to have their timing dictated by Homeland Security.
How hard is it to become a citizen of NZ? I remember one Japanese acquaintance bitching about the US American immigration process he was involved in at the time. I asked him about how hard it would be for me to migrate to Japan. "Basically impossible," he said. Tu quo que. We are broken ... but I bet still more people move to North America than anywhere else on the planet. Volume is the problem. This person is fancy & rich and believes that that should make us want him here. Sorry, dude. As close as we are to being one ... this isn't an aristocracy. Your merit and money and access to VOX doesn't mean shit. Wait in line like the rest of them. We just slowed down the million dollar green card ... is that his problem?
How hard is it to become a citizen of NZ?
briandmyers could answer that.
There's a points system if you want Permanent Residence; the system changes, but in general, young, healthy, educated, and skilled in an occupation that NZ needs are all pluses.
If you don't qualify for PR, you can apply for a Work Visa, and once you've lived and worked in NZ, PR is much easier to obtain; or you can simply keep renewing the Work Visa. After a few years of PR (3 I think), you can apply for full citizenship.