Well RIP me. Feel like horseshit.

112.5k salary IT professional here. Been on Work Visa - Partner of a Student for 3.5 - 4 years now because it allows me flexible work with different employer, not that I changed job often in the last few years.

My partner is a Year 4 student in Med and Surgery, already had a degree in Health Science. In total we're paying somewhat 160k to NZ every year in tax, education and expenses.

Got here 2007 as an international student for high school.

Just logged a draft for SMC on 29th as my new job offer came through, has not submitted, then saw this news earlier today.

Feel like a punch in a throat as I have been working my ass off to get to where I am today, and not eligible just because I'm on a different visa, I worked through every frigging day of Covid, while some uni new/recent grads getting residency through their job search visa, and bragging about it...