Jen Bensley
Direct Dial: +64 3 963 1462
Mobile: +64 27 321 4477
E-mail: Jennifer.Bensley@saunders.co.nz
Office: CBD
I lead the immigration team at Saunders & Co, providing businesses and individuals with a full range of immigration services.
After completing a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science at the University of Canterbury, I started my career in the Immigration field in early 2010, working as a warranted immigration officer in the Skilled Migrant residence team at Immigration New Zealand. While working for INZ, I gained experience in various other visa categories, including all categories of work visa, family visas and Approval in Principle applications.
In 2012 I moved to the private legal sector where I began representing clients in their varied immigration needs as well as for other private and commercial legal needs.
Deciding my passion remained with Immigration, I moved to a dedicated Immigration firm, during which time I chose to complete the Post Graduate Diploma in Immigration Advice, graduating first in my class.
I joined Saunders & Co in 2015, where my team and I assist migrants in structuring their immigration pathway from the outset, ensuring as efficient and smooth of a relocation as possible.
In addition to managing the application process for investment, business, student, work, visitor, family, and residence visas, I also advise on more complex immigration matters such as deportation liability, criminal offending, ministerial requests and advocating for individuals within the Immigration Protection Tribunal and the Courts.
Advising businesses and corporations regarding their obligations, requirements and options for maintaining a migrant workforce is also a core part of my goal to facilitate the successful immigration of skilled workers to New Zealand.
What My Clients Say
“The expertise, professionalism, understanding and results provided by Jen Bensley of Saunders & Co have been absolutely outstanding. I contacted Jen outside office hours on a public holiday as I was having many issues with my residency application and was not getting the assistance /knowledge needed by my current immigration lawyer at the time. To my surprise Jen replied straightaway offering her willingness to assist my situation even though it was a public holiday. My residency application had many issues and Jen was able to overcome them all in a very short time and always kept me updated with every step. Thanks to Jen my residency application was successful and I can now plan my future in NZ. I will definitely be using Saunders in the future, if needed, as well as recommending their excellent services.”
Andrew Hannaway“Jen, thank you so much for all your help with my residence visa. You made me feel confident and took away my worries, also helped explain each stage of the process. The personal touch is a lot nicer than feeling you’re talking to a machine. Thank you for putting up with all my questions and always being so good to reply straightaway. I appreciate all your help and would fully recommend you. Thank you once again”
Nikhil Sharma“Saunders & Co has a great reputation for being an excellent team of lawyers. They are highly professional persons, able to deliver the best results in a timely manner. Jen Bensley was my immigration lawyer and she was able to resolve an issue that occurred. Undoubtedly, Jen’s knowledge on immigration policies is outstanding.”
Maria Korotaeva“When my partner and I were looking to purchase our first home together, a friend suggested we get in touch with Jen Bensley and we are certainly glad that we did. Jen was friendly, efficient and thorough. She made buying our first home, a potentially stressful time, stress free and easy. We couldn’t be happier with how everything went and we will be sure to use Jen again in the future.”
Tom Keith“Jen Bensley was my immigration lawyer. Thanks to her I am in New Zealand with my family. We had a difficult time trying to get a visa to be with my husband for a while without success. Once, Jen took over our case it was a success. Thanks Jen.”
Christine Octaviano“Jennifer Bensley, who helped my family with visas, was very easy to work with, had great knowledge about the immigration policy and was very easy to get in contact with. She was very professional from start to finish.”
Jag SinghGovernment announces revamped Skilled Migrant residence policy
Today INZ announced the outcome of the review into the Skilled Migrant Category residence pathway, as well as resulting changes to the Accredited Employer work visa policy.
The Ups and Downs of the Immigration Rollercoaster
It has been a busy couple of months for Immigration policy, with a significant expansion to the Green List residence pathways released, a transport sector agreement put in place, and the long-expected narrowing of the partnership policy announced.
Sector Agreements policy and Work to Residence pathway for caregivers announced
Immigration New Zealand yesterday released its Sector Agreement policy, in which it outlined various occupations for which a visa could be obtained even if not remunerated at the median wage.
The 2021 Residence category is drawing to a close... so what's next?
The 2021 residence policy was unprecedented, effectively a lolly scramble for the vast majority of migrants who had been in NZ throughout the pandemic to become residents.
Immigration policy updates - Throw out the rule book - 2022 set to be another year of change
2021 has seen an unprecedented number of changes to immigration instructions and policy and as we now turn our focus to 2022 and the re-opening of the New Zealand borders, we have summarised some key recent changes that may affect…
No re-opening of the South Island Contribution Category
Since INZ's latest policy release on Friday, we have been contacted by numerous clients thinking that the South Island Contribution Category ("SICC") has reopened and that they can now pursue a pathway to residence through that channel.
INZ announce charges for entry requests while suspending offshore applications
It was announced yesterday that from 10 August, INZ will introduce the following fees for entry requests: $380 for employers or other organisations seeking entry for “other critical workers”; and $45 for individual requests under all other established and future critical purpose…
INZ Visa Extensions and Changes
INZ confirms visas will again be automatically extended (with trade-offs) and also releases the date for Essential Skills policy change.
Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill set to close New Zealand’s doors, for now
The New Zealand Government has passed the Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill, pushing it through the legislative process in near record time.
NZ Govt’s Draft Bill to give Unfettered Visa Powers
Parliament has today had its first reading of the Immigration (COVID-19 Response) Amendment Bill which, if passed, will grant a range of time-limited visa powers aimed at addressing Covid-19 ‘challenges’ in the context of immigration.
INZ Announces changes to processing priorities
NZ has today revised the order in which applications will be prioritised for processing.
Post-Study Work Rights of International Students
In August the Minister of Immigration announced changes to the post-study work rights of international students, to take effect on 26 November this year.
INZ – New Online Visa Applications
Immigration NZ (INZ) advised that on 6 May 2018 online visa applications were going live for partners and dependent children of New Zealand citizens or visa holders.