Hannah-Jean McCarthy
Senior Solicitor | Corporate Immigration / Individual Immigration / Employment
Experienced immigration and employment lawyer capable of supporting businesses and migrant workers across corporate and individual immigration matters.
Advises on a wide range of visa categories and complex immigration matters, including temporary and residence visas, regularising unlawful status, responses to potentially prejudicial information, deportation liability, and appeals to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
Advocates with pragmatism and empathy, balancing strategic advice with a genuine understanding of clients’ circumstances.
DDI: +64 03 928 0108
Hannah is a specialist immigration and employment lawyer with extensive experience advising employers and individuals on complex immigration matters and policy.
She offers clear, comprehensive guidance on the intersection of immigration rules and employment legislation. Known for her empathetic approach, diligence, and dependability, Hannah is committed to achieving practical and effective outcomes for her clients.
Temporary and Resident Visas
Hannah delivers end-to-end immigration services to individuals and family groups, helping them navigate the pathway to living and settling in New Zealand by identifying pathways that align with their long-term objectives. She provides tailored assistance with both temporary and resident visa applications. She is skilled in navigating complex applications, including those involving false or misleading information, evidentiary challenges, or unusual circumstances
Hannah has considerable experience in handling a wide range of applications, including Work visas, Partnership-Based visas, Dependent Child and Parent visas, General Visitor visas, Skilled Migrant Category and Green List visas, Specific Purpose Work Visas, in particular the Entertainment category, Permanent Resident, Victims of Family Violence visas.
Achievements
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Assisting numerous individuals to visit family, friends and partners in New Zealand guiding through evidential requirements. Assisting individual to successfully obtain a General Visitor visa after previous deportation from New Zealand.
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Assisting number of individuals and families reunite and settle in New Zealand.
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Assisting numerous individuals and employers to obtain suitable work visas.
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Obtaining a Specific Purpose Work Visa for a Director, where opposed by the relevant guild; obtaining large volume of entertainer visas for New Zealand talent to perform in New Zealand.
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Assisting individuals to obtain work and resident visas with sensitivity and understanding.
Assisting Employers with Employment and Immigration matters
Hannah is strongly positioned to assist employers with both employment and immigration issues, supporting businesses to recruit and retain migrant workers while helping employees navigate pathways to residence.
She provides end-to-end support throughout the immigration process, including Employer Accreditation and renewals, Job Checks, advertising requirements, employment documentation, and Accredited Employer Work Visa applications.
Hannah’s experience includes employment law compliance, immigration law compliance for employers, preparing employment agreements, workplace policies, variations of employment, pay entitlements and wage disputes. This experience allows her to advise employers on the intersection of employment law and immigration law. Her attention to detail ensures all legal, operational, and compliance risks are carefully considered from both an employment and immigration perspective.
Complex Immigration Matters
Hannah regularly assists clients facing complex immigration challenges, including regularising unlawful status under section 61 of the Immigration Act, responding to Potentially Prejudicial Information letters, and preparing Character Waiver requests. She also advises clients facing deportation liability and has successfully represented individuals in humanitarian appeals before the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.
Hannah is dedicated to helping individuals, families, and employers navigate New Zealand's immigration system with clarity, confidence, and practical legal advice.
