Emigrate to New Zealand: Good Character Requirements.
Ive been doing a little bit of research on Character Waivers – and I’ve actually found it a little bit difficult to get my head round. Why are these never simple and in Plain English?
So what can I tell you?
Well, first of all if you want to Emigrate to New Zealand – you have to pass what is termed “Good Character Requirements”.
From the Operations manual:
A5.1 Requirement of good character
Applicants for all visas and permits must:
a. be of good character; and
b. not pose a potential security risk.
This basically means you need a clean criminal record, and not be involved in groups that generally want Politicians to die horribly and governments to be brought down in a local bloodbath.
This is why as part of the application process – whatever route you take – you need to provide INZ with a police certificate confirming whether you have any convictions or not. If your record is not clear – you are likely to be turned down for Residency unless you are granted a Character Waiver.
The reasons you can be turned down are long, varied and (unsurprisingly) longwinded.
A5.25 Applicants normally ineligible for a residence visa or permit unless granted a character waiver
Applicants who will not normally be issued with a residence visa or granted a residence permit, unless granted a character waiver (see A5.25.1(b) below), include any person who has been:
a. convicted at any time of any offence against the immigration, citizenship or passport laws of any country; or
b. convicted at any time of any offence involving prohibited drugs; or
c. convicted at any time of any offence involving dishonesty; or
d. convicted at any time of any offence of a sexual nature; or
e. convicted at any time of any offence for which they were sentenced to a term of imprisonment (whether the sentence was of immediate effect or was deferred or was suspended in whole or in part); or
f. convicted (whether in New Zealand or not) of an offence committed at any time when the applicant was in New Zealand unlawfully or was the holder of a temporary permit or was exempt under the Act from the requirement to hold a permit, being an offence for which the Court has power to impose imprisonment for a term of 3 months or more; or
g. convicted at any time of any offence involving violence; or
h. convicted at any time during the last five years, of an offence (including a traffic offence), involving dangerous driving, driving having consumed excessive alcohol (including drunk driving and driving with a blood or breath alcohol content in excess of a specified limit) or driving having consumed drugs; or
i. in the course of applying for a New Zealand visa or permit, has made any statement or provided any information, evidence or submission that was false, misleading or forged, or withheld material information; or
j. at any time in a public speech or public comments, or public broadcast, or in publicly distributing or publishing a document:
i argues that one race or colour is inherently inferior or superior to another race or colour, or
ii used language intended to encourage hostility or ill will against any person or group of persons on the basis of colour, race or ethnic or national origins of that person or group; or
k. has been, or is, a member of (or adheres or has adhered to) any organisation or group of people which (at the time of the person’s membership or adherence) had objectives or principles based on:
i hostility against people or groups of people on the basis of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins, or
ii an assumption that persons of a particular race or colour are inherently inferior or superior to other races or colours; or
l. in support of any application by another person for a New Zealand visa or permit, has made any statement or provided any information, evidence or submission that was false, misleading or forged.
Note: When considering whether or not an applicant has committed an act that comes under
A5.25 (i), (j) or (k) or (l) above, visa and immigration officers should establish whether, on the balance of probabilities, it is more likely than not that the applicant committed such an act.
This means that as well as being kept out of New Zealand for having a criminal record – you an also be denied residency if you lie on your application or do not tell the whole truth, under the Good Character Requirements. I’ve highlighted these areas – as It is something that can easily be overlooked, and because very few people are aware of the consequences of missing things out on the application forms.
If you fall under any of these categories – you will be assessed as not having good character, and at that point you go through the Character Waiver Process.
Coming next: Emigrate To New Zealand: The Character Waiver Process.
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Related posts:
- Emigrate to New Zealand: Character Waivers Part 1.
- Character Waivers Part 2 – Intent to Deceive.
- How to sponsor your family into New Zealand Part 1
Comments
One Comment on Emigrate to New Zealand: Good Character Requirements.
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Hubby on
Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 6:54 pm
Character isn’t something I’ve read much about. The interesting thing I can see is that first time round it’s down to the applicant to demonstrate good character I.e. Via police certificate andbeing honest on the application form.
Second time round if NZIS decide your character isn’t quite right the burden of proof is on them to demonstrate you do not have good character, rather than you having to prove yourselves again.
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