Upgrades to Avalon’s Blog done :)
Filed under: The Book and Website, The Family Sponsorship Saga
Hubby has reminded me just how much he loathes coding – and was only calmed down my copious amounts of Tea, Chocolate and Top Gear yesterday while he battled to do the things I wanted him to do to the blog.
Mostly it was a case of de-cluttering and tidying things up. It’s amazing how this thing has evolved, and as it does so, widgets get added, things move, I join more blog directories, and before you know it – theres no room for me to write anything anymore!
The main changes are:
- The Family Sponsorship Saga posts have all moved up to the top menu, so they aren’t taking up room on the side.
- I’ve created one picture of the Book with both Book and E-Book prices on to create more room and we have a smaller Buy Now button.
- Ive moved the Really Useful Immigration Links into the Links page, rather than having them sitting with the BlogRolls.
- Ive tidied up and shorted the list of Categories, to make it easier to find posts.
But the main alteration is that the Amazon Store is now up and running, and can be found on the top Menu. This is something I always wanted to do, because I spend so much of my own time devouring books, and this is a great way to have a list of all the books that helped me on my journey – both to emigrate and to become a budgeting freak. Ill be adding books from time to time, but theres a pretty good starting list there: both books about New Zealand and books about personal finance. And yes, I will get paid if you click through from the Amazon Store page and you buy anything during that session. It takes you through to Amazon, and you will be buying through Amazon, not through me.
I get about 5% on any purchases you make, so please feel free to make use of the store and help me cover the cost of running this website.
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An amusing reply
Mum and dad recently sent out a “we have been here a year” email to their friends back in the UK.
This was a reply to that email:
No Clotted Cream
No Scones
No Gold Top
No Frozen Veg
15 miles to the nearest shop
No proper Weetabix
Good bread though for Dad, but he cant eat it.
Prices going up
VAT on food.
Dismal weather
Tragic deaths.
No bloody wonder you enjoyed the English elections????
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In any country you get idiots working in Immigration
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when i saw Nadene Ghouri’s story come up on my Google news alert this morning. Nadene was born and raised in Britain, and want to bring in her Kiwi husband to live with her there. They married in New Zealand a few months ago, but are planning a church blessing in the UK in a few weeks. Only her husband Sam has been refused a visa to live in the UK. Despite Sam having already lived in the UK for 5 years previously (and – as demanded of all long-suffering legal immigrants everywhere) left the UK when his previous visa expired.
Why, you ask? Is he a Terrorist? A repeat drink driver with a criminal record as long as your arm? Un-educated?
Nope. among the reasons given were that they have an overdraft, and are thus likely to try bludging off the state.
‘I am not satisfied that you or your sponsor will be able to maintain you or any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds,’ declared the immigration officer.
She said she’d reached her conclusion because my bank statements show an average overdraft of £1,000 to £2,000 each month. Sam’s accounts also show a small overdraft.
Well, I demand that forthwith – everyone with an overdraft be summarily removed from the shores of Britain – especially anyone in the immigration department (and especially especially anyone working for INZ in the UK who doesn’t have a spotless bank record).
Then theres there blindingly stupid assertion that
‘Given your history of working overseas I am not satisfied you intend to live permanently with your spouse.’
Well, it seems that what the silly bint at immigration failed to grasp was that these two people work in Journalism, and it seems they often travel abroad reporting for such fly-by-night outfits as SkyNews and the BBC. So if they had switched their brains on (assuming they had any) I think its not too far a stretch to realise that while they may both work abroad a lot, their marriage is no more false then that of a pilot, air hostess, soldier or a host of other professions.
I have actually heard of people coming to New Zealand being asked to prove thier relationship was real – despite having been married 40 years. You just cant make it up.
Besides – you cant have it both ways – refuse them because they work for a living at the same time as refusing them for being probable bludgers on the state????
Thankfully Nadene and Sam have lawyered up and are appealing the decision. They have also done what we did, and starting getting letters of support and help off other people who know them and support their decision.
I also hope that the person responsible for this blindingly stupid decision is sacked for being so thick. It offends me immeasurably that people this stupid are given jobs that are so vitally important. These are the people supposed to be protecting our borders from undesirable immigrants – not keeping out a newly married couple who can earn money, pay taxes and make a successful life together. I hope their lawyer wipes the floor with the UK immigration Department, and the case officer goes and get a less demanding job – flipping burgers for instance.
Id also be tempted to say scratch the UK and come here instead – except you might get just as unlucky and get a case officer just as stupid. It’s still pure luck. Most people get decent case officers, who treat them as people and take time to use a bit of common sense. But without doubt, some of get robots with no ability to make sensible decisions. I guess you are as likely to meet the problem going from New Zealand as you are coming in.
Finally – good on Nadene for using the fact that she is a journalist to highlight this issue. If I was the UK Immigration Department I would be asking some pointed questions as to why my staff made such a huge balls-up with the case of a BBC / Daily Mail journalist.
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It’s not just us plebs that have trouble getting into NZ.
Today the papers are talking about the fact that the amazing Richard O’Brien cant emigrate to New Zealand, despite that fact that he actually grew up here from the age of ten, and his family is still here.
Seems he didn’t get Citizenship before he left in his 20′s to go to London, and create the best dance in the history of the world (possible excepting the Hokey Cokey if you really want to argue about it).
So now – he appears to have no automatic right to apply for residency as he doesn’t fit any criteria according to his immigration advisor. (Licensed, though it doesn’t say that on their website).
Now obviously – being a Newspaper report, there are a huge number of questions that aren’t answered. I’m assuming that at the time his family emigrated there were no such thing as IRRV’s which allow you to come back to New Zealand permanently even if you have been away for many years.
As it is it seems he was trying to apply under the family residence (adult sibling) category – the same as my brother, becuase he has two siblings here. Only hes too old and yes – you guessed it – he cant apply until he gets a job offer. I somehow thing that wouldn’t be an issue. The Retirement visas don’t seem suitable – one is for sponsoring your parents and the one that doesn’t is only temporary. His son is also in New Zealand as a Student, and apparently applying for residence himself.
It also turns out that Richard O’Brien is so well thought of as a Kiwi, that theres a statue of him in Hamilton, where he used to live. It even has a Webcam! Actually I find that quite fitting.
So now hes writing to Mr Coleman the minister and asking for help. I damn well hope he gets it. New Zealand is ever so eager to lame claim to all sorts of famous people – right up till the might ask for something back. I remember at the premier for King Kong, Andy Serkis was complaining that he couldn’t get residence here either – despite being part of a set of films that NZ just wont stop banging on about because they were made here. And yet Michael Barrymore got in despite having a rather disturbing criminal record that would have ensured any normal person wasn’t allowed in.
So here’s wishing Mr O’Brien the best of luck in his plans to retire to New Zealand as a Permanent resident. He has family here, history here, and he’s claimed as a Kiwi. Cant see the issue myself!
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A ritual cleansing of Immigration Paperwork.
The amount of paperwork generated by having to fight INZ was truly scary, and was taking up space in my filing cabinet that was better used for other things. Like Toilet Paper.
So, to say goodbye to the past 18 months, we have just had a ritual burning of all the crap. We have kept any original letters, but everything is scanned onto the computers anyway.
Blimey – it felt good!
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The New Parent Retirement Category
On the 29th March 2010, a new immigration category is being released, which could make things easier for immigrants to bring their parents out to new Zealand.
If they have money of course.
My personal take on this is that I find these kinds of systems to be not much more ethical that legalised bribery. “Give us your money and we will let you in” does not sound much better than handing a brown envelope stuffed full of used notes to your case officer.
So, what’s the deal?
Firstly – there are actually two new retirement visas, which brings New Zealand more in line with Australia, who have long had a 2 year retirement visa option which was lacking here. There is a temporary retirement visa, allowing people to stay here for up to 2 years. The other is a permanent visa, and this is the one for parents of immigrants who are either residents or citizens.
Parent Retirement Category
The point of this is to bring in families of residents who have lots of money (NZD $1,000,000) and are willing to bribe invest it in New Zealand for four years. Actually I’m sure the point is to get a lot of money for New Zealand – the fact that it brings in peoples families is a side issue.
To qualify you need:
- an adult child who lives in New Zealand and who is either a New Zealand citizen or resident
- Meet Centre of Gravity requirements
- Be willing to invest $1,000,000 in New Zealand for 4 years: in one or more of the following:
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- Government Bonds, Company bonds traded on the NZDX, or bonds from NZ firms with at least a BBB rating
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- Shares in New Zealand companies including in Managed funds.
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- Must be capable of making a return, and can contribute to the NZ economy,
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- Must be invested in NZ$
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- Must be legal, not for personal use, invested in property or stuck in the bank or a finance company.
- Must have $500,000 in settlement funds and earn $60,000 a year
- Meet the standard health end character requirements. (No matter how rich you are – they are still going to make your life hell with medical assessments!)
Now- the really really bad news.
They are combining the number of spaces available for the old parent category and this new parent retirement category – and there only 3440 – 3740 places available. There are currently 7305 parents in the queue waiting for parent sponsorship places as it stands, so it still looks like a 2 year backlog. Of course, now the ones with money go straight to the front of the queue, because they effectively come out of this queue and put in another application, and New Zealand has made it crystal clear they will prioritise people who can afford the bribe investment over the rest of us plebs without rich parents.
It costs $2,600 to apply. But then if you can afford to tie up $1,000,000 with the government for 4 years, that’s hardly an issue is it?
You will have 12 months once approved in principle to pay the bribe investment, and you will be given a 12 month visa to enter New Zealand to look at investment opportunities. (Like the internet? None of the approved investments on the list requite more than Internet access and the willingness to tie up a lot of money for four years)
The policy is run through the business migration branch in Wellington. This is fabulous news as it gets people out of the abusive hands of the London Family Residence team. I knew there had to be a silver lining somewhere.
Bloody hell I am so relieved my family are in and through this mess. I pity anyone who has not yet been able to apply under the normal parent category, because unless your parents have the money, it looks like NZ may dump them on the scrap heap.
Make sure you are really clear on this: this does not provide any EXTRA parent spaces.
It merely allows those parents with money to come in straight away, without waiting for their children to prove their worth to New Zealand for 3 years. People currently in the parent queue could potentially find themselves being expected to wait a lot longer for a place to become available as the places currently available go to the people with more money. So if someone comes in as a skilled migrant on the 1st April 2010, their parents can apply for the parent retirement visa on April 2nd 2010. Without the child having proved any benefit to new Zealand or ability to settle here whatsoever.
Once again, immigrants who have bent over backwards to be a benefit to New Zealand and have earned the right through that benefit are about to get shat on.
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So, how exactly did we get residence for my brother so quickly? Part 3.
So, unbelievably, we managed to get a meeting, not with the case officer, because there wasn’t one; but with the person in charge of all family residence applications.
I didn’t sleep much, had a migraine when i woke up, and also had a doctors appointment that morning for some tests; which ran late. SO by the time it came to our meeting; i was exhausted, in pain, and terrified. I guess that sounds a bit over dramatic if you haven’t been there, but after the way we were treated by London, I was genuinely worried about what we would be faced with.
What we were faced with, it turns out, was a lovely gentleman, who sat us down, went through the file and told us that in fact they could make a decision on whether Visitor Permits were extended, and that despite what we had been told by other staff, and a $450 an hour lawyer – it does NOT require the immigration minister to intervene.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I really didn’t.
He also looked through the file, and said that he could spend a week or so going through it, and look at whether the residence application could be processed now. I think he could see what a mess I was and took pity on me. I did tell him i hadn’t slept properly in months. It also helped that my brother was through the medical, so it basically made it an easy case to process, and i guess gets them nearer their targets.
I was gobsmacked.
Well, by the time i got home later that evening – a case officer had been assigned. He said it would take a few weeks to process the application. 2 days later, we got an email to say it had been approved in principle, and just had to be verified by management.
I screamed.
A few days later they asked for a letter from the prospective employer stating that the job offer was still available. This was a week after the meeting. We had to wait a few days to get that because the guy was away, but once again he came up trumps and got us a scanned copy via email, which was followed up by a letter in the post. The scan was sent to INZ on the Monday, and the original handed in on the Wednesday.
Wednesday afternoon, just as hubby was phoning me about being redundant, and just 2 weeks after our meeting – my brother opened a letter saying his residence was confirmed and could they have his passport and Migrant Levy.
Thursday morning at 9am I sat in the Wellington office, and 10 minutes later was asking a very nice man if they could possibly take the money in person and let us have the permits today. He didn’t know, but asked the case officer, who said yes, and 10 minutes later I had my brothers passport in my hand with a residence permit in it.
And somehow I did not embarrass myself by bursting into tears in the middle of Immigration in Wellington.
THE END .
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So, how exactly did we get residence for my brother so quickly? Part 2.
We managed to enjoy a family Christmas, but during January, the panic over how to deal with my brother possibly being kicked out of New Zealand started to return. I started not sleeping again, and began to wish I’d never come here in the first place. I started writing a letter to immigration stating the reasons why it would be unreasonable to expect my brother to return to the UK, and just what effect it would have on the rest of us. I also started trying to work out how the hell we would go about selling all our properties if we had to leave. Where would we live? What would we do?If my brother had to go back, my parents would go back. And I just couldn’t bear the thought of them all having to go back when they had given up so much to come out with us.
I emailed the immigration officer who had dealt with the Visitor Permit, to ask some questions about the Job Offer, and what information the employer had to provide to prove the offer was real. The employer was getting a bit concerned, and wanted to get as much sorted out as he could ready for when immigration finally got round to asking. (This is the kinda attitude that makes coming to NZ worthwhile). After two weeks i had no reply, so had to ask again. It didn’t improve my mood.
I was told to ask the Head of the Family Residence team – something that then put me in cold sweat after dealing with the horrid woman in charge in London. But this guy answered my questions quickly and properly. He did suggest (as had the lady dealing with the visitor permit) that a work visa could be organised, but it would have to be Labour Market Tested.
I did point out that an admin job fails the labour market test.
We also decided to ask people we know for letter of support to go in with this, with the intention that all the letters would accompany a second application for a visitors permit.
In the end, I got so worked up, and started to doubt my own judgment. What scared me most was that we had been told this would require the Immigration Minister to make the decision. I shed a lot of tears over my stupidity in arguing about the Immigration Advisors Licensing bill and the fact that it would probably cost my family so much. The frustration was literally overwhelming some days.
I was so at a loss, I actually went to see an Immigration Lawyer. He confirmed that it would take ministerial intervention, and we would have to work hard at convincing him (the minister)that my brother would benefit New Zealand.
Thats when I started to get suss!
You see – the policy clearly states that my brother doesn’t have to benefit NZ. If he was a benefit – he would be able to get a work visa, or residency through the skilled migrant category. The family policy is for people who, like my brother, do not have skills or degree level education. WE are the benefit to NZ, which is how we have the right to migrate here. As a thank you, the Family Policy allows us to bring our families in because we have given three (or 5 by this point) years of our lives to the country, while being separated from our families.
He told us that it would take about three months to get anything seen by the minsiter, so we had best act now. He also told us that probably the best thing to do was for my brother to leave a week before the end of his permit, go to Australia for a week, and come back, when he would in all likelihood get another 6 months stamp in his passport.
What the hell can you say to that as a piece of “immigration advice”???
It cost us $450.
It was also complete rubbish as it turned out.
So still wondering what the hell we were going to do, we sent out emails to our friends and colleagues. People we have worked with, done business with, drank coffee with, and asked them to write letters on our behalf. I can tell you – it wasn’t easy. Most of them had offered before at one point or another, but it is quite another thing to have to go round and ask so many people for help.
We also went for a chat with our mentor. And while we filled him in on what we were doing, he suggested that we try to get in front of the Case officer at immigration. That sent me into another cold sweat, as it was basically the refusal of the London Case officer to speak to us that caused the nightmare my parents application turned into. But i thought – well – it can’t get any worse can it?
So I emailed this chap again and asked for an appointment.
And he gave us one the next day.
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So, how exactly did we get residence for my brother so quickly? Part 1.
Filed under: NZIS & Immigration issues, The Family Sponsorship Saga
I’m sorry it has taken me so long to write this. After just over two years of dealing with the family sponsorship process, which is without a doubt much more difficult and stressful than getting residency as a skilled migrant – I’ve been knocked out with a chronic migraine.
I can only assume my mind decided to shut down for a few days.
So first, to recap:
The application went in in July 2009. We expected things to run fairly quickly – because the Adult Sibling applications require a job offer to be included. SO it was with a certain amount of shock and frustration to be told it would take 12 months for a case officer to be assigned. How on earth can you keep a job offer open for 18 months to 2 years.
I asked some questions, and got the usual crap pointless answers back. The kind of answers that mean people like me spend so much time answering peoples questions instead, because we actually give sensible answers.
And then we slapped in an application for an extension to my brothers visitor application. And then hit our next shock when immigration said they had approved it, but the permit came back dated the same day as his original permit expired.
Fortunately, the case office who had cocked this up, fixed it immediately. We went into the Wellington branch to get it sorted in person, and found out that any further extensions would require an “exception to policy” and that the only person who could do that was the Immigration Minister.
And then I started to panic.
I mean – I’ve probably not made myself too popular in the ministry. It’s a bit scary to think that my opinion of Immigration Agents could ruin my family’s chances. We were advised to put in a further application nearer the time it was needed, and with it, give as many reason as we could why my brother should be allowed to stay as a visitor while his residency was being sorted out. It was suggested that a letter to the branch manager was in order at this time.
I still cannot believe that applicants are being forced to do this. It’s nuts. It doesn’t hurt New Zealand in any way to allow long-term visitor visas for family members who are applying for residency. They cannot work; they cannot take benefits, except for ACC accident compensation, which is available to any tourist anyway. All they can do is spend money in New Zealand. Not allowing it causes a huge amount of frustration and stress for the whole family.
Anyway, we had managed to get an extension to the visitor permit, which meant that my brother could stay in New Zealand till June 2010. It also meant that I could take a few months off from panicking about the whole situation till at least the end of January.
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The Last Winterbottom becomes a RESIDENT
Details of how the hell this happened to follow – because you probably won’t believe it.
As soon as I get my head round it myself, and get some sleep.
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