Auckland Reader Bipin Patel sent us the following query.
I am a regular reader of Indian Newslink. My wife and I (of Indian origin) had applied for Residence Visa under the ‘Parents Family Category’ and this application is in the last stage of clearance. I hope it will be cleared by shortly by the China office of Immigration New Zealand.
I would like to know whether we have to get only Residence Visa or Indefinite Permanent Residency Visa or Permit; or it is necessary for us to get two years stay in New Zealand.
Please clarify as I was confused reading the news item in your November 1, 2010 issue. We are currently staying with our daughter, who is a New Zealand citizen.
Immigration Advisor and our Columnist Arunima Dingra replies:
If your Residence is granted on or after November 29, 2010, you and your wife will be issued with a ’Resident Visa’ with two years of ‘travel conditions’. This will allow you to travel to New Zealand (if you are offshore) for indefinite stay here and multiple re-entry to New Zealand within the validity of the Resident Visa travel conditions.
Permanent Resident Visas will replace Indefinite Residence Visas from November 29, 2010. You will then need to meet the requirements for a Permanent Resident Visa, which will allow you to stay in New Zealand indefinitely; that is live in New Zealand for a total of 184 days or more in each of the 12 month portions of the 24 months immediately preceding your Resident Visa; otherwise you must successfully meet other requirements.
Arunima Dhingra is Director, Aims Global Education & Immigration Services Ltd and a licensed immigration adviser based in Auckland, with a Consultancy office in India. She can be contacted on (09) 9191930. Email: info@aimsglobaleducation.com
