[Tia Maria]

Has anybody managed to get their IRRV before the 2 year deadline? If so, how much earlier?

Also do you take the 2 year deadline from the 'date of entry' into NZ or from the 'date of issue' on the visa?

And finally ......

Where do you get the visas done in Auckland? Is it quick, can you just walk in or do you make an appointment? Did you take anything other than your passport?

Cheers

Tia

[pinkpiggy]

Tia

I think Spudulike got her IRRV early. I think it might be as short as 15 months.

From conversations I've had with Amanda (Leachio) they were trying to hang on until about June next year when they could have claimed their IRRV. They would only have been in NZ about 15 months at this time but Dan would have been working continuously for 184 days in each of the first two years.

Amanda spoke to Immigration and said they were very good and gave her lots of info around this subject.

Very vague answer I know but it's late on Friday night. :exit

[DMcG]

I got my IIRV late - after it had expired - and I was told by immigration in Samoa that I might not be let back into New Zealand :eek:

The immigration office is in Queen Street in central Auckland. Yes, you just walk in with your passport and something that shows your address (I think I used a bank statement). The whole process only took around 20 minutes (excluding the wait, it's a busy place) - but take your credit card - it's going to cost you!

Dougie

[Park City Partner]

I was told that I had to wait the full 2 years before applying...and that was from the first date of entry into NZ.

[incredible hulse]

Just had to renew my wife's UK passport and tried to get the IRRV rather than pay the 40 bucks for moving the 2 year one. Was told couldn't be done until the 2 years was up; that was after being in NZ continuously for just under 20 months

[Tia Maria]

I spoke to immigration today and they said it was 2 years from the date of issue. I assume you also have to fulfill the other requirements:

www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/alreadyinnz/residents/returningresidents/canireturn/whatisrequired/amieligible-general/indefinitevisa.htm

Am I eligible for an indefinite Returning Resident’s Visa?

To be eligible you must:
- have been the principal applicant in your original residence application, or be included in a Returning Resident's Visa application by the original principal applicant.
- have held a residence permit at a time which was a minimum of two years before you apply.
- met any requirements previously imposed under section 18A of the Immigration Act.
and
- you have spent a lot of time in New Zealand already – 184 days or more in every year for the past two years

or one of the following ways:

- you have tax residence status here - you have spent 41 days or more in each of the two years in New Zealand and you are assessed by the Inland Revenue Department as being a resident tax payer for the past two years.
- you have acceptable investments here either as a Business Investor or in another residence category.
- you have successfully established a business here that has been trading for at least 12 months.
- you have established a base here – this depends on the time you and your family have spend here, whether you own a home, whether you have a fulltime job

Obviously we're being told different things!

So I'll let you know the outcome when we actually apply.

Thanks for all your answers! :nice1

Cheers

Tia

[spudulike]

Hi Tia, I spoke to imigration about half a dozen times before we booked our flights just to be on the safe side. We fulfilled the requirements to apply for our IRRV after 15 months in NZ and we stayed an extra month just to ensure we had enough days. However, we cannot actually apply for it until 2 years after it was issued (2 days after the day we got our stamp on NZ soil) so we will apply from here in Feb and hope we get it!!

Hope that helps but feel free to ask any questions and I'll pop by later.

L :)

[Anita & Marco]

We are nearly at the two year bracket as well and interesting to read that you can even apply when you are NOT in the country. In my opinion you had to be here in person to be able to get the IRRV. Even heard a story of someone who was abroad and was not allowed in, because the RRV had expired and did not apply for IRRV in time (although having lived in NZ two years in a row). But maybe different rules apply at the moment.

On the other hand, why would you like to have IRRV when you leave the country after 15 months because you do not like living here? I do not get it!

All the best,
Anita

[spudulike]

We are nearly at the two year bracket as well and interesting to read that you can even apply when you are NOT in the country. In my opinion you had to be here in person to be able to get the IRRV. Even heard a story of someone who was abroad and was not allowed in, because the RRV had expired and did not apply for IRRV in time (although having lived in NZ two years in a row). But maybe different rules apply at the moment.

On the other hand, why would you like to have IRRV when you leave the country after 15 months because you do not like living here? I do not get it!

All the best,
Anita

If your RRV has expired and you're living overseas then it would not be renewed, however you can apply for it overseas if it is just about to expire. I looked into this area thoroughly, as did others in the same circumstances as me.

We didn't leave NZ after 15 months because we disliked NZ (in fact there are many many things I love about NZ) - I have pointed out on numerous occasions that it was purely financial reasons that have driven us back to the UK and that we wanted to get our IRRV so we can consider a return to NZ in the future. I don't know when it will be but my husband and I want to have the option for ourselves and our children.

L

[Ana&Steve]

Our friends in Auckland are returning to the States next week. She called the American Embassy in to check in on the status of her son, (born in NZ) and the woman she talked to informed her that if they stayed 5 more months ( a total of 18months) they would be eligible for their IRRV. (Unfortunately, they are unable to stay in NZ longer, but the info might help others.) They would have applied from the States after the 2 year mark, having fulfilled the 6 months out of 2 year clause.
Hope that helps someone,
Ana

[incredible hulse]

On the other hand, why would you like to have IRRV when you leave the country after 15 months because you do not like living here? I do not get it!

All the best,
Anita Something we're considering. Reason being that although I like NZ and can see us living here later in life; in terms of working here for the next 15-20 years I can't see it. I find the work frustratingly slow (and backward in my area of IT), and from a financial perspective a no-brainer for me - the prospect of doing 5 years work in the UK and bringing my retirement (in NZ) forward by 10 years is something that I possibly want to explore and a reason to ensure I have an IRRV. Judging by the number of kiwis going to the UK (and Oz) I would guess I'm not alone in that thinking.

[Tia Maria]

OK, so despite what the lady on the phone told me, they wouldn't let us get our IRRVs early.

They were issued in October 2005 and we entered the country in January 2006 and its the entry permit date that counts.

So we had to pay $100 for 5 minutes of their time to get RRVs put into the new passports. And we will have to go back in 8 weeks to pay again for the IRRVs. :(

Cheers

Tia

[jubjub]

Don't you just love it when people can't give you correct info, and you end up being inconvienced for it?? Drives me nuts.

Sorry you got messed around.... although I did think it strange NZIS were telling you two years from issue and not two years from date of first entry (seems even they get confused between residence visa and residence permit) if they get it wrong how the heck are we meant to understand it all!

[Barbara]

Has anybody managed to get their IRRV before the 2 year deadline? If so, how much earlier?

Also do you take the 2 year deadline from the 'date of entry' into NZ or from the 'date of issue' on the visa?

And finally ......

Where do you get the visas done in Auckland? Is it quick, can you just walk in or do you make an appointment? Did you take anything other than your passport?

Cheers

Tia

Hi Tia

The immigration office is 4th floor, 280 Queen Street - open Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm. Tues. 8.30am to 3pm. Yes, you can just walk but I don't know how long it takes - will let you know that after our visit there on Monday. You can download the application form and details of what "evidence is required.

The two year deadline is from the date of entry into NZ. I had been told by the Immigration Department that we could not apply before the RRV expired.

Good Luck

Barbara

[urban78]

My initial RRV expired today and I went to the central Auckland one (thanks for the address Barbara, I couldn't for the life of me remember it :nice1 ). No need to make an appointment, you just turn up and report to reception.

It took less than one hour to get sorted, arrived, had a seat, was called to see an NZIS rep and after checking my passport and me paying the fee ($140), she just stuck a new RRV in my passport :D

I thought it was be a bit more hassle but it was very straight forward ;) I arrived just before 2pm and it started getting crowded when I left though.

Jen