[Jennispink]

Anyone had to deal with actual stuff coming up on their police check? My OH has one conditional discharge for shoplifting (oh the foolishness of youth) and 4 cautions for various stupid stuff. They're all over 10 yrs ago but we're stressing that despite the fact I have a job offer we might not be able to go! Help!!!!:( :( :uhoh :eek:

[ourquest]

We haven't got that far in our own process, but the very fact that NZIS only require police clearance for countries lived in for 12 months or more for ONLY the past 10 years should give you some solice.

If you feel like some reading, then the Residence Review Board: www.residencereviewboard.govt.nz
has many interesting cases of applicants contesting problems regarding character and medical waivers, and you may find similar cases, but at the very least it will instill confidence in you of the fairness and reasonableness of the whole NZ immigration process.

This of course does not imply that your own application will be declined, more likely they will not consider it significant or easily provide a character waiver to allow the process to go ahead.

[dharder]

We haven't got that far in our own process, but the very fact that NZIS only require police clearance for countries lived in for 12 months or more for ONLY the past 10 years should give you some solice.


But isn't it that AND police clearance from every country that you are a citizen of, regardless of when and how long you've actually lived there?

I'm not saying that a caution ten years ago for something or other would necessarily be a problem (I have no idea), but it is not just the last 10 years that they want clearance for.

Best to check with NZIS directly, I think.

Good luck,
Daniela

[jubjub]

Don't get too stressed, drop your case officer and email, explaining that there a couple of old convicitions, and explain what they are, I would think that as they are so long ago, and didnt result in a prison sentence they will be OK with it.

[ourquest]

Hi Daniela, thanks, yes my post is misleading. You are right about AND the country of citizenship...and in my own case this could throw a spanner in the works as I am a citizen of the UK but haven't lived there since I was 2. I would imagine that in this case NZIS would not require a police clearance from the UK (for obvious reasons). This is not relevant to the post by Jennispink, though, and I guess what I was getting at is that 10 years is obviously long enough ago that NZIS are not even concerned if you lived in Peru for 14 months 12 years ago and had a conviction there. The "solice" I speak of is in this implied lenient attitude to old offences. Apologies if my error misleads anyone, but I still think the news is good.

[wilson182]

Dont panic......

My OH also had a bit of a misspent youth :) It was well over 10 years ago and he did no jail time. We applied for our work permit and PR whilst here and he had the oportunity to see an immigration officer face to face, but even so they could clearly work out that he was a family man now and had moved on. I would do what Jubjub said and contact your case officer and talk it through but I would say its going to be obvious to them that it was a youth thing.

Good luck

Debs

[Jo Jo]

Yes, just to reiterate: don't panic. Convictions for minor offences are usually deleted from police records after 10 years, although there are cases where this has not happened - it depends on the police force.

So, there is a chance they won't even show up on your police check at all - you can order a copy now to see what it says (it's only £10) and then if they are still on there, contact your case officer and explain the situation.

Good luck.

[ourquest]

And to try and be of further help, this time with real information (!), you can go to www.immigration.govt.nz , click on the left "our policy document", then choose the "administration" pdf option and go to section A5. This is the full NZIS policy regarding character assessment, character waivers etc.

[Jennispink]

Thanks one and all. I've just skim read the document you mentioned ourquest and it seems like he'll probably need a waiver but hopefully it shouldn't be too difficult to get.
Fingers crossed :roll

[victoria]

Just thought I'd add on that if a waiver is required, they will make a charge for it & currently a "character waiver" is $400 unless that has also changed in the last month. Good Luck!