[mike&stef]

Dear all,

After many heated debates our 18 year old daughter has decided to try and pursue Uni in the UK rather than come with us to NZ in September.

We are trying the skilled migrant route and have received an ITA with no job offer so will maybe receive a limited work visa while we find work which will then convert it to PR.

My question is, if we include her on the application as a dependant in Full time education and we get PR, does anyone know how long she would have to change her mind and join us ? I am assuming that PR expires if you do not take up residence.

We have looked up sponsoring her at a later date but because her "natural" dad is still resident in the UK then this is not an option.

Many thanks in advance for any advice as this is really stressing us out.:(

Regards Mike

[lockstock]

We did just that with our 19 (now 20 year old) Get her on the visa because curiosity will get the better of her and come gap year time - she'll be thanking you for it. Ours is coming out in April. You have two years to get here which, I think, applies to any PR visa. Go for it.

[ellenmelon]

get her on the visa for sure. but she will be fine there if she chooses to study there. what is she planning on studying?

[lockstock]

Incidentally, we applied for PR without a job and 115 points. I got the job offer four months after completing the ITA. Don't be put off by points and lack of jobs. If there's a skill shortage for what you want to do you should be ok. Stick to your first plan. It's an infuriatingly slow process but if you chop and change it just slows things up. Trust me, your patience will be stretched to the limit!

[mike&stef]

Many thanks for such swift replies, praise the lord for this forum!! This whole process is so stressful and pushes you towards questionning everything over and over. I suppose the best things in life are only achieved with a struggle!

That makes such a difference knowing other people have been there, done that. She wants to do a media degree photography/journalism as the main part, I think!!

I must admit I quite admire her for being so bolshy and wanting to do her own thing but on the other hand think it would be alot easier all round if she came quietly, Teenagers eh!

I vaguely remember coming home with a bleached mohawk and shaved sides, scared the pants off my mum!! Those were the days !! [sigh]

Incidentally Lockstock have you heard anymore about the GST? Asked our Removals man who came back with a quote of something very similar to your own case and suggested that there was some kind of right to appeal for a special case to the NZ Government. Maybe we should mount a campaign?

Best Regards Mike

[ellenmelon]

another thing..mum and dad "left" me in nz when they went to ireland. im now back here (theyre still over there), my sister is in england and my brother is soon to move to a wee island off scotland! (brother is 18,sister is 20 and im 23..the youngest, 15 , is still at home). we're fine but she still worries..alway will i think! so i just wanted to say its ok to worry about it :D

[benandclare]

I'd dearly love my daughter to be out here as Clare would her children but having said that we insisted that it was their choice and as we are " second time rounders" it would mean them losing one parent whatever they decided.

Penny my daughter (18) has decided to stay in UK and do her Civil engineering degree and will come out Xmas 2008 and after graduating for a long holiday look see around. She knows I'd dearly love her to move here but it's her decision, hoping that once she's been she'll see why we're here :yes

Sam 16 , Clare's son is coming in June, having changed his mind after a couple of months and he had 12 months from PR being granted to activate his visa. Helen is staying in UK to be near her Dad.

Hope this helps in some small way and cant remember if I'd said it before but welcome along to the forum :)

[Croft]

Your daughter will have 12 months to activate her visa (a holiday to NZ between her 1st and 2nd year will do that), then another 2 years after that before her RRV expires. That means she can complete her degree in the UK and still emigrate should she wish to do so.

[gil]

Our eldest was on our visa, came out with us to trigger it and promptly went back to UK after 6 weeks here in Jan 06 (aged 18). She is now arriving end March to do her 6 months continuous residence within her 2 year period to obtain her Returning Resident's Visa, and will celebrate her 20th birthday during that time. It's taken her the last 15 months to make that decision and after that, who knows if she'll stay. I think the novelty of being self-sufficient has worn thin now, so I'm hoping she might stay here long term. However, I have learned NOT to hold my breath where this is concerned! :D

Gil
PS We have definitely had our share of heated debates over this :yes

[Angelonthemove]

they took my daughter of 19 off our PR application as she had a job and was not dependant on us. she is adamant she is not coming over here so have just let it go. Maybe one day she will change her mind.

[Croft]

Just had a thought - isn't the visa category based on the lead applicant? I'll have to take a look tomorrow as going to bed now!

[Croft]

Just had a thought - isn't the visa category based on the lead applicant? I'll have to take a look tomorrow as going to bed now!

Ah, here we are... In your case please note the section in bold as if you children are over 20 it's different. From my reading it doesn't matter what spouse and dependents do, as long as you meet the criteria for IRRV or subsequent RRVs they all get it.

Do my partner and children need Returning Resident’s Visas?

Yes. If your partner and children intend to travel
overseas and want to return permanently to New
Zealand they should obtain Returning Resident’s Visas.
Your partner and dependent children under 20 years
of age do not need to complete separate application
forms or pay separate fees if they are included in your
application for a Returning Resident’s Visa.
Your family’s Returning Resident’s Visas will be made
current for the same period as your (the principal
applicant’s) Returning Resident’s Visa.

Children over 20 years of age and all children who are
not dependent must make their own application for a
Returning Resident’s Visa and pay a separate fee.