[Moorf]

Having just read Av's latest update I thought I'd see who else on the forum is/has sponsored parents to NZ and how long their applications took.

Here's Av's comment that has prompted my post:


Mum and dad just got a letter saying that it could be up to a year before they get assigned a case officer Its taken about a month to get that letter - but we did have a few weeks of arguing over the fees, so anyone else should get that first letter quicker.

Over to you....

[Mickstim]

We were told 10 months to a year (London office) and it actually took exactly 11 weeks ! We were not told we had a case officer - just a letter granting us approval in principal.

Barb x

[Rusty]

My MiL will go into ChCH office 18/3. Be interesting to see how times compare.

[cathgates]

Do parents get the same length of time to arrive as other pr applications (up to a year)?
We are having to go down the wtr then pr route. Any one know if I am right in thinking that we have to wait 3 years after we get pr to be able to sponsor them?
We haven't really looked into it in great detail as we are currently concentrating on our own visa status but they are keen to join us once we/they are eligible.

Cath X

[Moorf]

Yup, I'm pretty sure it's three years from the date you get PR status and not entry into country.

[Debbie]

Sorry I've been away for a while and only just seen this thread.
I will be looking to sponsor my parents 9th Sept 09. The thought that it could take a yr after that is heart breaking. Can they come over on a visitors visa whilst it's all going through?
Debbie

[Moorf]

There's no reason why they can't come over on the Parent/Grandparents visa while their application is being processed. Of course, you should consider a plan B in case their application falls through and they have to return - not a great outcome if they've already sold up and moved everything to NZ.

I know I'd find it hard to advise my parents to move while being processed (much as I'd like them to), it's a personal decision/risk only you and your parents can make.

Moorf

[zsj]

Sponsoring my parents as of early Feb this year. They had a letter in March with case officer and request for more info which is promising despite the disheartening first letter acknowledging receipt of application and saying could take up to 6months for case officer to be allocated and a year from that for processing..!

Application went into Wellington office.

[Moorf]

My parents, who submitted on 17 March, received a letter a couple of weeks ago saying they would get a case officer within 3 mths.... that's the latest. :nice1

[willsken]

Yup, I'm pretty sure it's three years from the date you get PR status and not entry into country.

Having just heard from my parents that they now want to move here, can anyone confirm this is the case? We had PR granted May 2006 and arrived Dec 2006. Which date will apply to the 3 year rule?

[willsken]

Sorry another question has just popped into my head. If we go ahead with sponsorship and all turns out OK, then once it's granted, do they have a time limit on how long they have to arrive in NZ? (Thinking house sale etc)

[JandM]

Here's a link to the relevant NZ immigration service page, which has more links of its own. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/parent/canisponsormyparent/

I've never heard anything said about your later question. I know Mickstim came in on parent sponsorship, so they may be able to tell you what the paperwork said.

Good luck!

[bartons]

Immigration states you have to be the holder of a residency PERMIT for three years, not a residency VISA. (For the difference between visa and permit: "A visa gives you permission to travel to New Zealand. It will list the conditions under which you're able to enter New Zealand and obtain a permit.

Once you arrive, for example at a New Zealand airport, an immigration officer will check your visa. If the officer is happy you meet all the conditions stated on the visa, they'll grant you a permit. It is the permit that gives you permission to be in New Zealand and states the date your permit will expire and any other conditions that apply.")

Conclusion: three years from entering the country (=obtaining the permit), NOT three years from being approved (=obtaining the visa).

[Mickstim]

Yep - we are on parent sponsorship and had the same time limits as everyone else. We had 6 months to get blue stickers and then a year from that date to arrive in NZ. Made it with 16 days to spare!

Bx

[Moorf]

The three years is taken from when you received your PR, not your date of entry into NZ. Thus, whilst we arrived in Sept '04 on a visitors visa, we did not get our PR until March 2005. Therefore, I was unable to start my parent sponsorship until March 2008. My parents put in their application the day after the date on my PR.

Good luck Nic, hope it all goes smoothly for you and your parents.

Moorf

[willsken]

Good luck Nic, hope it all goes smoothly for you and your parents.

Moorf

Thanks! :nice1 Should be an interesting time.:uhoh

[JandM]

Good luck Nic, hope it all goes smoothly for you and your parents.

Moorf

Hear, hear!:nice1

[Moorf]

A quick update...

My parents have finally sold their home :bluebanana and should be here within a few months (I know that Dad's keen to get here before the end of ski season :D )

It's been about 1 year and 2 months since we started the process and now it's a matter of months before they're here for good :nice1

[victoria24]

:nice1 moorf

[M-Squared]

Fab news Helen! :nice1

Before my parents visited here in January, they dismissed any thought of moving here, and said it would probably be their only visit. After about a week they were already saying where they would like to go on their next trip :) and at the end of they were definitely thinking about the possibility of moving here. Family balance is definitely a factor, though. I have one older brother, and he's been with his lovely wife since 1991, but no children. Am going to read up to see if us having their only grandchild might have some bearing on a decision... fingers crossed!

[M-Squared]

Alrighty!!! Just checked the centre of gravity rules, and my parents would be OK to apply here. :nice1

[JandM]

Helen, that's great news! Please pass on our congratulations.:nice1:clap

After about a week they were already saying where they would like to go on their next trip and at the end of they were definitely thinking about the possibility of moving here.That sounds like M's reactions - his first trip was my second, and I already knew I could go for it if he would be happy to, too.

[Cat Woman]

The 3 years starts from December 2006.
We have been here 3 years gone Jan and are in the process of sponsoring my parents to move over. Will keep you posted on how long it takes them - I hope not 2 years as dad is 76!!!

[JandM]

Good luck.:nice1

[Duncan74]

I was sat in NZIS in London today, and the lady ahead of me was asking about this as her daughter and son in law are PRs in NZ. The advice she was given was that in all offices (ie not just London, but around the world including in NZ offices) it was 2 years before the case would een be considered. The actual criteria hasn't changed but due to the number of applications they've been having then there is a quota, and so it's now 2 years. Lady was a bit shell shocked. However, he did say that as a UK citizen then she could do the 6/12 or the extended 9/18m months as a visitor in the mean time, although obviously without any health or work rights.

I'm only posting what I heard as it seems relevant to the discussion, hope not to disappoint / worry people.

[JandM]

Thank you, Duncan. It's better to know these things than to be under illusions. There's also the parents'/grandparents' visa (you need to pass a medical for that, but then, you do to be sponsored in anyway).

[Bruckner]

Congratulations Moorf!

Emily

[grady bunch]

However, he did say that as a UK citizen then she could do the 6/12 or the extended 9/18m months as a visitor in the mean time, although obviously without any health or work rights.

I'm only posting what I heard as it seems relevant to the discussion, hope not to disappoint / worry people.

Sorry to butt in, but what is the 6/12 and 9/18 visitor?? My parents are coming over in October, does that mean they can only stay 6 in 12 months? and do they need a visa to come on holiday?

Thanks
sasha

[Duncan74]

Please confirm this, as I was bored waiting for 1h15 so started listening to the discussion going on at the desk next to me. I'm no expert. But, standard visitors from the UK can stay for 6 months. You then need to leave for 6 monhts, and can come back 6 months later. So 6months in NZ, 6 months back in teh uk, and repeat for as many years as you like. But for UK citizens, then you can get an extended visitors visa good for months. However, this can't be renewed until 18 months later, so that then becomes 9 months in NZ, 9 outside, again, repeat as required.
Up to 6 months UK citizens don't need to get any visa, the 9 month one you do need to apply for.

[JandM]

For reference, http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/visitors/ on this page, see the paragraph 'Arriving at the border visa-free', and http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/visitors/specialvisitors.htm on this one, the section about multiple entry visitors' visas for the parents or grandparents of NZ residents or citizens.

[Moorf]

Quick update: my parents are planning to fly out here, to start their new lives, in the first week of August :bluebanana:raebanana:bluebanana

[JandM]

Oh, great news - give them our best! :nice1

[miep]

Well done Moorf and parents!:clap:bluebanana:raebanana
Is your brother still planning to come here as well?

[Moorf]

Is your brother still planning to come here as well?

Eventually... at the moment his business his doing very well and eldest daughter started High School and loving it so perhaps in a few years time.

[Arwen]

Oooh the family of 'Moorf's' will all be together one day, that's fantastic. :clap

Tony Hart will be pleased, (God rest his artistic soul). :nice1

[IanR]

Please confirm this, as I was bored waiting for 1h15 so started listening to the discussion going on at the desk next to me. I'm no expert. But, standard visitors from the UK can stay for 6 months. You then need to leave for 6 monhts, and can come back 6 months later. So 6months in NZ, 6 months back in teh uk, and repeat for as many years as you like. But for UK citizens, then you can get an extended visitors visa good for months. However, this can't be renewed until 18 months later, so that then becomes 9 months in NZ, 9 outside, again, repeat as required.
Up to 6 months UK citizens don't need to get any visa, the 9 month one you do need to apply for.

Yes, I was under the impression that I could do a 6 months in / 6 months out constant rotation - but I (almost) found that that was not the case the hard way.

In 2007/8/9 I'd done 6 months in NZ, followed by 6 months back in the UK and then returned to NZ for another 6 months. However, 3 months into the second stay I was told by a rather grumpy NZ immigration official that I had 5 days to pack up and leave NZ. He explained that the rule for UK citizens is that they can spend 9 months in any 18 months in NZ as a visitor and not 6 in 12.
In the end I contacted another immigration officer who, quite casually, allowed me to stay (they had stamped my passport with a 6 month visa on entry anyway) - but the letter of the immigration law is 9 in 18. I'm not sure how strictly immigration impose this though? Or why that particular split?

I now have a g/parents visitors visa which allows me to spend 18 months in 36 in NZ (though I have to 'leave' every 6 months but only for a day as I understand it).

[Familyofmonkeys]

Quick update: my parents are planning to fly out here, to start their new lives, in the first week of August :bluebanana:raebanana:bluebanana

Excellent news :raebanana

[Duncan74]

In the end I contacted another immigration officer who, quite casually, allowed me to stay (they had stamped my passport with a 6 month visa on entry anyway) - but the letter of the immigration law is 9 in 18. I'm not sure how strictly immigration impose this though? Or why that particular split?

I now have a g/parents visitors visa which allows me to spend 18 months in 36 in NZ (though I have to 'leave' every 6 months but only for a day as I understand it).

How odd. The officer in London implied that the 6/12 was 'standard' unless you actually apply for the UK 9/18. In fact he actually stated that she could do 6/12 and waas talking about a cycle of May-November in one, then December to April in the other, repeating.

[IanR]

How odd. The officer in London implied that the 6/12 was 'standard' unless you actually apply for the UK 9/18. In fact he actually stated that she could do 6/12 and waas talking about a cycle of May-November in one, then December to April in the other, repeating.

Yes, in retrospect I found it strange that the officer on entry stamped my passport for 6 months when it was quite clear that I'd already done 6 months in country in the last 12 months. It was when only when I rang immigration to ask whether I was clear to take a trip to Aus for a few days and then return to NZ that I came across the 'You're an overstayer - Pack up and leave in 5 days' quoting officer.
I've also heard (second hand) of so called 'swallows' who summer in the UK and then NZ in a 6 month rotation year on year - how accurate that is though I'm unsure.

[heima]

Our daughter sponsord us back in Jan. We had a letter saying it may take up to 4 months to hear anything, later another letter saying sorry but it may take UP TO 12 months before we hear anything as the immigration dept in London is almost overwhelmed with applications from people wanting to get out of England. We now just have to sit waiting each day for any word at all.Sorry I've been away for a while and only just seen this thread.
I will be looking to sponsor my parents 9th Sept 09. The thought that it could take a yr after that is heart breaking. Can they come over on a visitors visa whilst it's all going through?
Debbie

[willsken]

Quick update: my parents are planning to fly out here, to start their new lives, in the first week of August

Just seen this... congratulations, I'm thrilled for you:D....... if somewhat jealous :uhoh

[The Devoneers]

Our daughter sponsord us back in Jan. We had a letter saying it may take up to 4 months to hear anything, later another letter saying sorry but it may take UP TO 12 months before we hear anything as the immigration dept in London is almost overwhelmed with applications from people wanting to get out of England. We now just have to sit waiting each day for any word at all.

I know how you feel as we applied in August of last year and are still waiting to hear. :wah

Ann

[Trendynana]

Hi Ann (The Devoneers)

We wondered if you had heard anything as it will be a year next month that you will have waited. Have you rung them at all or had an correspondence from them? To see how many millions of people are infront of you?

We handed in our Parent Visa application to London in March 2009 so you are in front of us by 7 months or so, we are using you as our timeline guide - when you have heard we hope that we can work out when we might hear anything!! Keep watching for that magical post from you.

We may go for a holiday early next year to see our children and grandchildren as we cannot wait much longer - we haven't seen our grandson yet and he is 4 months old now!! We thought that the next time we go it would be one way ticket - but maybe not now.

We just want to be all together - this waiting is driving us mad!! You start wondering if your visa application has been lost!

Keep us posted Ann.

Good luck.

[The Devoneers]

Hello Trendynanna

We are still waiting.

Our son who has sponsored us has moved house so we got in touch to ask if they needed the new address now or when we get a case officer. They said to send it in and it would be put into our file but that is all we know.

I will post when we get some news.

Ann

[zsj]

My parents applied Feb 2008 and heard a couple days before Christmas - 10.5months in all it took. That included a couple of requests for extra medical info earlier on. Hope that gives you an inkling on timelines, at the time we were told it would take up to 12 months to be assigned a case officer. There may be even more applications now of course but I would hope that a year would about do it....speculatively...

[Moorf]

Today, I can finally draw a line under this part of my NZIS experience.

Having started the process in March, 2008, my parents have now booked their flights and arrive 23 August to start their new lives down under!

:bluebanana:cheers:bluebanana

The longest part was selling the house!

[Parsley]

Today, I can finally draw a line under this part of my NZIS experience.

Having started the process in March, 2008, my parents have now booked their flights and arrive 23 August to start their new lives down under!

:bluebanana:cheers:bluebanana

The longest part was selling the house!

Wayhey! Congrats to you all on this :D

[JandM]

Excellent news!:cheers:nice1

[Trendynana]

Hi Moorf

Congratulations - your parents are the lucky ones (any room in their suitcases for us two parents in waiting)? Maybe things will start moving after the year is up - lets hope so for us and the Devoneers.

We will hang in there and keep our fingers crossed. :clap:clap:clap

[baboonworld]

Well done - i am sure all your experience helped!!!

So 18mths from start to finish? Is that from application submission to getting blue stickers??

[jkhosking]

Hi All,

I found this thread very useful, but was left a bit confused. Having read through the first 1 1/2 pages, I concluded that you can apply to sponsor your parents 3 years from the date of your arrival. However, Moorf's post below appears to contradict this?

To put this in context, my wife, kids and I received PR on 7 May 09 and arrive in Chch on 6 May 10 (cutting it fine as we have 1 yr to activate). I want to sponsor my mom asap. When would I be able to start the application process? May 2012 or May 2013?

The three years is taken from when you received your PR, not your date of entry into NZ. Thus, whilst we arrived in Sept '04 on a visitors visa, we did not get our PR until March 2005. Therefore, I was unable to start my parent sponsorship until March 2008. My parents put in their application the day after the date on my PR.

Good luck Nic, hope it all goes smoothly for you and your parents.

Moorf

[Duncan74]

Isn't it 5 years now? Thought I read that on the NZIS site recently. Change applied to those getting PR after 2008? From memory - please look it up.

[JandM]

Duncan, no - it's citizenship you can only get after five years.

Sponsorship requirements
A sponsor must:


be 17 years of age or over
be in New Zealand
be a New Zealand or Australian citizen or the holder of a current residence permit that is not subject to requirements under section 18A of the Immigration Act 1987
have been a New Zealand or Australian citizen and/or the holder of a Residence Permit or a returning resident’s visa for at least three years immediately before the date their registration is received by the New Zealand Immigration Service
in each of the three 12 month portions within that three-year period, have spent a total of 184 days or more in New Zealand
meet the minimum income requirement (unless they obtained residence in New Zealand as a refugee, or they are aged 65 years or older).


A sponsor must undertake to ensure that financial support and accommodation is provided to you, if necessary, for at least your first 24 months as a resident in New Zealand. Sponsors who gained residence in New Zealand on the basis of their status as refugees are only obliged to accommodate you for the first 24 months of your residence (if necessary).



A sponsor aged 17 to 24 must satisfy us that they are able to meet the undertakings given on the sponsorship form.

Moorf says she got PR in March of 2005, and therefore sponsored her parents in March of 2008 - three years later. She arrived in the country before that, but it didn't count, because she didn't then have PR.

Originally Posted by Moorf
The three years is taken from when you received your PR, not your date of entry into NZ. Thus, whilst we arrived in Sept '04 on a visitors visa, we did not get our PR until March 2005. Therefore, I was unable to start my parent sponsorship until March 2008. My parents put in their application the day after the date on my PR.

[James 1077]

To put this in context, my wife, kids and I received PR on 7 May 09 and arrive in Chch on 6 May 10 (cutting it fine as we have 1 yr to activate). I want to sponsor my mom asap. When would I be able to start the application process? May 2012 or May 2013?

Reading the requirements (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/parent/canisponsormyparent/sponsorshiprequirements.htm), I believe that you will be able to start the process in May 2013.

You need to have held a Permanent Residency Permit for 3 years before you can sponsor your parents. When you get the PR stickers from the embassy this is only a Permanent Residency Visa, which entitles you to travel to New Zealand and become a resident.

The Permit is the stamp that goes into your passport when you arrive.

I think that the confusion rests on the fact that Moorf appears to have arrived without residency and applied when in New Zealand. There was therefore no Visa and so the 3 year count starts at the date the Permit was put in the passport. For most people the date of arrival and date that the you got your Permit is the same.

[jkhosking]

thanks for clearing that up for me....

[baboonworld]

how long though?!?!?!?!?!? :-}


I have inlaws lying in wait~ (although Trendynana will get in there first of course!)

[JandM]

how long though?!?!?!?!?!? :-}Quite...

[Trendynana]

HI Baboonworld - yesTrendynana is still waiting - and The Devoneers are too (they applied in August 2008) and as far as I know have not heard anything yet. Have you Devoneers if you are reading this?

We have decided to go to New Zealand in January 2010 for a holiday to see our new grandson who will be 9 months old then - we cannot wait any longer for our Residency Visa's going through the system - we want to see our children and grandchildren - so we have paid for our flights - now I just have to get through the Autumn and Christmas and then off we go for a nice holiday in the warm sunshine.

I thought that the next time we arrived in New Zealand would be the start of our new life with our family - but unfortunately it won't be - still its September on Tuesday so another month crossed off - horray!!

:clap

[The Devoneers]

Hello Trendynanna, we are still waiting. It was 12 months last week since we applied and we have decided to get in touch and ask what is happening after the bank holiday.
Like you we have booked another holiday, something we thought we wouldn't have to do but we want to be there when our new grandchild is born at Christmas.
If there is any news I will let you know.
Ann

[heima]

Hello Trendynanna, we are still waiting. It was 12 months last week since we applied and we have decided to get in touch and ask what is happening after the bank holiday.
Like you we have booked another holiday, something we thought we wouldn't have to do but we want to be there when our new grandchild is born at Christmas.
If there is any news I will let you know.
Ann

Hi there Devoneers, we got in touch a couple of weeks ago to try to find out what our position was in the oviously long pile of applications. Reply was that our application would not even be looked at until the full year from application was reached. Then it could be another 4 - 6 months before we will be allocated a CO. Because of our age, time is passing much quicker than when one is young!!!!! so we are going in a couple of months time for a holiday just in case our grand-daughter gets tired of waiting for us and moves off somewhere else (she is nine now)

[baboonworld]

my inlaws are coming over for 3mths in December. Like you they hoped next time would be for keeps - but even when their "number comes up" they might still have probs with the medicals. only time will tell.

[The Devoneers]

Hi there Devoneers, we got in touch a couple of weeks ago to try to find out what our position was in the oviously long pile of applications. Reply was that our application would not even be looked at until the full year from application was reached. Then it could be another 4 - 6 months before we will be allocated a CO. Because of our age, time is passing much quicker than when one is young!!!!! so we are going in a couple of months time for a holiday just in case our grand-daughter gets tired of waiting for us and moves off somewhere else (she is nine now)

Hello Heima
We have heard from our case officer at last. The letter came just one year after we applied. We have a few issues to deal with but hopefully it will all be sorted soon.
Feel free to PM me if you want and I'll let you know what's happening.

Ann

[heima]

Hello Heima
We have heard from our case officer at last. The letter came just one year after we applied. We have a few issues to deal with but hopefully it will all be sorted soon.
Feel free to PM me if you want and I'll let you know what's happening.

Ann

Great news for U at long last. All we have had back are our passports which we requested as we leave for NZ early Nov. Going for 5 months tho grand-daughter says we r 2 stay for 6 months. May hear something while we are over there as we were told that our application would be looked at after 10Jan, but could take a while to be allocated a CO. Reading all the posts on this site and the NZ EXPAT site medical issues seem to be the main problem with the immigration people. Hope all goes well, will watch your site with great intrest. Alan