[lucy&fran]

Hello everyone,

My name is Lucy, and I'm a 31 year old NZ'er living in the USA. My husband and I have been married for almost 7 years, and we're hoping to move back to NZ in August.
Our application just came back with a request for "more evidence of our stable relationship". Can anyone suggest specific items that would help our cause? I never changed my maiden name; could this be the cause for the request?

We also need to get an FBI background check. How long does that usually take? And do we have enough time to get this back to them and approved?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Lucy

[BkyMonster]

Holiday Cards with both your names on them, utility bills with both your names, anything showing that you have been doing things, and cohabiting, as a couple for more than 12 months. It isn't just you, it seems pretty standard for them to ask about that.
FBI check seems to take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. People seem to have varying experiences, but I haven't seen anyone complain that it took overlong.

[nickydwuk]

Hi Lucy, can't help with the FBI check as I am in the UK but I asked my immigration officer what evidence they wanted. She said that if we had kids their birth certificates with both our names on would be good, bank statements with the same address on covering the last 12 months and any finance or utility bills that span 12 months that are in joint names or separate names but at the same address. I know others have sent photo's that are dated etc... I did start a thread about this a while ago - if you look here http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15934 you should find more help. Good luck :yes

[wiki]

Hi, I can't help you with the FBI (sadly they're out of my jurisdiction)

But yes, not changing your maiden name may be an issue.

I'm a Kiwi and my British partner has a different last name to me.

We got PR for her last year and sent in:
* a copy of our joint rental agreement in both names.
* We didn't have any joint bills with both names on it to the same address, but if you do send them in.
* instead we sent in post cards sent jointly to us at the same address with a clear dated post stamp. Some from friends but also about three from OH's mum over the space of about three years.
* we also had a letter from a doctor who knew us both as partners for about four years
* some photos of us in foreign places together - Rome and Istanbul, but with differing haircuts and weights so there was obviously some time passed between us.
* our personal bank statements (we have different banks) but sent to the same address - one from the month before and one from a couple of years before.
* we also found some old emails sent when I was on hols in NZ four years ago and OH stayed in the UK.
* and our sign-up form for joint English Heritage cards (that's the cards that get you free into the historic sites in the UK)

That was enough to get us in, but I think a lot like the photos were probably not necessary.

The rental agreement, doctor's letter and postcards were probably what sold it.

They're not trying to give you a hard time, they just need to ensure no one sets up an arranged marriage purely to get someone who wasn't elligible into NZ.

That was the other thing we did on our application letter: pointed out that with a Phd and work exp in a skills shortage area, OH would have 180 points under a normal application, even if not partner.

Best of luck

[shakyle2906]

Hi Lucy

I dont know really what to suggest ?
With our application, i just sent in our marriage certificate, childs birth certificate and a few photos of us together (luckily had a date on ours) and that was enough. I dont know if something like joint utility bills would help ? Perhaps anything that can show the length of time you have been together ??

Have they not given you any hints ?

Have you had a look on the Immigration website ? There is a questions and answers part and frequently asked questions - perhaps that may be able to help in some way ? They were helpful with me, reply took about 48hrs. Other than that, I would have suggested to ring them and ask for some advise ?

Perhaps do a search on here too, I am almost positive that i read a few weeks ago that someone else was in the same position as yourselves. I am sure i read that someone that knew the people concerned, wrote a letter confirming their relationship ?? I just wish i could remember who it was.........

Sorry i cant help further, but i am sure someone on here will be able to point you in the right direction........

Good luck anyway!

Sharon

[dusk]

Hello
Can't help on the FBI timings.

What did you send as relationship evidence so far?
They suggest some of the following:
marriage certificate
joint bank statements or joint utility bills
photos or other evidence of shared holidays or activities
basically any kind of paperwork that will prove you have shared your lives for a period of time longer than the last twlve months...

hope that helps

[shakyle2906]

Hi Lucy

I dont know really what to suggest ?
With our application, i just sent in our marriage certificate, childs birth certificate and a few photos of us together (luckily had a date on ours) and that was enough. I dont know if something like joint utility bills would help ? Perhaps anything that can show the length of time you have been together ??

Have they not given you any hints ?

Have you had a look on the Immigration website ? There is a questions and answers part and frequently asked questions - perhaps that may be able to help in some way ? They were helpful with me, reply took about 48hrs. Other than that, I would have suggested to ring them and ask for some advise ?

Perhaps do a search on here too, I am almost positive that i read a few weeks ago that someone else was in the same position as yourselves. I am sure i read that someone that knew the people concerned, wrote a letter confirming their relationship ?? I just wish i could remember who it was.........

Sorry i cant help further, but i am sure someone on here will be able to point you in the right direction........

Good luck anyway!

Sharon

[dusk]

oops double post.

[lucy&fran]

Hi everyone,
These are great suggestions. Thanks for forwarding through.... I'm sure we can put a ton of things together.
How long does it take after resubmitting to hear back?

[shakyle2906]

For some reason my reply got posted twice.................

Sharon

[shakyle2906]

Hi everyone,
These are great suggestions. Thanks for forwarding through.... I'm sure we can put a ton of things together.
How long does it take after resubmitting to hear back?




Hi

If you look at my signature, it gives you an approx length of time for yours. Ours were done here in NZ, as we came over on work visas.

HTH

Sharon
x

[wiki]

Our partnership application took four months in the UK - that's with them twice asking for more evidence of my OH's dad's heriditary medical condition.

We applied in Feb and got a letter back after a month asking for more evidence - we then swapped a few letters, asked for a medical waiver and then got PR in June.

Don't be too worried - they really do bend over backwards to try and get Kiwi's home... no matter what rabble with picked up on our travels and want to take back with us ;)

[Jo Jo]

Hi Lucy,

I submitted my application for a partnership visa last May - here's a list of what we provided of evidence that we'd been living together for 12 months, and in red I've highlighted the items NZIS actually kept. The headings I've used are the categories of evidence NZIS give as examples to provide:

1. Proof of shared residence

In my husband's name only:


Letter about his company from January 2006
Letter from PADI from March 2006
1 bank statement from April 2006
Invoice from a hotel from April 2006
Letter from his bank from June 2006
Bank statements from February and March this year showing transfers he had made to my account

In my name only:


Bank statements from January, March & May last year (seems a bit random, but I wanted to give documents from the same time period as his documents to prove we were both living at this address)[/COLOR]
Bank statement from February 2007
My most recent telephone and electricity bills (I included these just to prove all the bills are in my name).

In both our names:

Council tax bill
Letter from the bank regarding our joint bank account
Our mortgage agreement

I also referred to documents in section 3.

2. Financial dependence or interdependence


Copy of letter from our NZ solicitor regarding the purchase of our house in NZ
Notice of change of ownership of our house in NZ


I also pointed out the transfers from his bank account to mine which I had highlighted on the bank statements, and referred them to the letters from our bank mentioned above.

3. Any documents showing public or family recognition of your relationship


Letter of support from my partner’s family
Three wedding invitations and thank you cards
A christening invitation

All of the above were in postmarked envelopes. A couple of them were only addressed to me on the envelope, but the invitations themselves were addressed to both of us.


A postcard
Christmas cards from 2004, 2005 and 2006 (I’m a bit of a hoarder!) They didn’t even keep most of these.

4. Correspondence (including post marked envelopes) to you and your partner at the same address

I referred them to the relevant documents in sections 1 – 3.

5. Photographs of you and your partner together

I only included about 9 photos – most of them were from weddings and family parties. I stuck the photos to bits of A4 paper, and wrote the event, who the other people were in the pics, and if they were relatives, included this info too. And they gave them all back to us!

6. Evidence of the duration of your relationship

I referred them to the documents in section1, section 3, section 5 and section 9

7. The degree of commitment to a shared life

I just wrote here that we have bought a business in NZ, and referred them to the documents in relation to our house purchase in section 2

8. Evidence of communication between you both

I provided three phone bills from July – September 2005 – my boyfriend was overseas at that time and I ran up dreadful phone bills calling him.

9. Evidence of you being committed to each other emotionally and exclusively, such as evidence of joint decision-making, and exclusive sexual relationship, and the sharing of household duties, parental responsibility and spare time.

I provided a copy of an email from lastminute.com which contained the itinerary from a holiday we took together in June 2005, a copy of an e-ticket for some flights from December 2005, and our plane tickets from our trip to NZ at Christmas.

Hope that helps.

[lucy&fran]

Wow, that really helps! Looks like I have a long paper pushing weekend ahead of me!

[phatsharpie]

If I remember correctly, I believe you can specify on the envelope to the FBI (with the finger print cards, paperwork, etc.) when you need to get the background check results back (and what reason?). They would then try to meet that date (if it is within reason I believe). I think it's explained on the FBI background check form. Mine took very little time - not more than a month that's for sure.

Good luck!

-B

[JandM]

I think I'm probably the person mentioned who has recently posted about having to write a letter of support. I wrote about how we first came to know our NZ daughter-in-law, family occasions she'd shared with us, and bits of personal information (things we wouldn't know if it had just been a marriage of convenience). A family friend here in the UK did the same. And her family in NZ did the same kind of thing about our son.

[shakyle2906]

I think I'm probably the person mentioned who has recently posted about having to write a letter of support. I wrote about how we first came to know our NZ daughter-in-law, family occasions she'd shared with us, and bits of personal information (things we wouldn't know if it had just been a marriage of convenience). A family friend here in the UK did the same. And her family in NZ did the same kind of thing about our son.

Thought it was JandM, but couldnt find the post!

Sharon

[JandM]

Thought it was JandM, but couldnt find the post!Nor could I, hence writing it again!

[Pip]

Hi,

Maiden name shouldn't be too much of an issue. I kept mine for ages (still use both and have ID in each) and our ITA application, my passport, and blue stickers as well as IRD no are all in my maiden name. We had to supply evidence of our relationship, but this was deemed to be marriage certificate, copy of mortgage (which is in joint names) and samples of bills (some in mine name and some in OH's), but all for the address which matches that of the mortgage.

once we sent that, it took about another week to get formal approval.

best of luck!

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hi Lucy:

In regards to proof of relationship we are getting that together at present and have the following:

Joint bank accounts and single bank accounts with our address.
Apartment lease in both our names.
Envelopes from letters and cards addressed to us from family and friends, showing same address.
Photos of us both taken with our respective families. (this includes our wedding photos) all with names and dates on the back of photos.
Our marriage certificate.
Letters from family members and friends.

We feel this should be adequate proof of our genuine relationship.

As far as FBI check we included with the application a letter stating when we required the results of the check for Immigration purposes and we received the FBI checks back in 13 days. Even though you are a Kiwi returning home you also need a FBI check to include with the Sponsorship Form.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck.