[KiwiTS]

I am a Kiwi and my husband is English. We are looking to move back to NZ in November 2008, however we have issues with timing as we are presently in France and will be travelling around Europe between May and Sept.

We're a bit worried about how we will get my husband's visa. Immigration have said it will take up to 6 months for the visa. We understand that we can send an approved copy of the passport and then take the passport in for the visa once it's approved.

Anyone have experience with how long the visas take?

Is it sensible to go without the permanent partner visa for my husband and apply once we get there? He will be working from (NZ) home for his UK company, so we won't have to worry about the visa for job purposes, but won't have a return ticket.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks
KiwiTS

[roseandrob]

We are in the process of applying for a partner visa - in fact we are submitting it this week. I believe from my research that the partner visa can take anything from 4 to 12 weeks (its the quickest visa and shouldn't take 6 months, even if that's what is stated). Also your partner wouldn't be able to go to NZ without a return ticket if he doesn't have a residency visa. He would have to have a return ticket I think.

[Cath18]

Hi, I sent my application off on 8th Feb (I'm English my boyfriend is Kiwi) and I got my passport back with the Visa all ready to go last Wednesday (27th March) so 6.5 weeks in total. The Approval in Principle came through at the beginning of March and at this point they did ask for my passport to be sent in if I hadn't already so I'm sure you could do it using the certified copy method you mentioned and send/take the passport in oce you have your approval.

[mikewalkerfrom]

I'm a kiwi, wife's english. We did the temporary working visa route with me sponsering under the family stream. Took 4.5 weeks door to door

[KiwiTS]

Thanks everyone. That makes me feel so much better about the whole thing!

[wiki]

Once they approve you and ask for your passport you have six months in which to supply it, so probably enough time to get yourself to London.

I'm the Kiwi with the British partner - it took us four months for approval in 2007 as my OH needed a medical waiver.

They'll do all they can to get Kiwis home - but remember they like to have proof of the partnership in the form of joint bills etc, so perhaps get those together before you start travelling.

If you go the other route you also don't technically need a return ticket to the UK or Europe: you can get a single ticket to Oz which can be dated six months ahead. Either get a cheapy, or pay for a fully refundable.

Best of luck

[dharder]

It took us four weeks, but we sent in copies of the passport, not the 'real' thing. Since you have to pay the migrant levy anyway between 'approved in principal' and the stickers, I think you should be fine.

Good luck,

Daniela

[napiers]

It took me 4 weeks to get 'approved in principle' after submitting my application and then about 10 days - 2 weeks to get my passport back after after sending it off to get my visa. I was expecting it all to take much longer after what I was told.

[Caniwi]

Hi...just reading thru this thread.....
I'm Kiwi, hubby's Canadian. Our impending move back is at the end of the year. We are planning on going with a partnership work visa (I'm guessing WTR) My understanding is it is valid for 2 years. However, there is no way to prove onward travel as it's impossible to buy tix more than a year in advance. For those of you who have taken that route, did you just put N/A in the little box that asks for your intended exit???

Thx

[dharder]

Hi...just reading thru this thread.....
I'm Kiwi, hubby's Canadian. Our impending move back is at the end of the year. We are planning on going with a partnership work visa (I'm guessing WTR) My understanding is it is valid for 2 years. However, there is no way to prove onward travel as it's impossible to buy tix more than a year in advance. For those of you who have taken that route, did you just put N/A in the little box that asks for your intended exit???

Not sure why you would want to go the WTR route instead of going straight for PR (didn't even know that was possible in the partnership category?), have you been together for less than year? Or not lived together?

Just go for the PR, no need to travel onwards anywhere, and you an enter with a one way ticket.

Good luck,

Daniela

[Caniwi]

Not sure why you would want to go the WTR route instead of going straight for PR (didn't even know that was possible in the partnership category?), have you been together for less than year? Or not lived together?


Hi

Well, time is one factor.....considering how long it will take, with plans to leave at the end of the year....ducks just aren't in a row. We've been together for 5 years, so that isn't a problem. I've heard of a few Kiwi's returning with their OH's with a 2 year work permit.

[overscan]

PR is very straightforward for partnership - took me 2 months, and that's not the fastest.

[Caniwi]

PR is very straightforward for partnership - took me 2 months, and that's not the fastest.

Just wondering from what part of the world you applied, and office did you go thru??

[urban78]

PR is very straightforward for partnership - took me 2 months, and that's not the fastest.

Mine took 2 months as well via London, it got delayed because NZIS asked for a letter from my GP. A couple of people I know were approved in just under a month.

Jen :)

[K&J]

We're also going for a partner residency visa. I'm from the UK and my partner is a Kiwi, but we are currently living in Sydney, Australia.

We are being told by the Immigration help line that we cannot submit without our real passports being included with the application. This is really frustrating as it will delay our application because we need our passports in the month immediately following our 12 months living together by a month, and has forced us to cancel a planned trip. I've explained our situation at great length to two different helpline advisors and offered to supply copies of our passport signed by a notary, but they say that they aren't able to accept this and our application will be returned to us if we don't supply our passports.

[urban78]

We're also going for a partner residency visa. I'm from the UK and my partner is a Kiwi, but we are currently living in Sydney, Australia.

We are being told by the Immigration help line that we cannot submit without our real passports being included with the application. This is really frustrating as it will delay our application because we need our passports in the month immediately following our 12 months living together by a month, and has forced us to cancel a planned trip. I've explained our situation at great length to two different helpline advisors and offered to supply copies of our passport signed by a notary, but they say that they aren't able to accept this and our application will be returned to us if we don't supply our passports.

I think this is one of the policies from NZIS in Australia, I don't recall seeing this anywhere else :no

I remember reading on another forum that a couple of applicants who lodged their application in Sydney needed to submit their passports and told they could not submit certified copies either. Quite frustrating as the girl didn't have any other form of suitable ID in Oz :roll

Jen

[James 1077]

My wife's application (London) took about a month to put together with the medicals etc but it was over Christmas and we could have done it quicker and then took another month to process.

They didn't need my passport, only a copy of it (which they took when we took all the forms in), and gave my wife the choice of submitting with a copy and sending the original in for the stamps or just leaving the original with them. She went with the latter as she wasn't planning on travelling.

All in all it was really simple and quick going for Partnership PR so you may as well go down that route if you can.

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

We sent in my husband's PR Application (Partnership Category) today, via Fedex (overnight)...They will receive it at the NZ Consulate Washington DC tomorrow morning... Then the wait begins...Hopefully it won't be too long.

Suzanne.