[RJewess]

Hi all :)

We submitted our application and all our paperwork back in April, mostly copies but some originals ie passports, birth certificates etc. I was just wondering when we are likely to get these back as I would have thought once they'd been sighted they could be returned but we've had nothing apart from our acknowledgement letter and a seperate letter about our sons special needs and I'm starting to get a bit concerned - we get alot of stuff go missing in the post round here and I don't fancy forking out a small fortune to replace everything!! We have been allocated a case officer, so I guess I should ask him, but thought I'd ask on here first in case there's an obvious reason they are hanging on to them! I don't need any help to look like a fool!! :raebanana

[migratory birds]

Oooo, April was a LONG time ago. Not so long for processing an ITA but a long time to be without your passports. If submitted with the application, they hold onto them to place the visas once they're ready for that (saves an extra step). But I'd get right on it and inquire about your passports at the very least. If you need them to travel they can send them back, but at least you'll know that someone knows where they are.

It's too late for you now, but for those yet to submit your ITAs - submit a certified copy of the passport with your ITA. And hold off on sending your passports until they're ready to place the visas (if you're approved for one).

I wouldn't hesitate a moment longer to inquire about your application/passport. When I submitted my ITA, I didn't hear from them for months. When I finally sent an email inquiry, it bounced back to me saying the individual I sent the email to (my case officer!) was no longer with NZIS.

I had rec'd no word of his departure prior to this email bouncing back.

I contacted NZIS immediately and they had assigned a new case officer within a week or two.

Don't wait on it - it may be in the queue with all flowing as it should. Or it may be on the desk of someone no longer with NZIS...

[RJewess]

Thanks for the reply - I'll try and send him an email later, and hopefully it won't bounce back!! We had a letter from our case officer a week or so ago to do with ORRS funding for our son, so hopefully he's not left in that time, but you never know! We don't need the passports for anything, but I just want to know they are safe!!!

[Croft]

As MB said, you can always ask for them back if traveling. If you have them it also means they won't issue the stamps straight away and you can delay their issue by up to 6 months after the decision has been made if your circumstances require.

[RJewess]

As MB said, you can always ask for them back if traveling. If you have them it also means they won't issue the stamps straight away and you can delay their issue by up to 6 months after the decision has been made if your circumstances require.

That's a good point - we may need that extra few months, so I think I'll be asking for them back!! That's assuming they accept us of course ;)

[Croft]

That's a good point - we may need that extra few months, so I think I'll be asking for them back!! That's assuming they accept us of course ;)

Plus of course you have another year to get out to activate the visa, and depending on the type of visa, another 2 years after that the actually settle.

[RJewess]

Plus of course you have another year to get out to activate the visa, and depending on the type of visa, another 2 years after that the actually settle.

Yeah, we were working on having a year but figured that my be cutting it a bit fine! Our house needs a lot of work before we can sell it but that requires money which we don't have a lot of until we sell the house! You can see the dilemma I'm sure!! An extra 6 months would be very helpful so we can scrape all our spare pennies together!