[Deb&Andy]

Hi

Intending to sponser my parents to join us in May 2010 when we've had residency for the specified 3 years. Horrified to learn today that it might then take up to 2 years for the allocation of a Case officer!!! Any feedback from people who have been through this - especially some idea of how long the process took, would be gratefully received!
Deb

[The Devoneers]

Hi Deb

We are being sponsored by our son and are going through this at the moment. When we applied last August we were told we should have a case officer within 4 months but at the beginning of this year this was changed to 12 months.
This is very frustrating for us as we just don't seem to be getting anywhere, so I can't imagine what it would be like to wait 2 years for a case officer.

Ann

[Mickstim]

Well, maybe it's all changed but we got sponsorship within 12 weeks of application but that was in March 2007. They told us up to a year but it was really quick.

Barb x

[eigg]

As the parent being sponsored (myself and wife in the UK), that's what it says on the INZ London website for family category under "tips and processing times", due to demand, up to two years before allocation of case officer, then 4-6 months processing time.

[badger]

Hi Deb&Andy, we were in London recently and went in for a chat to the INZ office as we are about to apply under Family-Sibling sponsorship as my sister has lived in NZ for five years. We were shocked to find that the rules changed a couple of months ago to "up to two years" before allocation... I guess it must be down to the global downturn.

[wilson182]

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8913&highlight=sponsoring+parents

You might want to have a read through this thread. I put in all the paperwork for my parents sponsorship here in Christchurch a week and a half ago, so it will be interesting to see how long it takes from a NZ perspective.

[zsj]

Hi. My parents applied here in Wellington last Feb and got their PR just before Christmas. In that time they also had to provide more medical info and re provide some lost family info. So it may be worth considering applying here in NZ if they visit on a regular basis anyway - my folks were coming out each year for about 4 months over Christmas anyway so..

Good luck.

[babscat]

We are also waiting to be sponsored by my daughter in August 2010. I seem to remember reading somewhere that once the application had been submitted parents were allowed to remain in NZ until a decision was made. Does anyone know if that is true? It could obviously affect the timing of visits for those of us who are waiting impatiently for the 3 years to pass!

Barbara

[JandM]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that once the application had been submitted parents were allowed to remain in NZ until a decision was made.

I don't think I've ever heard of this, but I'm interested. Do you have any recollection of where you might have seen this? Was it somewhere on this site, do you think, or on NZIS?

[babscat]

After posting I decided to find out from the horse's mouth and rang NZIS in NZ (we are staying in Napier with my daughter). It only applies in the same way as you can apply to have any visitor's visa extended. ie you can't stay in NZ more than 18 months in any 3 year period. You need to count back 18 months from the day you arrive and take off the time spent in NZ. You can then stay for the remainder of the 18 month period, but would need to seek permission for anything over 6 months.
NB that is MY understanding of what she was saying.
The quoted time for complete processing was 12 - 24 months. That is in Christchurch where apparently applications from Hawke's Bay are sent via Palmerston North.

Hope that all makes sense

Barbara