[Hannah]

Hi, am repeating this question, asked under the proof of partnership threada below as i'm pretty worried about this one.


We are in NZ currently on visitor visa. Partner has job and i'm awaiting an interview. we plan to put in an EOI shortly. We have been together for 12 yrs, have children (both our names on birth certs) bills of a year old with both our names, GP cards and some letters from 2001 with our name and address on. We are renting a house together here, travelled here together, have joint bank acct here, and travelled as a family here for holiday in 2003 (with the stamps in our passport to prove it). We have no other 'evidence' here with us - our house deeds are at home (England) and we can't access them.

HOWEVER, we only have a joint bank acct going back to Oct 2005 (when we put money in one account just before we left so easier to manage from abroad). Surely NZIS are not going to turn around and say we can't have residence until Oct 2006 on anniversary of opening our joint account. In our modern times many people maintain separate accounts - we're not that unusual.

My questions are:
1. Is a joint bank account really that crucial in approving residency?
2. Will not being married cause me even more problems?
3. May being here with a joint NZ bank acct and tenancy and jobs actually offset some of the negatives and convince NZIS we're serious about each other and our future in NZ?

Has anyone on this forum got into NZ WITHOUT a joint bank acct that is a year or more old? Surely!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Smiler]

Hannah

Yes we did! We do not have a joint bank account (Heaven forbid) and still do not have one here.

In fact the only jointly named documents were our house rental agreements from 2002 and 2004 and a recent bill from the leccy which was jointly named by mistake. We are not married either.

We have proof of 4 year partnership with letters, photos, emails and sent copies of these.

You look like you already have more proof than we had. :clap Go for it.

Deborah

[tofu]

HI,

I don't think a joint account is necessary. As long as you can prove that you have been living together for more than a year will suffice (rental agreements, utility bills with both your names.)

My problem is worst because we only have proof that we've been living together since April 2005. I have not kept our past documents. My husband and I have been living together since August 2004. Does anybody know if the marriage certificate is proof enough?

Thanks!

[kiwidebs]

My husband and I have been living together since August 2004. Does anybody know if the marriage certificate is proof enough?
I've got a funny feeling people have posted on here before saying that it's not enough. You can get letters from friends and family saying that you have been together since August 2004, photos, copy of your will (if you are each others beneficiaries), dated letters addressed to both of you.....try and think laterally. Good luck.

Debs

[tofu]

Thanks Debs!

I really only have statutory declarations from friends and tons of pictures to prove we've been living together since August 2004. I have not kept anything else. I am hoping the immigration officer will think they're enough!

[KD17]

Hi Tofu

We don't have a joint bank account or any utilities in joint names, it was all in my name, except for the lease onthe rental property. We are both on each others car insurance.

We sent pictures, cards, invitations and as we have both done lots for charity, individually & together, we had various newspaper clippings to send in, along with letters of confirmation from friends and business people we deal with.

The most difficult part was where it said about proving you have a "sexually exclusive relationship" how do you prove that !!

good luck, I'm sure all will be fine.

:)

Keith & Debby

[Park City Partner]

I actually asked about proving that exclusive sexual relationship (in jest of course) to my case officer. And in fact, they have since deleted that from the description in the partnership category. My residency is definitely hinging on the bank and the fact that we are not married is of no consequence. I will get approval on the 1 year anniversary of the first bank statement. I think though that a lot depends on your case officer. It sounds like you have enough but who knows! Just remember to send ORIGINALS and not copies. They seem to be very good about promptly returning all original items.

Good luck!

[Hannah]

Hi Folks,
Thanks to those who have replied.
Are photos really necessary? and statements from friends? Is this just being over-cautious on the part of those who have applied or was this actually asked for. We haven't brought any photos with us, and most of our photos are of one or the other of us with the children, depending on who took the photo. We have probably only one or two photos of each other - and they are in England...and we are here in NZ!

[Avalon]

hannah,

I replied to this last night but my post went misisng.

So, although most of what i was going to say has been covered - ill just add that if you have children and your names are on the birth certificates, id say that was pretty good proof that you are in fact a couple!

Remember that what NZIS are looking for is new couples or people that they may see as having formed a relationship in order to come to NZ. Id be pretty stumped if NZIS can ignore your children's birth certificates.

Also, as long as you have bills dating back a year - thats proof enough as far as im aware - anything that shows its a "real" relationship. Also - did you have a joint mortgage in the UK - could you get details of that?

All in all - from my POV (which doesnt necessarily mirror that of NZIS) - a couple with children isnt going to be a fake relationship :laugh

Good luck

[kiwidebs]

Are photos really necessary? and statements from friends?

I think these are just alternatives if nothing else is available. We submitted our children's birth certs, our wedding cert, joint bank account statements (dating back to one that was 7 years old!! No idea why we kept one that long), copies of our wills bequething (?sp) everything to each other, mortgage in both our names. I don't think they needed as much as we gave them, but rather too much than not enough. I think Avalon is right, as usual ;) , they can't really deny a birth certificate with both your names on it.

Debs

[Hannah]

thank you all of those who have replied to this post, i feel much more relieved. I called NZIS about the photos etc. yesterday and they told me they didn't require these or even want these and would much rather have 'official' documents. As you say Avalon, they said that having children together and both of our names being on the birth certs in itself constituted proof of a long term relationship (depending of course on children's age). It was suggested that i send in the children's birth certificates, a household bill with both our names on and a couple of car insurance letters we have each had sent to us at the same address a few years back - she felt this would suffice. she also said, as Deborah has pointed out, that joint bank accounts are not necessary - if your name is on a joint bill then it's assumed you both contribute towards paying it. Of course, i guess it just depends on the view of your individual case workers as to how much of this stuff they require.
Thanks again all.

[Avalon]

hannah,

Im glad this is working our for you!