[Hannah]

Hi, am repeating this question, asked under the proof of partnership thread below, as i'm pretty worried about this one and wonder if some of you have experience that could answer some of these questions.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[urban78]

Hi Hannah,

I don't know if this will help you or not, as I did not migrate via the skilled migrant route but I was sponsored by my kiwi partner...

Both of us did not supply joint bank accounts as proof we lived together, simply because we did not have any ;) (just thought it might be a bit dodgy if we opened one just before appying for residency). We just put some of my UK satements and theirs, but both showed we lived at the same address so I guess NZIS did not seemed bothered by it. We put statements from when we first moved together (a year and a half back) and a couple of more recent ones. The statements did show some sort of financial comitment though, like bank transfers from partner's account to mine (to pay rent for example)

The only things with both our names were one BT bill and our tenancy agreements.

I hope this puts your mind at ease a bit. We are now in Auckland and happy as can be :) Don't hesitate to give me a shout if you need more info.

Good luck,

Jen

[Avalon]

Hannah,

A joint bank account is an easy and tidy way of proving a relationship but its certainly not the only way. I'd say that if you and your partner have your names on your childrens birth certificates - thast a pretty good sign that you didnt just "invent" your relationship in order to get residency (which is what they are looking for).

Marriage or lack of it is not an issue. NZ really couldnt care less and seem to accepted de-facto relationships quite readily and are pretty enlightened in this area (as they seem to be with same sex relationships).

As far as im aware, as long as you have ANY documents that prove you have been together for at least a year - they will take that on board.

If you were a new couple with no way of proving a relationship of over 1 year - then getting joint accounts asap is really important (or making sure any bills are in joint names) beacause then you get to the 1 year (provable) realtionship quicker. In your case - if you have any bills which show that you both lived togeter (and again - having children is a pretty big glaring sign) you should be fine!

Good luck.