[Jameelka]

Hi, anyone know how mum & dads ( retired) are classed with gaining entry to follow us (2x2). They are keen to follow us to NZ, but as they are retired (age late 70's) we don't know how this is dealt with./
many thanks in anticipation

[Moorf]

Hi and welcome to the form :yes

This is something I am looking into.

Firstly, you can sponsor them over:



While we welcome your parents to New Zealand, you must be an eligible sponsor, and your parents will need to meet a number of requirements before they can apply for residence under the Family Category (Parent Policy).

Sponsorship requirements

A sponsor must:

be 17 years of age or over
be in New Zealand
be a New Zealand or Australian citizen or the holder of a current residence permit that is not subject to requirements under section 18A of the Immigration Act (http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/Section18AImmigration%20Act.htm) 1987
have been a New Zealand or Australian citizen and/or the holder of a Residence Permit or a returning resident’s visa for at least three years immediately before the date their registration is received by the New Zealand Immigration Service
in each of the three 12 month portions within that three-year period, have spent a total of 184 days or more in New Zealand.
A sponsor must undertake to ensure that financial support and accommodation is provided to you, if necessary, for at least your first 24 months as a resident in New Zealand. Sponsors who gained residence in New Zealand on the basis of their status as refugees are only obliged to accommodate you for the first 24 months of your residence (if necessary).



A sponsor aged 17 to 24 must satisfy us that they are able to meet the undertakings given on the sponsorship form.




Alternatively you could go down the Family Quota route:-



The Family Quota (http://glossary.immigration.govt.nz/FamilyQuota.htm) enables families to be reunited by granting residence to a quota of family members of New Zealand citizens and residents who are not eligible for residence under any other category.

If you meet the requirements as a sponsor, you can register someone in your close family – parents, grandparents, adult children or adult brothers or sisters and their partners and children – for the Family Quota Category

The selection is made by ballot. You must register your interest at a particular time each year, and if successful (ie your registration is drawn from the pool) your family will then have the opportunity to apply for a residence visa and permit.

You will be notified by us the month after the draw whether your sponsorship has been successful or not. If you have been successful, you must then notify your family. Your family must apply for a residence visa and permit within the next six months.



Note: with the Family Quota route, there were no spaces available in 2005 and no draws were made. Not sure what is happening for 2006, worth asking the immigration office.

You can find all the above info, and more by visiting: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/live/

Hope that helps. :nice1

Moorf