[Paul and Linda]

Hi, I'm off on a business trip at the weekend, so I get to use my returning resident visa when I come back. There's an expiry date on it of Feb 2007. Once I come back in and use it, does it have to be renewed if I need to leave the country again, and does it need to be renewed once used, before feb 2007?

I don't understand if the rrv is effectively my residency permit when I come back into the country or my original residency permit with its allowance for me to stay indefinately is the one that allows me to stay. Can anyone explain this to me? Please?

Cheers
Paul

[Diny]

I'm glad you asked this question - I'm abit confused too.

The way I understand it is the RRV is valid for 2 years. During that 2 years you can make multiple exits and entries into NZ. After the RRV expires you are issued with another, when that one expires you are issued with permanant one.

Now I've written that and read it back it looks so incorrect on all levels.

I also believe (but don't have any exact figures to broadcast) that during the 2 years your RRV is valid, there is a minimum amount of time you have to spend in NZ to keep PR. In other words, you can't come over for a 3 week holiday, go back home and then come back a month before the RRV runs out.

Clear as mud that lot.

Diny

[Park City Partner]

My understanding is that the RRV allows you to come and go as you wish. It is valid for 2 years and it is encouraged to start your renewal of it before it expires or you have to go through the whole application process again. They will evaluate your status at renewal and if you have spent at least 6 months in NZ in EACH of the 2 years your RRV will get renewed "indefinitely" but if it has been less than that you may just get another 2 years. It was also explained to me that since I came in on a Partner application they will review my relationship as part of the renewal process.

Hope this helps.

[jubjub]

I understand it the same way PCP. to get an IRRV (indefinite) you have to have spent the right amount of time in the country at the two year renewal point, if you havent, they will give you another limited rrv, if you have you get the indefinite one.

[Paul and Linda]

Our visas were 6 months old before we got here, so that up the first year (especially with me going away for 2 weeks).

Does anyone know who we apply to to renew the rrv's?

Thanks for the help, keep it coming peeps.

Paul

[jubjub]

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/alreadyinnz/residents/returningresidents/

this should help...

you might be OK, as I think its an average of 6 months per year over a two year period that you need. Good luck

[GeorgeM]

I'll give my understanding which may or may not add to the confusion:

Your initial RRV is valid for 2 years from the day you first step foot in NZ and activate your residence permit. Hence if you don't arrive until 6 months after you get your blue stickers you still have 2 years on your RRV. I believe that it is possible to arrive with shiney new blue stickers and ask for them NOT to be activated if, for some reason, you're on a passing visit and don't want the two years to start just then.

Once you've activated your PR you can come and go as you please and you will always be let back into the country again as long as your RRV is still current.

Once it has expired you don't need to do anything unless you want to leave the country (and get back in again) - the RRV is just what it says - a RETURNING Residents Visa - it's not your residence permit (which is in the passport you had when you were granted PR). If you don't intend to go abroad you don't need an RRV.

If you do want to venture from these shores, however, you have to make sure that you have an RRV which will be current when you want to get back in. I presume that they will renew it for you early (i.e. before the old one has expired) if it will expire whilst you are planning to be away, but normally you have to wait until one runs out before getting it renewed.

So long as you've been in NZ for the required amount of time during your first two years here you'll get an indefinite RRV which 'does what it says on the can'. If you've not spent enough time here you'll just get another 2 years but may qualify for an indefinite one at the end of that time.

When your passport runs out you have to get the RRV transferred into your new one - you can't take you old passport along and show them the valid RRV in it. Whenever we've done this it has been turned round by return of post, but it has cost us $50 a time.

[Aydon]

They also take into account if your job is the reason you have to travel out of the country when they calculate the 6 months timings.