[nd293]

I am trying to confirm that once we enter NZ on a returning residence visa, we are able to stay indefinitely, i.e. without any expiry date. In other words, if we enter NZ one day before our RRV expires, we are fine - provided we don't leave the country again until we have been in NZ for long enough to warrant them issuing us another RRV, which is at their discretion.

We are due to enter NZ for the first time before 7 Nov, but will then want another year or 18 months to finish working as expats in the Middle East.

Thanks,

Nikki

[KerryS]

As long as your RRV is valid when you enter the country you can remain in NZ indefinitely, because you have the permit for residency. The visa is only to allow you in and out of the country. Therefore, it is only when you want to leave NZ again that you will need a new one.

[Malay-Coopers]

We were granted our Residency Visa in Dec 2005 with the condition that we arrive in NZ within the year. (Does everyone have that condition?) Since we could not move permanently until 2007, our immigration person told us that as long as we entered the country within the year the RV would be valid going forward. So we took a two-week trip to NZ to validate the Visa. I think the Returning Resident Visa is related but has different criteria.

Please, please correct me if I am wrong!

[Mexican in NZ]

As long as u come to the country while ur RV is valid you have no problem the PR is as it says a PR and u dont need to renew it. The RV are granted on the case manager's criteria but if u want to go out of the country while you dont have an RV you can and pay for one.
Hope it helped.
Adriana

[sfordjasiri]

The thing to remember is that NZ immigration will tell you whether you can return to NZ before you leave NZ. I.e. you need to get the RRV BEFORE you leave NZ. You do not leave NZ and then "hope" you will be allowed back. NZ makes the decision about whether to give you the RRV before you leave NZ.

[nd293]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

To the Malay-Coopers, how I believe it works is that the RV is a 1 year, single entry visa. On the other hand, RRV is a multi-entry, 2 yrs visa. The RRV is activated automatically on the date that you enter NZ with your RV. In other words, it would be valid for 2 yrs from the date that you entered on your 2 week holiday. (And we will do exactly the same).

Add on the info in the replies to my question - you can then enter NZ up to the end of the 2 yrs that your RRV is valid for. BUT any further RRV is granted at the discretion of NZ officials. According to our case officer you need to show that you have tax status etc and it can depend on your record in NZ for the previous 2 yrs. So basically, you can get into NZ right up to the end of your first RRV, but if you had some sort of family crisis out of the country, you could technically be refused another RRV and permission to re-enter NZ if you have not spent enough time there. In practice, I believe that subsequent RRV can be issued for shorter periods, e.g. 2 weeks etc to account for emergencies.

Am I the only one that finds the regulations hard to understand, even when you specifically ask the case officer to clarify???

And do I have all of the above correct now?

Thanks,

Nikki

[Thylacine]

Okay, clarification. I have an RRV sticker and a RV sticker in my passport, as do my Russian Wife and 4 year old daughter. It states must arrive after Sept 13 2007. If I show up in new zealand on a job interview for a week can I apply for a new returning visa for my wife and daughter and then all of us show up after Sept 13 2007? Also can I get an extension on the Sept 13 2007 date.

[Trigirl]

It states must arrive after Sept 13 2007

do you mean must arrive before?

you each have to validate your own visas by arriving before the deadline. you can't do it on behalf of your wife or daughter. i'm not sure about getting an extension though - maybe in exceptional circumstances - eg if you were planning to come over just before the deadline then had a death in the family or something? i dont think they'll extend it just because its inconvenient or expensive.