No Work Permit? - You'll Probably be Given Residence Anyway.

John Miller

For everyone worried about SMC, LTBV, Work Permits etc, read this. Especially the bit from the immigration service bod who says as long as you keep your nose clean, you'll probably be given residence. Eek

Nelson 'sanctuary day' reveals extent of illegal immigration
13 February 2004
By BRIDGET CULL

A planned "sanctuary day" for foreigners living unlawfully in Nelson has proved there is a lot more illegal immigrants and overstayers here than expected, an organiser says.

Nelson city councillor Ian Barker chairs the city's Multi-ethnic Council and has been involved in organising the day on behalf of the New Zealand Immigration Service.

He said there had been an "amazing" response from people living in Nelson illegally since he first announced the idea four days ago.

Cr Barker has received about 10 calls so far, but said there was likely to be a lot more foreigners living here illegally since the callers had indicated they were speaking for other people as well.

"It sounds like there's certainly more overstayers in Nelson than I was aware of."

Detective Sergeant Tony Bernaud of Nelson police said officers had escorted two people back to Eastern Europe last year.

Illegal immigrants and overstayers were monitored by the Department of Internal Affairs which sometimes asked the police to hold them in their cells while deportation or other arrangements were made.

Mr Bernaud said this happened "infrequently, maybe two or three times a year".

Police officers only escorted people back to their countries if the department considered them a risk.

Immigration Service media adviser Brett Solvander said the service had held sanctuary days in places it felt they were needed, during the past four years or so.

They had been held in Auckland and Wellington, but it would be a first for Nelson.

Mr Solvander said the service had decided to hold the day in Nelson because it expected to have several people coming forward. "It's a very big area for seasonal work, that's why the service is targeting that area."

The service did not know how many foreigners there were living illegally in the Nelson region, he said.

The day is to be held next Tuesday at the Nelson City Council's offices on Trafalgar St.

Cr Barker said the Multi-ethnic Council had already organised four appointments but he knew some of them were for groups of people.

The idea of the day was to allow people to meet officers from the service to sort out their situations.

Mr Solvander said there was no guarantee that everyone who came forward would be allowed to stay in the country.

"If they're well settled, married for example, and they have work and they've no criminal convictions, and they're fitting in well with the community, we'll give them what's called a temporary permit."

These people would then have to apply as soon as possible for permanent residency and there was a "good chance" that they would get it, he said.
But others who were not in that situation, who perhaps had a criminal history or were on an unemployment benefit, could be asked to leave the country as soon as possible.

"There would be no arrest or anything, but we'd just ask them to do the decent thing and we'll give them a reasonable period of time."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2814140a10,00.html

Jamie Smith

Un-bl**dy-believable.

All that effort that good people go through - money paid to NZIS and agents, visits to NZ to arrange work, stress, and MONTHS of waiting, and a blimming overstayer can skirt all that, get a job and stay.

Does that send a clear message to epople smugglers and the less ethical amongst us or what?!

I guess in operational terms they have to clear the decks occasionally, but the message to the market is wrong wrong wrong.

I'd allow the non-criminal ones a clear exit from NZ, all others get a record and barred from reapplying for 10 years.

karltsmith · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:07 am Post subject:

Something else to add to your list for the Minister to consider?..................................Jamie Smith.......The Peoples champion..... Nice One

ITS AN OPEN INVITATION TO GO THEIR ON HOLIDAY AND DISAPPEAR!!!

JUST AT A TIME WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO TIGHTEN EVERYTHING UP!

I SOMETIMES THINK WE ARE THE SUCKERS IF THIS IS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!

rodders · Valued Member Joined: 25 Nov 2003 Posts: 134

perfect. so if i wanted to i could go over with the wife and buy a small business. as long as i don't want to use the state education system or welfare i won't be found out. Yes

SoCal Gal · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 7:12 am Post subject: No Work Permit?

This is wild! Here in the U.S., a similar move is being hotly debated, which is, whether or not to give illegal immigrants from Mexico - that are already over here working - legal status. On the side of those that came through the lengthy, legal process, they are quite perturbed about this. On the side that wants to make these workers "legal" well, don't get me started! America is outsourcing good manufacturing and white collar jobs overseas, meanwhile, our unemployment is record high and we can only get illegals to work most of our service industry and farming jobs because of the low wages! Outrageous. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out in NZ, it certainly is a hot political topic here in an election year....and I'm getting to see a side of it I never thought I would in my own quest to get established in a new country. Nutcase

aurora · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 9:10 am Post subject:

It's a double edged sword.

Sure, you could try and circumvent the immigration shenanigans by coming here and doing the disappearing trick and hope that things work out and eventually the authorities will allow you to stay or get a resident visa - but there's no guarantee, and if it all goes pear shaped you will probably have ruined your chances forever of emigrating here legally or otherwise.

Not to mention the stress and hassle involved of living here illegally while you wait and hope for things to pan out the way you would like them to.