NZ Residents Return Visa

iguana2005

Is up in August - have been home in Ireland now nearly 10months. Parents are ill so a little hesitant to go back..can I apply for an extension? Or once up have to reapply for NZ visa again.

watna

iguana2005 wrote: »

Is up in August - have been home in Ireland now nearly 10months. Parents are ill so a little hesitant to go back..can I apply for an extension? Or once up have to reapply for NZ visa again.

You should ring immigration to check but I think you might need to apply for another returning residents viss if the one you have runs out. As far as I remember you are not guaranteed to get it. I have a leaflet that I got when I got my residency with all that info on it. I'll dig it up and let you know what it says.

I definitely remember there being criteria for getting your returning residents visa renewed (things like being in NZ for 184 days a year for the two years, being tax resident). There's a few things on the list that help you qualify for it.

I'll post up what the immigration info says later.

watna

ok, here you go, fished out the leaflet:

What if my returning residents visa expires before I return to New Zealand?

You will need to apply for a further returning residents visa at an INZ branch overseas, or at a New Zealand diplomatic or consular office.

If you do not obtain a returning resident's visa you may be refused entry to New Zealand and may be unable to board your flight to New Zealand.

Could I be refused a returning resident's visa?

Yes, you could be refused a returning resident's visa if you:

• have had your residency permit revoked; or
• have been deported from New Zealand; or
• are applying from outside new zealand and have an expired returning resident's visa;or
• left New Zealand without a returning resident's visa

If you are refused a retunring resident's visa, you will have to reapply for residency in New Zealand. Your application will be considered ubnder the residence policy current at the time you make your application. Approval for a new residence permit cannot be guaranteed, as policy may have changed since you were originally granted residence.



If I were you I would ring immigration NZ and see what they say. As your's has not expired yet you may be ok. You may be ok anyway but nobody here can tell you that. It is completely up to immigration NZ whether or not they will renew your returning resident's visa.

You can also apply for a permanent returning resident's visa but you have to have been in New Zealand for 184 days a year in the two years prior to applying for it, own a family home in NZ or are resident in NZ for tax purposes (this also involves being in the counry for 184 days a year). Another criteria is that you held a residency permit at a time which was a minimum of two years before the date of your current applicaiton for a permanent returning resident's visa. Maybe you are eligible for that? Also if you're residency is under partnership (as mine is) it's under a special category and if can still prove you are in the relationship but don't qualify for a RRV otherwise you can aply for another 2 year one under partnership.

Good luck! I'll be in NZ for two years after getting my residency so I'm going to make sure I apply for the permanent returning residents visa so I don't have to worry about it when we go back to Ireland. It must be a bit of pain!

iguana2005

thanks for that - will give them a call in UK Monday...I know was going to stay the 2 years but I couldnt stand my job..was desperatey homesick..and life was very bad for a while there and I started to resent it being honest...hence I came home and am now in a nice job/house etc...
But am always thinking what if...

Cheers!