Hello,
I'm a New Zealand born citizen residing in the US with my husband. I would love to come back to NZ (only been in US about 19 months).
There's just one issue: my husband doesn't appear to pass one of the character assessment questions as posted on the government immigration website.
He received convictions almost 20 years ago and spent five years in prison. We got the FBI cert back to see what it actually read and on initial observation, while I know the real story, it sounds worse than it is.
Hubby has not had a conviction since prison. Does anyone have any experience (going through the motions) of trying to get an entry or permanent resident permit in the family based category and had to deal with something like this?
Is it an absolute no? Or is it a possibility? My family in NZ are willing to write letters of support etc. He's a great guy who screwed up when he was a kid and unlike NZ, the laws in the US usually mean longer sentencing. He hasn't been done for drugs or acts of terrorism, doesn't hang around undesirables etc.
I spoke to someone while in NZ a couple of years ago (lawyer) who said that until they saw the FBI report, it was about 50/50 chance and if it wasn't good, that it might be 20/80 chance and it would require going to the Immigration minister to seek their approval and it would cost $5000 NZ to represent (including legal fees). We're not loaded with money, but I do want to return to NZ to live. I hate it where I'm at and my husband is willing to come to NZ.
If Immigration says no to my husband, they effectively say no to me coming home, and somehow that would seem wrong (especially since I know the man I married is no monster, not in any trouble, doesn't do drugs and very rarely drinks). The only reason I haven't already gone back to NZ is I couldn't leave my husband. But this place makes me totally miserable (depression).