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Thread: Character Waiver - a number of criminal convictions

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Rotorua, NZ
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    43

    Question Character Waiver - a number of criminal convictions

    I am the husband of a Principal Applicant and I am ashamed to say that I have a number of criminal convictions. These convictions all occured approx 25 to 30 years (in my late teens, those awful years), falling into the category below:

    A5.25c Convicted at any time of any offence involving dishonesty.

    No further covictions since, no parking tickets or speeding fines.

    My question is, is there any point in submitting an EOI, would I be refused entry into NZ, or would I be required to submit an application for a Character Waiver?

    Or, due to the age of these convictions would they INZ disregard?

    I do hope it is the later, a little concerned here to say the least.

    In advance, many thanks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    There have been other people on the forum in your situation. I believe they have all put in the EOI, giving details of their convictions, and then had to apply for a character waiver. In every case, the procedure was to send in a letter explaining the situation at the time (what sounds like teenage attitude in your case), how they have since changed, how they now view the crimes differently, etc.. Then you send in character references from people of standing who know you well now.

    Here are some old threads on this subject which may help and reassure you a bit. http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&h...0de2a2950c5874

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    Rotorua, NZ
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    JandM,

    Many thanks for that but, I am afraid the link did not work.

    Regards

    CS

    Here are some old threads on this subject which may help and reassure you a bit. http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&h...0de2a2950c5874

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
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    http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&h...x=1&fp=1&cad=b
    There's another try. It works fine for me, straight out of the post. It's a Google Advanced search of our site, which has brought up old threads about Character Waivers (not a link direct to any one thread).

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Coatesville, NZ
    Posts
    272

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    To the OP, I can give a friend of mine's experience.

    In 1995 he was convicted of 4 counts of Burglary, 1 count of auto-theft, 3 counts of Credit Card Fraud, and relating charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property. At the time he was 17, homeless and had no money to his name.

    He was arrested, charged, certified to serve his time as an adult. He accepted a plea of guilty for a 3 1/2 to 12 year sentence. He served his time, walked through the remainder of his parole and at the age of 33 applied for PR in NZ and was accepted.

    He was able to prove that going to jail changed his life. He left prison with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and never had a single instance again in his life. In fact he credits jail as to saving his life and he expressed all of this to his CO. He had to do the character waiver in which he basically wrote a report of his charges, why he did what he did and the effects it had on his life. From there he identified all of things he did afterwards that he did to give back to the community.

    This happened in the US and apparently the US Penal system is viewed as barbaric in New Zealand (or at least with his CO) and he was approved. Hope this helps.

    Dan

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    Hey CasinoSoul,

    As everyone here's suggested already, I think you should give it a go. Highlight all the good things you have done/achieved since then and you should be fine.

    Good luck!
    Tamtra.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Rotorua, NZ
    Posts
    43

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    JandM, many thanks, that one worked fine. Cheers

    Coley, you have put my at ease, thanks.

    Tamtra, we intend too.

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