Not sure I fully understand this visa. My mum is British and wishes to stay awhile. What would this visa give her instead of a normal visitor visa?
Thanks
Not sure I fully understand this visa. My mum is British and wishes to stay awhile. What would this visa give her instead of a normal visitor visa?
Thanks
she can stay for 18months by leaing the country for one night after each 6 where as visitors visa means 6 months in any 12
The six month visitor visas are what you get if you just arrive on the plane as a British passport holder. You can apply in advance and get a longer one. With all visitor visas, though, however long a visa you get and use, you then have to stay out of the country for an equal amount of time before you can apply for another one - so stay 12 months, you can't come back on another visitor visa for 12 months, stay 6 months, you can't come back on another visitor visa for 6 months. So, as Janey says, the parents'/grandparents' visa could be an advantage if you mother wants to spend 18 months virtually all of a piece in NZ, although she would then not be able to get another visitor's visa for a further 18 months.
If you visit NZ for 6 months and return to the UK for 6 months you'd only be officially allowed to return to NZ for a further 3 months as there is (or was last year) a rule only allowing a total of 9 months in NZ in an 18 month period on a visitors visa. That said they don't always implement it !
As for the 18 month visa you'll find that the process of getting one is just as difficult and expensive as getting the full parents visa what with the full medical etc. (and even when you pass the damn medical you still don't qualify for free medical treatment in NZ ).
Oh, thanks for the extra info, IanR.