I am from the U.S. and my boyfriend is a New Zealand citizen. We have known each other over the internet for 9 years BUT met each other in real life on August 13th, 2011 when I went to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa. I lived with him when I moved there and we became official August 17th, 2011 (not wanting to strain my moving their with an official title).
I was not having a large amount of luck with jobs and, though my boyfriend was happy to support me, was feeling a bit guilty. I moved back to Washington state, U.S. on June 26th, 2012 to a job offer I received not realizing that leaving a mere month and a half early would cost me any future visas.
Because I have not lived with my boyfriend for at least a year we do not qualify for any relationship visa and I have no particular skills that New Zealand would want of me. I cannot afford the student rates and do not yet qualify for the visitor visa to the best of my understanding (I am a little hazy on the concept but am under the impression that because I left June 26th, 2012 I cannot return at least until June if not August 2012- when my visa expired).
I am yet to find out the reason I was declined, only that I was declined but am fairly confident that it was because I did not live with him for the full year. With that being the case what are my next steps?
If my boyfriend came to the U.S. on a Working Holiday Visa, would he only need to live with me for another 2 months before we lodged a successful visa?
If I applied for a Working Holiday Visa for Australia and he, being a New Zealand citizen, simply moved there and we lived together there for a few months, would that also meet the minimum requirements?
Is there another visa that I might qualify for that I am oblivious to?
Any suggestions or answers would be most appreciated!