Implications/obligations associated with sponsoring a family member to residence
Apologies if this has been dealt with elsewhere, but I can't find any previous discussion that specifically explores the implications/obligations associated with sponsoring a family member to residence. My situation is that I'm the sponsor for my parents who are arriving in a month or so to take up residence (accepted under the Tier 1 Parent Category).
My concern is what I perceive as ambiguity between the sponsor undertakings and other legislation/rules. Perhaps I’m being overly cautious, but there are very serious potential consequences to getting this wrong. What I signed is almost meaningless as a guide – “I will provide all necessary financial support to the sponsored person(s) for the duration of the sponsorship period, and I undertake to repay any costs to the New Zealand Government, or a third party, which result from my failure to meet my obligations as a sponsor”. That’s very broad and could mean just about anything that a government decides it means. From information provided elsewhere by INZ, it appears that I’m expected to “Pay the reasonable costs of provisions needed for the sponsored person’s health and welfare in New Zealand if they are unable to pay for these themselves. This may include food, clothing and medical treatment where required.”
Access to health care is a good example of ambiguity - It’s clear that I’m fully liable for the cost of things like dental care or health care we opt to receive from the private sector, but it’s not at all clear for the ‘normal’ health care that we all receive. As residents my parents appear to be subject to the same DHB rules that apply any other resident or citizen for accessing health care. Does this mean I am liable for cost that is normally charged to a patient, or is there some mechanism that recognises the sponsorship and thus apportions to me any whatever other costs that the DHB believes is associated with providing that service? And even if it’s not the latter, does the legislation make it possible to do it this way in the future?
Another example would be an accident that requires expensive surgery. This involves not only a DHB, but also ACC – once again the, the question is whether these sorts of events are dealt with in such a way that the cost is the normal cost to permanent residents or citizens, or if any underlying costs are passed on to me.
Does anyone have solid information on how this works?
