Hi all,
I am an Australian, but have a situation with my sister in-law who lives in New Zealand and was after some help.
Some background about the issue.
My sister in-law a Thai national is an illegal resident (not sure the correct term) living in New Zealand for the past 14 years, she has had 2 children with New Zealand residents/citizens (not sure which) during the last 14 years, one is 8 years old and the other is 5, (different fathers)
She arrived on a tourist visa 14 years ago (under the belief she could work on it) with a friend, she has been in New Zealand since, due to not having the funds to return home.
The 8 year old lives with my other Sister in-law (New Zealand permanent resident) as the father wants nothing to do with her and the new partner is the same .
The 5 year old lives with her and her father.
Now my sister in-law is in a very abusive (physically and sexually) relationship with her current partner, he beats her regularly, keeps her confined to the house and basically treats her very badly, knowing she can not do anything about it because if she goes to the police they will deport her and she will never see her children again. So she has to put up with beatings and sexual abuse because of this.
She has had enough and and has asked my help to get her out of the situation, she wants to go back to Thailand, but doesn't have a current passport or the funds to do so.
Its been a very hard decision for her to make, as she thinks it means abandoning her children as she will never see them again.
Now she has asked my help to give her the funds to go back to Thailand which isn't a big issue , as I can do this if needed.
But I think its better if she can stay in New Zealand, as she can look after her kids and if their legally can work etc.
After doing some research I think she can maybe apply for a section 61, what do the forum think? is it a good option?
I have called New Zealand immigration and asked what we should do, they were a bit shocked about the full details and after asking various supervisors came back and said that her own safety is the most important and she should go directly to the police to get protection, and the visa issue is a secondary issue that they can help her work it out after she is safe.
So I put this to my sister in-law, but she is scared of the police being from Thailand, but my wife has got though to her that the police are different in New Zealand and Australia (helps because I am a police officer in Australia) and they will help her, and look after her safety.
As I not from New Zealand its hard to know what to do,. go to the police first or put in a Section 61.
My preference knowing Australia law is to go to the police first and the rest will sort itself out, and I think New Zealand would be the same?
As my sister in-law is scared of the Police and government as a whole (cultural thing) and the whole process, I am thinking of going to New Zealand and taking her to the Police myself and sorting the matter out with them and immigration as its to hard to do it from Australia. Even if she gets deported, its better then her being in this abusive relationship and its what she wants in away, but I think there are better options then just handing herself in to immgration and getting deported and blacklisted etc.
Can anyone other their advice or thoughts on the matter?