Hello Everyone -
I need some advice on what my next step should be. Here is the jist;
My NZ partner and I (I am American) have been together almost 4 years, living together for 3. We met in NZ and have since lived in Australia, Canada, USA, Ecuador together and have traveled for long periods of time together to places like SE Asia and Central America. All this time we have lived together and I included lots of proof of our relationship, living together, buying a car together, bank statements, photos etc. Even though unconventional, we tick all the boxes and had an overwhelming amount of proof, as anyone whose been together 4 years would.
So after our last trip, we decided I would go home to the States and my partner would return home so we could both work, save up some money, visit family, me apply for the NZ visa and then move to NZ together again (as its our favorite place we've lived!) In total, we will be apart for about 3 months. As everyone knows reading these forums, international couples are hard and its even harder when one person can't work in a certain country.
Well my visa was not approved and I was issued a visitor visa instead as the immigration officer said we are not "currently" living together. Are couples not allowed to spend time apart? We've been living together for 3 years and together for 4! It said I can to go NZ on a visitor visa and apply again once we are living together. But me not working for 1-2 months waiting for a visa is not financially realistic. Being apart for 3 months visiting family negates the past 4 years of being together? This to me is SO silly and it seems it was denied based off a technicality because I am visiting my family!
Please help! Any advice would be great! Thanks so much!!!
Nessie