Living in USA married to Kiwi 20 years

[kate2]

I am a US citizen. He is a New Zealand citizen. How hard is it to immigrate to New Zealand with him? We have been married, living in the USA for 20 years. Does he have to move back there and establish residence before he can sponsor me?

Thank you for your help.

[kiwieagle]

I am a US citizen. He is a New Zealand citizen. How hard is it to immigrate to New Zealand with him? We have been married, living in the USA for 20 years. Does he have to move back there and establish residence before he can sponsor me?

Thank you for your help.

No need to move back, he can sponsor you from the USA. You'll need a medical check (that includes physical exam, chest xray and lab work). You'll both need FBI police checks.

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...r/howdoiapply/

Good luck!

[dharder]

You'll have to prove that you've been living together for at least 12 months and then it should be really easy. Our partnership application from the UK back then took 4 weeks from start to finish.

[JandM]

And if you can prove that he has been out of the country for at least five years and you've been together for five years and more, you can be granted PR straight away, without having first to have Residence. See F2.5.1 here. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/46503.htm You both need to fill in the appropriate forms for partner-sponsored Residence http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ly/default.htm and submit with your evidence and a covering letter pointing out that you have the five-year requirement, and they should give you PR. (The possible advantage of this is that there is no cut-off point for using a PR visa, whereas you have to travel to NZ to activate PR within a time limit.)

[kate2]

This is great news! Thank you, all three of you.

[kate2]

And if you can prove that he has been out of the country for at least five years and you've been together for five years and more, you can be granted PR straight away, without having first to have Residence. See F2.5.1 here. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/46503.htm You both need to fill in the appropriate forms for partner-sponsored Residence http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ly/default.htm and submit with your evidence and a covering letter pointing out that you have the five-year requirement, and they should give you PR. (The possible advantage of this is that there is no cut-off point for using a PR visa, whereas you have to travel to NZ to activate PR within a time limit.)

Thank you so much! I have been getting so frustrated looking for this exact information.