Visitor's Visa

[dandrik]

Hello there!

I am currently applying a residency permit for my partner. We have a son (both son and me are NZ citizen). So applying for residency for his dad basically.

Now to the question:

My friend wants to come and visit NZ and apparently they need an invitation letter. If I write a letter inviting her to come here (I'm not paying for her travels etc.) will that be a form of sponsorship or not? It's just a letter and I am one confused human being.

[JandM]

Here is the latest about sponsorship, which, under the rules mentioned there, is a BIG undertaking these days, which not many people are in a position to take on. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ponsorship.htm Unless you fill in form INZ 1025 (see here http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ides/visit.htm), you are NOT sponsoring her.

I wonder why she says she needs an invitation letter.

[dandrik]

Thanks for the reply!

So I do not have to write an invitation letter for her to be able to apply for A Visit Visa? Sorry, just clarifying and thanks in advance!

[JandM]

It is not set down as a requirement anywhere. The rules are here. http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...isit/visitors/ For a visitor visa to be issued, INZ need to know that the person is going to spend a certain limited time in NZ, then go back to their own country, and that they will have the means to support themself during their holiday. Therefore, a return air ticket is required, and they can ask to see proof of finances, and also that the person has a home/job/family/study course or whatever to go back to at a certain time. As you will see, the requirement for funds is less if someone has sponsored the visitor, but this isn't a matter of just a letter. I suppose a letter inviting someone to stay for just a limited amount of time might be an extra suggestion of when that person will leave... ?