Residence Partnership Category - processing times & limitations

[wibbly]

Hi There,

I am a British citizen currently in NZ with my Kiwi (de facto) partner of 9 years who has moved back for the family business. We have previously been living in the UK, Australia (where I was granted a 5 year defacto visa) and Sri Lanka and are now settling in Nelson.

My residency visa was sent to the Christchurch office on 10th April 2016 and I received and email from the office saying the application had been lodged on 21/04/2016. Based on this I have a few questions

1. Can anybody give me an idea of processing times at the CHC office? How long to get a case officer and then how long until a decision is made?

2. I am still within the age to be able to apply for a holiday working visa. Are you able to apply for this while waiting on residency? Obviously I am currently unable to work and if the residency is going to take months this is a one solution.

3. If I have to travel , can I request my passport be returned?

Thanks for your help.


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[JandM]

1. The new INZ website does not seem to be making estimates for individual branches, but this is their general processing times page. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/abou...sa-application

2. I think so, but I'm not sure that you can apply while in NZ. You as a UK citizen could apply for an extension to an existing WHV from NZ, but I can't find any mention of making the first application while there. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...g-holiday-visa You might need to check this with INZ themselves.

3. Yes - just ask, and they will let you have it back. Obviously, you would then have to send it back in for the visa label to be stuck into it.

[wibbly]

Thanks for your help!