When should we apply for Residency?

[David12345]

Hi all,

My partner was granted a partnership based work visa in about September 2015 has been living with me (NZ citizen) in NZ since the 1st of November 2015 which is when she landed here after getting the visa. We have a lot of evidence saved up to support her residence application which will also be based on our relationship.

I have a few of questions regarding the residence application,

1 - The 1st of November 2016 will be our one year living together date which is required for residency, however I understand it is possible to apply before this date? when should we apply? is there any negative effect to applying early?
2 - We have collected every single letter posted to our address both joint and individual, personal and utility bills etc. This means we have a huge collection of letters and envelopes (about 140 all up!) which is obviously to many to put with an application, how many should we provide and should they be mainly the utility bills or personal or a mix? can anyone recommend a good idea for that?
3 - We have a huge amount of relationship evidence also, movie tickets, joint purchases, joint invites, photos, the list goes on. Roughly how many pieces should we provide to cover the time together?
4 - Should we provide a bit of evidence showing how we met and a holiday spent together even though this was before we lived together?

Thanks in advance

[ChrisMwn]

David, I think i have previously posted on this. You can lodge the residence application at any time, if you are currently living together. expect that a decision will take 6-12 months currently. The application cannot be approved until there is clear evidence that you have lived together for 12 months.You'll be asked to provide further evidence that you are currently living together at the time a decision is about to be made. For some there might be other issues that drive lodgement date, such as pending expiry of PC's or medicals.

Best thing that you can do is provide a timeline of your relationship and reference that to evidence provided. You don't need to provide overwhelming evidence of relationship, I say 4-6 pieces of paper under each 'heading". (bills, photos, bank accounts, tenancy agreement,insurances, common property, travel etc)

[David12345]

David, I think i have previously posted on this. You can lodge the residence application at any time, if you are currently living together. expect that a decision will take 6-12 months currently. The application cannot be approved until there is clear evidence that you have lived together for 12 months.You'll be asked to provide further evidence that you are currently living together at the time a decision is about to be made. For some there might be other issues that drive lodgement date, such as pending expiry of PC's or medicals.

Best thing that you can do is provide a timeline of your relationship and reference that to evidence provided. You don't need to provide overwhelming evidence of relationship, I say 4-6 pieces of paper under each 'heading". (bills, photos, bank accounts, tenancy agreement,insurances, common property, travel etc)

Thanks Chris,

I had mentioned this but did not know if any recommendations would have changed considering new processing times. Our situation is my partner is currently on a work visa which is valid until April, and we would have lived together for one year on the 1st of November, taking into consideration what you have said about the current processing time taking up to 12 months I guess it would be best to apply now with the best evidence we have? But if it were to take up to 12 months for a decision my partners work visa would expire before we got an answer, considering this would we be best to lodge the residence application with a work visa application also so her current visa is renewed for another 12 months?

any help on the next steps we should take would be great,

Thanks,

David

[ChrisMwn]

Id be lodging residence now and when and if a further temporary visa is required, lodge that in April, just prior to current expiry.

[pauline_lpsp]

Hi there! Just a question, will it be taken against me and my partner if we will be apart at the time they are about to make a decision reartnership visa even though we have compelling reasons to be apart i.e. work? Thanks!

[ChrisMwn]

shouldn't do, but make sure that you keep good records of your communication during any time not together.