how to get time to live with my partner

[spoonface]

Hi everyone

I've been reading various threads on here and there's a lot of great advice!

I'm from UK and my 23 month working holiday visa is expiring at the end of this month (December).

I met a man not long ago and we've fallen for each other. By the time I leave we will have been together for just over 2 months. We want to continue our relationship.

I've looked into all the different kinds of visa's and the best option that I can see is for me to leave when my visa expires and return as a visitor so that we can live together and collect sufficient evidence of our relationship for 3 months and then apply for the partnership of a nz work visa?

There's a couple of things I'm concerned about...

Firstly, I got a minor DUI in Australia a few years ago...it was a stupid innocent mistake that I'd forgotten about but I've just been informed it's classed as a "criminal conviction". I've never declared it before as I didn't think it was a criminal conviction. I have applied for an Australian police check to see if it's on there and waiting for it to come through (clear hopefully!!!!) If it comes back with a conviction, will I still be able to re-enter new Zealand??? Will it affect my visa applications??? I'm freaking out

Secondly, if I return as a visitor to be with my partner and collect evidence, I was told by someone who went through the partner visa process to just say I " want to see more of the country" etc as immigration wouldn't allow me back in if my intentions are to ultimately stay.

I want to be honest; I'm in love, new Zealand is my home and I want to continue my life here.but will this backfire??

I'd really appreciate some advice...

Thank you in advance

[JandM]

You are going to have some sorting out to do, and will almost certainly have to ask for a character waiver, regarding the DUI. NZ doesn't regard ANY drink-driving as 'minor' or 'a mistake' - it's a serious issue, as also is not having mentioned it on your previous application(s). http://onlineservices.immigration.go...nual/35058.htm A5.25 h and i, and here. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...good-character

How soon were you planning on returning? You are not likely to be allowed back into the country on a visitor's visa immediately after a WHV. To try this would be likely to call attention to yourself as a potential overstayer - "Didn't have enough time in 23 months to see the country?" They would expect a gap between visits. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...tity/bona-fide Have you got any evidence now, with which you could start an application for a partner-sponsored visa? Once you applied, INZ would issue you with an interim visa https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...a/interim-visa upon expiry of your present temporary visa.

It all has to be your decision - ordinary people aren't allowed to advise you. http://www.enz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=51538

[spoonface]

Hi jandM, thank you for the reply.

I was planning on spending one month in UK and coming back...is this too short??

I don't think we have enough evidence to apply for a visa now. I am officially now living with him, but I'm broke so can't pay bills etc. We've got text messages. Some photos. It doesn't seem enough....we will have been together just over 2 months by the time I leave, it's not very long :/ is there a way around this?

Should I start collecting character references now for my waiver?

Oh thank you so much for your help, really appreciate it