Hi Everyone,
I have been stalking this site for almost two years now and I must say, the success that I have had so far in all my visa applications is due to the information I got from this site. Very informative and comprehensive - Id like to start by thanking the people here. WELL DONE, you guys!
Now to my story. I met my NZ partner back in the Philippines - May 2015 . We dated and decided that I will move here so we can be together and hopefully migrate with my kids once we are eligible. (I have two kids from a previous relationship that did not work out). I have lodged a visit visa thru partnership application (February 2016) and got approved. Arrived in NZ last March 2016 and lodged a work visa thru partnership application (August 2016) got approved and started working for a financial company here in NZ. After a year and 5 months of solid living together in NZ, we then submitted my residency application with my kids as dependents - August 1 2017. I have also submitted a new work visa thru partnership application at the same time and was approved after two weeks (August 16 2017 - valid until September 2018). The status of the residency application online as of today is pending and through a recent phone call to INZ they advised that the application is waiting to be allocated to a CO.
Now to my dilemma. Christmas is fast approaching and I am desperate to be with my kids again. Its so difficult especially for my youngest which is 3 years old.Since I've separated from my ex,my kids have been staying under my parents care. I have asked Immigration NZ and got two suggestions from two different people . One said I can lodge a general visitor visa for both my kids and that I can do this online or here through the Auckland branch.Just send a cover letter indicating the residency app reference number and advise most of the documents are attached to that application. (Keep in mind all my kids original documents - passports, consent from ex to move here, birthcertificates - are here in NZ, sent from my home country.) Once approved, they can come here by Christmas and then wait until the residency results come out. Another said since I have applied for residency with my kids as dependents, I should apply for a dependent child of a worker visa and that since the kids are in my home country I need to send all documents back there, get new documents from my home country since most of their documents were submitted to INZ (residency app) and they have not returned it, and then have the application lodged in my home country.
I am too confused to think now. At the same time I am trying to figure out which option / suggestion will tick all these boxes for me or answer these questions for me.
1. have my kids here before Christmas
2. visa that will not require a return ticket(at least not to the point that they cannot board the plane if they cant present this)
3. can I lodge the application here in NZ and ask them to refer to the residency app documents
4. if I need to lodge the application in my home country - can I ask INZ to borrow my kids documents that has been kept with the residency application (get them certified by JP) and then return them to INZ afterwards.
Its a very lengthy story. Thank you to anyone who has read it this far. And I'll be looking forward to your comments / suggestions.