Hi all,
This question is on behalf of my partner and any others on a residence visa waiting the necessary 2 years to be eligible for permanent residence.
On the New Zealand first political party's website it says they want to reduce immigration to around 10,000 per year down from the current 72,000-ish per year, and one of the ways it wants to do this is by increasing the time frame for people on residence visa to be able to get permanent residency visas from the current two years. It does not say what they would like to increase it to though, my question is, does anyone know what they are considering increasing to, and how it would possibly reduce the amount of people getting PR? as the way I see it anyone who has gone threw the hassle, stress and money of obtaining a residence visa will stay more than two years to get PR if they have to?
Also it does not seem smart that they would increase it to anything above 4 years as residence visa holders are usually eligible to apply for New Zealand citizenship after 5 years meaning they can get the NZ passport and stay as long as they like.
I just don't see how this particular policy will reduce immigration, does anyone else?
Also my partner has been on her residence visa for one year now which was obtained threw her partnership with me, this time next year she will apply for her PR (if the 2 year requirement has not been increased) and 3 years after that which will be 5 years here as a resident she will apply for her NZ citizenship and NZ passport, does anyone think we will have any difficulties doing this with the new government? I know nobody will know exactly what the new government will do but any info which may be relevant would be great.