Partnership Visa --- Difficult situtation

[Sebastian91]

Hi Guys,

I found this forum very helpful and supportive during my process of becoming a NZ resident. I am asking the following question on behalf of my very close friends. My friends, a same-sex couple, who have been together since over 2 years and lived together since almost a year, are applying for a Partnership-based work visa, and for residence in a couple months time. Now one is from China and the supporting partner is a New Zealand Permanent Resident (currently in the process of getting his Kiwi citizenship). Now to my question, the parents of the NZ PR do not know about his boyfriend due to cultural and religious reasons. He is afraid that INZ might contact his parents about their relationship. Is there anything he can do, such as cover letter, to tell not to contact parents due to this reason?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[JandM]

Yes, he can tell INZ the situation. Obviously, one strong piece of partnership evidence is the knowledge of friends and family that a couple are partners, and the letters that they write in support, so it will be good to find some friends on both sides who know the couple and are prepared to supply evidence that they are accepted as a pair, and known to live together (since obviously there won't be anything from the family).