Hi,
Sorry for a long letter below.
I am working in Wellington with an Essential Skill work visa from last year July (July 2017). My visa will get expired by July 2019. I am from India and got married last month in India. We were in relationship from 2014 but as it is against our culture, we never lived together before marriage. We were able to live together for just 3 days due to the lack of leave for myself and for my wife who is working in Middle east. Few months back we applied for a partneship visa but it was declined. The statement in the decline letter was as follows:
" We have considered the submissions but we are not satisfied that the requirements have been met, due to the following:
1. You have stated that you intend to travel to New Zealand with your partner after your intended wedding in May/ June 2018, however, there is neither evidence on file to indicate that you are engaged to the New Zealand partner and nor is there any documentary evidence towards the impending wedding.
2. We further note that, as per the submissions, you have been in a relationship since 2014. However, there is no information regarding the inception and progression of the relationship. We have noted the evidence of contact, a few photos and one fund transfer receipt, and this does indicate that you have been in contact. However, the overall evidence fails to demonstrate that you are in a long term relationship with your supporting partner and given that your purpose of travel is linked to the relationship, we are not satisfied that the you have a genuine purpose of travel.
3. We note that you have stated that you are currently not employed. Hence, you do not have any ongoing occupational and financial commitments which will require you to depart New Zealand on the expiry of your visa.
Given the above we are not satisfied that you meet the requirements of E5.1 and hence an approval is not warranted. We have considered if requiring a bond or granting a limited visa would lessen our concerns or if there are any special circumstances to justify an exception to immigration instructions, but can find no reason for any of these. "
We made the submission through a lawyer last time and provided him with photographs, phone call records, whatsapp call and chat records, one fund transfer, airticket of myself traveling to her place in last december etc. But we did not submit a statement / letter mentioning the inception to progression of our relationship as the lawyer did not ask about it. Lawyer suggested us that it was declined mainly becasue we were not married. Now we are planning to submit the application by ourselves with a marriage registered document from India ( We married in register office ffollowed with a small reception) and the letter showing our relationship progress. For this I have a few questions which I am giving below.
1. My wife had done her medical on 19th February 2017. Does she need to do it again? I hope it is having 3 year validity.
2. Her passport got renewed with new passport number. Her medical was with old passport. In the new passport, there is a place where the old passport number mentioned.
3. I am expecting that Immigration New Zealand will give a general visitor visa for us to live together and establish our partnership as we have not lived together much. Is it so?
4. I am planning to start my residency process. Will it affect in anyway to my wife's visa application with my residency application?
Once again sorry for this long message.
Regards,
Ashbin