Hi everyone,
I like everyone else am sick of patiently waiting in the apparently unmoving SMC visa processing queue, so I thought it's time to take matters in my own hands. I do not qualify for any prioritisation, so I can almost see my application being pushed further and further down the pile, and it is certainly not a good feeling. I do not oppose people like doctors, nurses, midwives and teachers being prioritised as they are the building blocks of our society, but the fact that you can be prioritised simply because you are a high wage earner/have to be registered really does not sit well with me.
So this morning I contacted Gill Bonnet at RNZ with my concerns and this is what she came back with:
"Thank you so much for taking the time to write to me.
Yes, I think you’re right that many people don’t understand the experience of being on a temporary visa and what it means for your day-to-day life.
I received another email today with more informations, so it is definitely a subject I’ll be coming back to again soon. Erin and I have been corresponding about it for a few months and she was in one of my reports. Would you be willing to be interviewed?
I really do think hearing from people who are affected directly is a very powerful way of telling a story. I know you have misgivings about being named, and be assured I would not name you unless you agreed. Or is there someone else in your forum who feels strongly enough about it to speak publicly? If you felt comfortable asking that is.
Give me a call if you’d like to discuss.
Kind regards,
Gill"
So please contact her if you are willing to be interviewed or send her your personal circumstances! You can find her e-mail address by googling her name. I will certainly give her a call to talk about this matter further as I'm sick of feeling like a powerless & voiceless patient queue-er!