Latest Citizenship Timeline - adults only

[Kelerei]

My ultimate goal is to get NZ passport in time for my travel in Oct, that's the most important thing and I can't risk having DIA delay approving my citizenship process by this name change. This is because my foreign passport is expiring in Feb 2023 and my partner's foreign passport is expiring in Jan 2023 (We won't be able to enter the country we're visiting with our passports' validity less than 6 months). Applying for new foreign passports and then transferring our NZ PR visa to the new foreign pp will take ages (probs longer than waiting for our NZ citizenship approval + name change + NZ passport using urgent service LOL).

Thanks K for your input, I will discuss this with my partner and decide what to do with the name change because both of us will change our names. Our foreign passports don't separate first name/middle/family name so all our names are lumped into one single FULL name, it's a nightmare when applying for things in NZ - All my names are put in the Surname field on NZ driver licence and people address us by our middle name (not first name) in all documents like bank statement, car insurance policy etc

How long will renewing your foreign passports take? I do know that with some countries, it can take a while -- for me, it will take anywhere between six months and infinity (that's next year's problem!). Visa transfers are generally quick though: as of today INZ is quoting 90% of such applications are completed within 16 days.

For people finding this thread in future, there's a key lesson (and this is also official advice from the Department of Internal Affairs): keep your passport up to date while your application is in progress, because the processing of your application may take longer than you may have been expecting. This will allow you to travel if you have to with the minimum of fuss.

[ht8990]

Hi All,

HT8990 I'm not sure when you applied but if it was after July 2021 and after many of us who haven't been approved then I can only assume you passed the automated checks but then that still doesn't explain why you have been contacted to say your application has been picked up by a CO because according to their new process you won't need a CO if you passed the automated checks and you would just be given straight approval.

I applied for urgent processing request, it was declined at first by DIA. I then provided some more evidence and asked for reconsideration. They didn't respond to my follow-up request and things were silent for 2-3 weeks and then they suddenly informed me that initial processing has begun.
I suppose they still allocated me a CO promptly for compassionate reason or my additional evidence somehow made the case.

[ht8990]

How long will renewing your foreign passports take? I do know that with some countries, it can take a while -- for me, it will take anywhere between six months and infinity (that's next year's problem!). Visa transfers are generally quick though: as of today INZ is quoting 90% of such applications are completed within 16 days.

For people finding this thread in future, there's a key lesson (and this is also official advice from the Department of Internal Affairs): keep your passport up to date while your application is in progress, because the processing of your application may take longer than you may have been expecting. This will allow you to travel if you have to with the minimum of fuss.

It could take very loooong and they don't have a clear instruction for required documents. My embassy don't even respond to emails and they never pick up the phone. Some people bite the bullets and just flew down to Welly and found that the Embassy was closed for the day! Sometimes, they said they run out of the passports to issue...

The travel need in Oct is unexpected and we initially didn't plan to travel until April 2023...

[Michaeln]

they suddenly informed me that initial processing has begun.
.

initial processing has begun as a normal application or an urgent one?

[Michaeln]

I suppose they still allocated me a CO promptly for compassionate reason or my additional evidence somehow made the case.

I applied too but no luck. How'd they not tell you to use your current passport like they did mine? If expired, they usually ask people to go renew.

How'd you make your case & get them to accept, though you have a current passport?

[ht8990]

initial processing has begun as a normal application or an urgent one

I have no idea and don't want to push so didn't ask.

I applied too but no luck. How'd they not tell you to use your current passport like they did mine? If expired, they usually ask people to go renew.

How'd you make your case & get them to accept, though you have a current passport?

Because the country I need to travel to requires me to have a visa to enter and it's impossible (timeline wise) for me to renew my foreign passport then apply for a visa to that country.
It's a very tricky situation for me, like no possibility to travel at all if not on NZ passport.

[Michaeln]

I have no idea and don't want to push so didn't ask.




Because the country I need to travel to requires me to have a visa to enter and it's impossible (timeline wise) for me to renew my foreign passport then apply for a visa to that country.
It's a very tricky situation for me, like no possibility to travel at all if not on NZ passport.

Oh true, did they get you to prove that it's an absolute must for you to travel and not wait?

[ht8990]

Oh true, did they get you to prove that it's an absolute must for you to travel and not wait?

Yes I did provide proof that I have some kind of an urgent need to travel by this date etc but the expiry date of my foreign passport + renewal + visa processing time to the country of travel + NZ PR visa transfer are all impossible to accommodate the travel (and the reason for travel is compassionate)
I should add that I would have preferred to apply for a visa to the country of travel if it was an option because asking for an urgent processing took too much effort and the stress after they declined it was too much...

[azure]

hi all, how did your ref check for passport go? Did you get called?

During my ref check before citizenship cert approval, My friend was never called

[ht8990]

hi all, how did your ref check for passport go? Did you get called?

During my ref check before citizenship cert approval, My friend was never called

They seldom do ref check as I was told by my referee (she was asked to be referee for three other people few years back but never got a call from DIA)