Applying for spouse residency
 

Hi Everyone,

My first time here & looking for a bit of advice. I am a retired NZ Citizen living in the UK since 2006, married a Brit Lady in 2008 & we now wish to retire to NZ, so my question is would we be better to apply for residency for my wife whilst in the UK, or wait until we get to NZ?

Any help greatly appreciated.

David.

Re: Applying for spouse residency
 

HI David and welcome to BE
She would need to apply for a partnership visa How do I apply?

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...r/howdoiapply/

and dependant on how long the processing time is would ultimately determine where you apply for it. Obviously she can come over on a visitors visa for 6mths with a onward flight out of the country.

Processing times London "Family Partnership and Family Dependant Child
We expect to decide your application within one to three months from the date the application is submitted."

Processing times Wellington "Family Partnership and Dependent Child applications (under Family Category) will be processed before other categories. We expect to allocate your Family Category application for residence (under these criteria) to a case officer within six months of acceptance of your application."

Processing times Auckland "Family Partnership and Dependent Child applications (under Family Category) will be processed before other categories. We expect to allocate your Family Category application for residence (under these criteria) to a case officer within six to nine months of acceptance of your application"

Re: Applying for spouse residency
 

Thanks MrsFychan,

It would appear that it may be better to apply from here as it appears to be quicker, however twice the price. £900 here or $900 there.

With regards to medicals/xrays etc, would my wife have to use an immigration approved DR. Or our own?

Thanks again,

David

Re: Applying for spouse residency
 

For the immigration medicals you would need to use an NZ immigration approved panel doctor, within NZ you can go to any doctor however overseas there are only certain doctors who are approved. You should look here:

Panel Doctors

Re: Applying for spouse residency
 

If you get PR for your wife before you arrive in NZ she will enter the country as such. Rather than be granted a tourist visa on arrival while you apply for spouse residency for her in NZ.

Re: Applying for spouse residency
 

Thanks for the replies, so what happens if we applied when we get to NZ & a decision has not been made when my wife's 6 month VV runs out?

Re: Applying for spouse residency
 

she will not be able to board a plan from anywhere without an onward flight if she only had a visitors visa. so you have to either book a return flight (onward flight out of NZ) and come over on a visitors visa and apply here or you apply elsewhere and wait for a valid visa to remain longer than 6mths.