Back and forth with permanent residency
 

Howdy all,

Here's the story in brief

My family and I were issued with a residence permit in Dec 08.
In Dec 10 we shall be heading back to the UK, having spent 3 years in total and having qualified for permanent residency.
We may come back at some stage, though not in the immediate future.

My question is
How do immigration take to people clearing off virtually the second they get PR?
Is there a time limit by which you can return? I am talking within reason here, say in 3 or 4, not 30 years.

If anyone has been in that scenario or has better info than I can get from floundering around the immigration website, that would be much appreciated.

Re: Back and forth with permanent residency
 

Now someone much more knowledgeable than me will be along soon
but
for now :)
My understanding is that when you get your PR, you will get a returning resident's visa valid for two years...the visa is the bit that allows you in and out of the country...not the PR
To convert this to an indefinite RRV, you need to spend a substantial amount of time in NZ (184 days in each of the twelve months of the two years prior to applying)

I hope i got this right...I think you said on the other pets thread that you don't have PR yet, is that right?

Check out the immi website though...and wait around for the people on here that really know there stuff :)

Re: Back and forth with permanent residency
 

Hiya,

I'm always getting the terminology wrong! I meant rrv Come Dec 10 we will have done the necessary 184 days each 12 months thing (we have done one 12 month period now) and have an indefinite rrv ...I think it will be indefinite. Just wondering how indefinite is truly indefinite? e.g. come back in a few years, five, ten?? But obviously not in 30 odd years.

I'll just say indefinite one more time in case I didn't cram enough into the above paragraph :-)

I should just ring immigration again, but I find this board usually has someone whose been through the scenario already

Re: Back and forth with permanent residency
 

Indefinite should mean indefinite ...............unless the policy is altered

Re: Back and forth with permanent residency
 

My understanding is BEVS is right, it is valid indefinitely to allow you to return to New Zealand.

But it is not irrevocable.

Obviously it is not the same as citizenship; in that you don't get a New Zealand passport. It seems there is some debate regarding the amount of time you spend out of the country possibly affecting any future application for citizenship if this were a consideration?

Re: Back and forth with permanent residency
 

You have to be in New Zealand for at least eight months every year for 5 years to start to qualify for citizenship.

Re: Back and forth with permanent residency
 

It would be, e.g. could we return easily in 2, 5, 10 years? I will report back if I get a sensible answer from Immigration!