The Ultimate Immigration Riddle: Bringing Up My 1.5 Year-old Kiwi Son?
 

Hi,

Hoping you can offer some guidance on this guys and girls...

I've search the entire internet looking for answers but found none. I've looked through a couple of hundred threads in this 'Immigration' sub-forum (there are nearly 3000 in total - wow!) and still nothing... (just to show I'm not a lazy-gimme-all-the-answers kinds guy :) )


A ridiculously long story cut even more ridiculously short:

1) Got Kiwi [short-term] girlfriend pregnant here in Scotland.
2) She moved back to NZ and had our Son there.
3) We're not together (and won't be), but we are on extremely good terms, she's realised (after a year alone with our Son) that it would be best for all three of us if I was out in NZ bringing him up as well; being part of his life - which I wanted to do from the start - but that's unimportant now (putting that in there to show this isn't an impulse thing).
4) Can't find any information for my situation at all.


Okay, I have to admit to have not yet actually contacted Immigration in any form, but I really kind of wanted to know where I stand first.

My main question is really:

What options are available to me (if any?!) for living in NZ, or even just being able to visit more frequently in the interim, when I've got a Son with a single Mum there?

His Mum could really do with the support (in various forms) that I can help provide - would this count for anything?

Some more info:

- I've made two one-month trips to see my Son in the last 14 months or so.
- I'm self-employed online and so a job is not an issue.
- I'm 28 and have a Masters degree in Computing & Electronics (but have not used it since I left Uni and so have no actual experience - which shows as I can't seem to garner enough points for a work-permit to NZ).
- I used up my working-holiday Visa 4 years ago in NZ - but on the plus-side I did fall in love with Wellington... oh Wellington, how I miss thee!
- I'm currently planning a longer-term visit for 4 (possibly 6) months this July.


I would appreciate any information you could provide. Perhaps point me in the right direction. Even any good immigration specialist lawyers/consultants I could speak to?... any thing really.

Thank you and wish you a happy, long-weekend

LostInLimbo

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Re: The Ultimate Immigration Riddle: Bringing Up My 1.5 Year-old Kiwi Son?
 

As yours is such an individual case, I think the only way to get a really good handle on your options is to seek professional help from a reputable migration agent.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you and your son, and I think you are to be congratulated for looking for ways to be close and part of his life.

Re: The Ultimate Immigration Riddle: Bringing Up My 1.5 Year-old Kiwi Son?
 

We met someone recently who actually got back together for a while with his ex to get him PR so that he could help bring up the children (no-one off this forum). He was out of the country (NZ), and wanted to be near them and so the couple came to an amicable arrangement in NZ for 2 years or so, to get him PR as her partner. Not for the faint hearted I'm thinking.....

Otherwise all I see for you is trying to get here with your own skills on a work visa, or come for six months a year on a tourist visa, but you won't be able to work.

Jan

Re: The Ultimate Immigration Riddle: Bringing Up My 1.5 Year-old Kiwi Son?
 

Cheers. I'm not familiar with the role of "migration agent" - is that someone who acts as a kind of solicitor between you and immigration people to make the process run smoothly?


Thanks Jan. Yeah, the sham-marriage thing would be a no-no with my Son's Mum for a number of reasons - which I totally respect. So unfortunately that is not an avenue.



I kind of thought that with the millions of people between the two countries that someone must have been in a similar situation... surely?

If not... then I really do feel quite unique! :)

Re: The Ultimate Immigration Riddle: Bringing Up My 1.5 Year-old Kiwi Son?
 

Have a look at the points calculator...

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/pointsindicator/

You may have enough points with which to apply via the skilled migrant process...

Additionally you could look at the multiply entry visa, which allows you to stay up to 18mths in a 36 mth period...

Re: The Ultimate Immigration Riddle: Bringing Up My 1.5 Year-old Kiwi Son?
 

Cheers. I did the points thing a while ago for the work visa and could barely scrape 95 (and that was with some "creativity"). Did it again just now, being fairly honest, and I'm at 105 points - so I'm going to start the Expression of Interest process.

I had not hear of the multiply visa. Will take a look at that. Thanks. :thumbup: