Lance

Hello,
I am an Australian permanent resident with a newly validated Visa.
Currently I work in the US and plan to travel to New Zealand for
vacation. I read on this forum that an Australian PR visa holder does
not need Visa to enter NZ. Is that correct? I would just like to
confirm this before I make my travel plans.
Thanks in advance!
L

Malcovitch

Autralian PRs that are holding a valid return visa, are allowed to stay in
NZ without an NZ permit or visa.

See here,
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...dontneedavisa/


"Lance" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] om...
    > Hello,
    > I am an Australian permanent resident with a newly validated Visa.
    > Currently I work in the US and plan to travel to New Zealand for
    > vacation. I read on this forum that an Australian PR visa holder does
    > not need Visa to enter NZ. Is that correct? I would just like to
    > confirm this before I make my travel plans.
    > Thanks in advance!
    > L

Texan Usenet

On 28 Oct 2004 07:43:35 -0700, [email protected] (Lance) wrote:

    >Hello,
    >I am an Australian permanent resident with a newly validated Visa.
    >Currently I work in the US and plan to travel to New Zealand for
    >vacation. I read on this forum that an Australian PR visa holder does
    >not need Visa to enter NZ. Is that correct? I would just like to
    >confirm this before I make my travel plans.
    >Thanks in advance!
    >L


Not quite so simple.
For all intent, you're an American resident with a passport issued
from ????

If you are planning to travel US-NZ-US, to meet both US and NZ
security, it will come down to the 'origin of your passport' and your
'current' country of residency.

It is the documentation that will permit the airline firstly to carry
you i.e. your residency takes precedent over any other country's pr
sticker, and, your documentation to return you to the US, that will be
looked at i.e. greencard/appropriate visa etc.

If you planned: US-NZ-AUS, it would be a different ballgame.

Read below and check with the airline you are intending to fly with:

"Security We’re increasing security of our borders.
New Zealand is introducing a new system, called Advance Passenger
Screening,to increase border security.
It affects all travellers entering New Zealand, including New Zealand
citizens.
Traditionally,visas, passports and other travel documents have been
validated when you arrive in New Zealand.
Under Advance Passenger Screening, your documents will be validated
before you board the flight that’s bringing you to New Zealand.
Therefore, in order to board your flight, it is critical that you have
the correct documentation,and that it is valid and current. Incorrect
travel documents may result in you experiencing delays at check-in, or
even not being allowed to board your flight to New Zealand."
-Air New Zealand

Cath

JAJ

He holds an Australian PR visa and is living in the US.
He could be a US citizen, green card holder or a temporary resident there.


Country of residence is irrelevant for both US and NZ.

It's mainly passport based. However NZ will not require a tourist visa from anyone with a valid Australian PR visa that allows re-entry to Australia. There has been some discussion about whether Australian permanent visas (that are not resident return visas, but do have a re-entry facility) are ok for NZ purposes and the consensus seems to be yes.

To get back to the US from NZ, then he would use the same passport and visa as on any other trip outside the US.


Jeremy

Lance

Thanks Jeremy and others. I am a temporary resident in the US with a
valid return visa (US) on my passport. So to get back I can use that.
So according to Jeremy since I have a valid resident return visa for
Australia I do not need a visitor Visa to NZ. Thanks for clearing that
up.
L

JAJ

The problem you might have is on check-in in the US for an NZ bound flight, if the airline doesn't understand that an Australian permanent visa with a return facility is acceptable to NZ. They might look for a specific Resident Return Visa.

What passport do you have?

Jeremy

Texan Usenet

On Tue, 02 Nov 2004 09:02:47 +0000, JAJ
<member23519@british_expats.com> wrote:

    >> Thanks Jeremy and others. I am a temporary resident in the US with a
    >> valid return visa (US) on my passport. So to get back I can use that.
    >> So according to Jeremy since I have a valid resident return visa for
    >> Australia I do not need a visitor Visa to NZ. Thanks for clearing that
    >> up.
    >> L
    >The problem you might have is on check-in in the US for an NZ bound
    >flight, if the airline doesn't understand that an Australian permanent
    >visa with a return facility is acceptable to NZ. They might look for a
    >specific Resident Return Visa.
    >What passport do you have?
    >Jeremy


The easiest way to determine what is required, is to contact the N.Z.
Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Visa Unit
New Zealand Embassy Washington DC
(open between 9-12 noon Monday to Friday)
phone: (202) 328 4800
fax: (202) 328 4836

OR

The NZ Consulate General,
Los Angeles CA
(open 9 a.m. to 12.30 pm Monday to Friday excluding holidays)
Phone: (310) 207 1605

Personally, I would make enquiries asap and not rely on the fact of
having an AU visa for travel that does not include AU.

Cath

JAJ

Ringing embassies is often not the easiest way. Firstly it's often hard to get to speak to anyone in the immigration section. Secondly the risk of a misinterpretation or just a clueless person on the other end of the line is high.


There's always the NZIS website which says:

"You don’t need a visa or permit if you’re:

* a New Zealand citizen or you hold a New Zealand residence permit
* an Australian citizen, or Australian resident who holds a current resident return visa. "

Where NZIS are not doing anyone a favour is by being so unclear about whether an Australian permanent visa with a re-entry facility counts as a 'resident return visa'.

If they could only clarify this point one way or another it would make things a lot easier. As it is, the only way the original poster can probably be *sure* is to make a formal application for a tourist visa (enclosing evidence of his Australia status) and then a clear answer one way or another will be given.

Of course if his passport allows visa-free tourist entry to NZ, then there's no problem in the first place.

Jeremy

abhibhanu

Dear jeremy and original contributor
As jeremy can remember I raised the same problem here couple of month earlier. I was advised by jeremy that AUS PR(any type from 136 to 139 or other) visa is not tecnically RRV. But in NZIS website it says if you have valid AUS RRV then you dont need visa to enter NZL and your passport issuing country is not a problem if you have valid RRV. I have clarified this with NZL embassy here in Japan and also from NZIS. They told me that if you have valid 5 year AUS PR visa with indefinite residency which allows you to re enter AUS, then you dont need visa to enter NZL even though you possess passport from the country which actually needs prior NZL visa. But the point is how the airline staff will understand. I hope NZIS instructs all the airline companies about it.
good luck.
bhanu

Lance

Jeremy and Cath,
Thanks again for your inputs. Jeremy, my passport is from Sri Lanka. I
have both the Ausralian PR sticker and the US Visa sticker on that
passport. Sri Lanka however is a country whose passport holders need a
visa to enter NZ.
L