things are not going well with my work visa application. here’s an email I recently drafted. pretty much sums things up:
Dear Christina,
When I came in to your Boulcott Street offices today, I learned from the receptionist that the information my partner Emma Colligan and I provided was not sufficient to meet the demands of NZ Immigration. This application was submitted Dec 16th, and despite a couple of calls and an email, this was the first I heard about this determination. From what I can recall, included in the package we submitted for my visa application were photos of us together from throughout the time that we have been a couple, a copy of records from our joint bank account that specifically show money being drawn out for the payment of our shared apartment, and letters from our parents swearing that we are in a loving and committed relationship. There may be other materials that we submitted, but it’s been such a long while since that date that I can’t clearly remember, but do know for a fact that at least these materials were provided. In addition to what we have provided, what further documentation are you looking for? We have a lot more photos, friends to attest to our relationship, bank statements, facebook posts; you name it, we’ve got it, and we’ll be more than happy to bring it in.
Further, I feel I need to state for the record my experience with the NZ Immigration service so far. I originally submitted my application on Dec 16th with the thought that this should be plenty of time for my application to be processed before my previous holiday working visa expired on the 21st of Jan. As this looked less and less likely, I related the upcoming dillema to my employers at the ministry of education. They drafted me a letter requesting that my application be expedited. I called up sometime around the 13th of January and talked to a man named Hans in order to clear up some questions in regards to submitting the letter. He told me that the best thing I could do would be to fax my letter in to a man named Andrew Choy, who I was told would be able to determine whether or not I should be entitled to have my application expedited. At no time during this conversation was I told that the supporting documentation in my application had been deemed insufficient.
I submitted the request by fax as requested, and waited for confirmation that my fax had been received. After not hearing back by the end of the week, the next week I submitted a message to Immigration’s online email form, which assured me I would hear back from somebody in 3 days. After three days ellapsed I called up and talked to a nice lady who told me Andrew Choi didn’t have a direct line, but that she’d email him and I should hear back in a couple of days. After not hearing back I came to your office with the intention of delivering the request myself. It was only then when talking with reception that I learned A: that my visa doesn’t have enough supporting documentation and B: Andrew Choy never came back from work after the Christmas Break. I feel like I have been run around in circles, I haven’t been able to work since my previous visa expired, and I would really appreciate it if you could help me with my application process.
yours sincerely,
Evan Damerow
The Thieving Weka 