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EASIER NOW TO VISIT FAMILY

By Lawrence Johnston

FAMILY members can now make more visits and over a longer period without having to apply for multiple visas when visiting their loved ones in New Zealand.
Under the changes, there is a new multiple visit visa for parents and grandparents visiting family who are living there. The new visa allows parents or grandparents to make multiple visits over a three-year period without having to apply for a visa each time.
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said the changes recognised the importance of family support and made the immigration system "more transparent."
Parents and grandparents played a key role in family life. The new policies would make it easier for such relatives who live in places like the UK, to visit.
He also announced changes to the sponsorship of parents, adult children and siblings in the family residence categories. These include:

Establishing quota places for the sponsorship of parents, adult children, and adult siblings to go to New Zealand as permanent residents.
The introduction of strengthened character criteria for people wishing to sponsor partners to go to New Zealand.
The introduction of a minimum income requirement of NZ$29,897.92 for sponsors of parents.
The extension of the timeframe for sponsors to guarantee support for their parents from two to five years - to come into effect with the passing and enactment of the Immigration Bill in 2008 - and
The withdrawal of the existing Family Quota category.

There will be 3,100 to 3,400 places for parents, 250 to 350 for adult children,
1,100 to 1,250 for adult siblings in 2007/08, based on the actual numbers from previous years.
Mr Cunliffe said the bulk of New Zealand's residence programme would continue to be for skilled migrants and their immediate families. "There will be no change to the current distribution of places with 60 per cent of residence places for skilled migrants, 30 per cent for family related places and ten per cent for our international and humanitarian obligations," he said.
The changes making it easier for people to take family members to New Zealand, were in some instances, being balanced by tighter requirements.
The family package, just announced, recognised the important role extended families played in enhancing settlement outcomes for New Zealand's valued migrants. While the existing share of the total residence programme had been preserved, enhanced character and sponsorship requirements ensured a transparent and sustainable family residence programme, he said.
The changes to family policy reflected the government's "strong focus on achieving good settlement outcomes for migrants."
Immigration New Zealand London Branch Manager Kevin Cameron said the new measures were a boon for mums and dads and grandparents who wished to visit their families in New Zealand. "The changes mean they will now be able to go back and forward a bit easier," he said.