Jiwi, welcome to the forum.
It is true that you need to prove you have been living together with your partner for 12 months or more before you can apply for a permit or Permanent Residence off their backs, so to speak. ?Had you already been living together for the requisite time your fiance could easily have sponsored you for PR under the
Partnership Policy but as you see from this link, it does state you need to prove the 12 month rule.
Aren't you able to apply for a different Work Permit, one that
is attached to your job, in order to tide you over for the full 12 months of living together? ?If you have a job you should be able to get a WP and if you have a new WP it will buy you some time to get your 'living together' time in. If your circumstances have altered I would think you could apply for a change in the details of the permit or, preferably, get a new one that is linked to your job. ?Alternatively, would it be possible to extend your current WP to cover the extra time you need, although you'd need it for the balance of the 12 months, plus the time it takes for the PR application to go through? ?Perhaps a chat with immigration might offer up some suggestions as to the best way to go on this one.
Dawn, I think you're right about the rule cutting out those who latch up with partners just to gain residency or citizenship in another country (we won't mention the money and better lifestyle :-X) . ?We see it all the time out here in the Gulf where there are literally thousands of doddery, wrinkly old Brits or Americans with darling little Asian girls hanging on their arm. ?You know instinctively that something ain't right and we've suffered along with several male friends who've come badly adrift because of it. ?Having said that, some of the marriages do work out and the parties involved live happily ever after. ?I guess you could say that NZIS is being cruel to be kind with this ruling by trying to ensure that the relationships have had at least some chance to mature and gain some stability. At the same time, if a partner is determined enough to get their foot firmly in the door of another country, 12 months out of their lives isn't much, is it? ?
Hope you have a great day for your wedding. ?
