Family Category v Skilled Migrant?

[pauljohn]

Hope someone can answer this for me....

I am planning to emmigrate to NZ with my family sometime in the next 18 months. Have so far not done much about it except read up on all the NZIS information etc.
I originally thought I had to apply under the skilled migrant category, we should be OK with points, but all hinges on a valid job offer.

It seems I may be able to apply under the Family Category - Adult Child Policy.
I have traced my natural mother, who has been a resident of NZ for 30 years. One of the clauses of the Adult Child category is I have to have a resident parent in NZ, and no other parent resident in my existing country of residence (UK). I have no other natural parent or siblings in the UK. My legal adoptive parents are resident in the UK so does this exclude me from this category?

Hi,
You would probably know more about this than me, but I believe that when someone is adopted, their natural parent(s) give up all rights of parental responsibility of the child to the adopting parents. With that being the case, your natural mother would not be able to sponsor you as she is not, in the eyes of law at least, your parent anymore. I really couldn't say how the immigration service would handle a case like this, but I suspect they would abide by the laws of adoption, so not enabling your natural mother to sponsor you.

It may, however, be worth while approaching the immigration minister in New Zealand to put forward your case. They may take a sympathetic view of a re-united family, but don't quote me on that. If your adoptive parents are still alive in your country of residence, then they would be what immigration call your 'centre of gravity', meaning you have more family at home than in New Zealand.

I wish you all the best in your quest, and hope you can find a way.

All the best

[Zemanova]

Hi

My feeling is that you would have difficulty under the family category scheme. This scheme refers to "centre of gravity of the family". You state that you have traced your natural mother, which suggests you have not had contact with her for some years and accordingly your adoptive parents would most likely be the "centre of gravity of the family".

I looked into this category ( my mother lives in NZ ) as my first option and therefore this is only my opinion, based on what I researched at the time. I guest you will have to ask the question of NZ immigration.

Dave