NZ embassy in Washington - anyone familiar with how they work?

[1happywoman]

They have had my paperwork for two weeks now. On Friday, I got an automated message from the Department of Immigration that my "status has been updated". I checked the NZ Department of Immigration website, where I have an account set up, and it said there was no information under "What's Happening". I called the embassy and really, was not told anything, other than they have everything and it's in process. They also had no clue what email I was talking about, so I emailed a copy and got a response that that was the first time they had seen that. I do have a client number and an application number assigned. I also know they can't discuss any application issues with one until a letter explaining the problem has been received, and I've not received a thing! I think there are only three people working there, and this is a busy time of year for processing applications. In fact I was told by one person who works there they process about 100 applications per year. (I don't know if that is really accurate, though.)

Does anyone know if they assign CO's here in the US? I have never had a call or email that I have a specific contact person. Is no news, good news? I sent everything they requested when I got the first letter and they sent all my paperwork back to me. I can't imagine there is anything else they might want, but who knows. Anyone have an experience working with them?

Didn't really know where to put this, but hoping a transplant from the US might be able to shed some light on this.

[nickydwuk]

They really seem to be dragging it out don't they. First with the police certificate and now this

[1happywoman]

Oh, it gets better. After I posted this, I got another letter stating they want more documentation of our relationship! I honestly don't see what the problem is this time. I guess we will see what other pieces of paper we can dig up with our names on it. It is sooo frustrating that someone can sit in judgement of our relationship based on paper rather than believing what we wrote and sent (including auto dated photographs of us together) the first time. We lived in my mother's house, which is paid for, paid no rent but did things to the house and did the upgrades, cleaning and repairs, bought groceries, etc. Utilities (which I paid) were in my mother's name. We each have our own phones, our own bank accounts, etc. His was a very minimal phone plan, and he used it mainly for emergency contact and work. He would call me from payphones or hotel phones where he might be staying when he was on the road (he is a truckie). We used an email system, that, unfortunately, dumped messages after 30 days, so we don't have anything going back all that far, until we switched to another system. It's not like we are teenagers, and that I wouldn't have any skills to contribute. And we are going to get married when I get there! My partner is fit to be tied, since this was not mentioned in the first letter (when they sent everything back).

[nickydwuk]

When we had to give proof of our relationship we sent joint bank statements etc... but our CO said we could have sent anything official that was addressed to us - individually - as long as they were at the same address and date stamped. This way it would prove that you were both living at the same address for that period of time. So if you had seperate bank accounts as long as you both received statements at the same address this would count. I think

[kiwisue]

My husbands application for Permanent Residency under the Partnership Category is being processed at the NZ Embassy in Washington DC. We have been waiting 69 days to date for word of his approval. He has a Case Officer and hasn't heard from her since she sent back all our paperwork which was proof of a stable relationship and was included with his application form.
May and June are the busiest months at the NZ Embassy in Washington DC as they are busy processing Student Visas.
To answer your questions:

You should have been assigned a Case Officer and told who he/she is when they returned all your paperwork to you.


Did the letter you received requesting more documentation of your relationship not contain the name of your CO?

We are not expecting to hear from my husbands CO until July, because they have Student Visas to process and they apparently take preference over a New Zealand citizen's partners application for PR.


Hope this helps.


Good luck.


Suzanne.

[selchie]

I can't help with knowledge about the DC embassy, because our PR application had to go to London (WTF?). I wonder, is the DC embassy new at processing US applications for PR, and thus are complete noobs?

[1happywoman]

Well, in the letter I got I was given a deadline of July 9th, and after that, a final determination would be made based on what was previously submitted. No name, no mention of a case officer. I have some other pieces of mail to send, and I've printed out a lot of emails between us that I will send, Apparently they want lots of pieces of paper. I also wrote a 4 page letter explaining our relationship a bit more. In the end, I said if my work permit was not approved, please send all my paperwork and my passport back to me and I will just lodge the darned thing in New Zealand.

Things have changed here - my job became intolerable so I left, and I am planning to go to New Zealand at the end of July, so something has to happen. We've been messing around with this now for over 2 months. I just wonder what they will find next. Seems like the kiwis had no problem with the relationship issue when they looked everything over - just the problem with the police certificate.

I worked in an area that involved a lot of customer service, and I dislike excuses for lack of performance, i.e "busy season". My understanding is that they process about 100 applications per year. It shouldn't be this difficult. I'm pretty good and creating work flows and this frustrates me to no end.

One bit of advice to anyone sending anything to the embassy in Washington- send it registered mail so you can track it online. I knew when they had my paperwork in their hands.

[MotherBear]

They really are putting you through it 1HW. I feel for you, just when you're trying to get your new life on track. Hope they get their act into gear soon.

[1happywoman]

Aw, well, MB, I sent them mail both my partner and I have received at my address, printed out emails and wrote a four page letter. Hopefully I have convinced them I want to come to New Zealand and I'm not really a terrorist in disguise I'm not even trying to get PR, planning on doing that once I get there. I just want a work permit! I've been working with an agency Nickydwuk suggested and they have a job that seems just made for me, and I hope I can interview for that when I get there. I was hoping my 32 years of nursing experience might count for something.

I asked to have all my paperwork and passport returned if they don't believe me and my partner are in a "stable and genuine" relationship. I am coming over as a visitor the end of July or first week of August, and see if we can't sort it all out when I am there in person. Of course, we may have the one piece of paper in hand that will take care of all the problems - a marriage certificate!

[MotherBear]

Originally Posted by 1happywoman

Of course, we may have the one piece of paper in hand that will take care of all the problems - a marriage certificate!

I wouldn't bank on it. It doesn't seem to matter to INZ whether you've been married 5 mins. or 40 years, they still need to have evidence that it's 'a stable and genuine relationship'. If your relationship isn't stable after 40 years, what hope is there for you? We all have marriage certificates (in fact I have 2 for the same wedding ), but we still have to go through the rigmarole of proving the relationship.