#huiwen7

If you answer 'Yes' to any of the following questions, you don't need a visitor visa.*

If you answer 'No' to all of the questions, you will have to apply for a visitor visa.

Are you a New Zealand or Australian citizen?

Do you hold a New Zealand residence class visa?

Do you have a current Australian permanent residence visa or a current Australian resident return visa? (If you hold an Australian temporary or provisional residence visa, then you will need a visitor visa).

Are you:

a diplomat or do you carry out certain roles in a consular office (see section H2.1 of our Operational Manual for definition)

part of the military personnel (see M2) 

a cruise ship passenger who meets certain time and destination requirements (seeE2.95.5) 

an aircraft crew member on any commercial aircraft flying between any other country and New Zealand, for seven days beginning with the day on which the aircraft arrived in New Zealand (see E2.95.5), or

associated with a Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty and other Antarctic travellers (see V3.50).

Are you from a visa-waiver country, and intending to visit for no more than your allotted time of three months (or six months if you are from the United Kingdom)?

Even if you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions, there are some circumstances where you may not be granted a visitor visa, for example, if you:

have been sentenced to imprisonment

have been deported from any country

have been involved in known criminal or terrorist groups.

Find out more about visitor visas.

Immigration NZ have increased the application fee for a student visa.  From Monday 2nd July, 2012, the application fee at the University of Auckland's International Student Information Centre will increase to NZD165.00. A direct application with Immigration NZ the cost will be NZD250.00.

"I tell them to be warriors!"

Maria Eugenia Amena Moreno, 33, fled from her hometown of Uraba in Colombia in 2004 after receiving death threats from armed groups. She was forced to abandon her children and live with no support from the community. Eventually, she managed to sneak back into Uraba in disguise to rescue her children.

In Cartagena, she began working with an organization called the League of Women, a group that received funding from UNHCR. The group helps displaced women in Colombia recover from trauma and build a new life. UNHCR is also helping with day care centers in the area.

Maria Eugenia experienced a fresh blow when her new partner was murdered by armed groups. "It was cruel: I met him. I had healed. And then he was killed... it was too cruel," she said.

The New Zealand Government introduced the Immigration Amendment Bill (16-1) on the 30th of April 2012. The Government cited the ongoing risk of mass arrival of illegal migrants and people-smuggling as the impetus for this Bill. Thus, the Bill seeks to improve New Zealand's ability to deter people-smuggling to New Zealand and to effectively manage the mass arrival of illegal migrants (should one occur). 

The Bill establishes a definition of "mass arrival group".  Clause 5 of the Bill inserts a new section 9A in the Immigration Act which defines "mass arrival group" as a group of more than 10 people. It allows for the mandatory detention, under a group warrant, for an initial period of up to 6 months, of illegal migrants (other than unaccompanied minors) arriving as part of a mass arrival group. It provides for further periods of detention for up to 28 days with court approval or release on binding conditions, and empowers the suspending of the processing of refugee and protection claims by regulation. 

The Bill has passed its first reading. It has been referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee. The Select Committee invites submissions from the general public, and for them to be sent by the 8th of June 2012. 

http://www.unrefugees.org

Qubra and her son Pervez fled Afghanistan after losing most of their family to the war with the Taliban.

Qubra’s husband, a trader and long-distance truck driver, was abducted and later disappeared. Pervez was detained and tortured before being warned by the Taliban never to return to his home country.

Mother and son have been living a meager existence as refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan ever since. Qubra says that she is afraid to return home. “My only hope is to see my son married.”

From Storytelling through the eyes of refugees: