Well done Steve..
However, this is but the beginning of a steepish learning curve.
Again, I mention the usefulness of patience, particularly as she is dealing through a china based immigration advisor
[1] You may have read recently that some 300 Chinese students in NZ were discovered to have made visa application
that were fraudulent ( dodgy qualifications, forged baank statements) that were traced back to two Beijing based
immigration agencies. Agencies are now required to be registered with INZ, mostly as a protection against
vulnerable immigrants being ripped off by their compatriots. Further, of the 7500 students visa applications from India
over half had some element of fraud present. Caveat emptor!
[2] You have been given a one month Visa. What they don't tell you is that the process of application for an extention of
a visa can take over a month, so applying for an extention should be a priority. We didn't know this and had a period when
my wife was in the country illegally while the extention was being processed. This has been somewhat fixed
by the process of an interim visa to cover that processing period gap. Check with INZ - she should have a case number
if her visitors visa has been approved!
[3] How you handle it is up to you, but I strongly suggest that future visa extentions should come from you in NZ.
INZ inside NZ are quite civilised as long as you obey the rules. Overseas office are an entirely different matter in my experience.
Being able to respond promptly in English to any concerns they may have make life a LOT easier.
Guess this will be part of the early tests of how your relationship unfolds
[4] Going round NZ is a great Idea - Ive attached some Pics of our trip.
Suggest you take pics aplenty, as it establishes that she is a visitor, and builds up a profile of your developing relationship
should you decide to make it permanent.
INZ will consider an application for a work visa for your lady if you can convince them you have been in a genuine
relationship for 6 months or so, and intend to apply for residence later- so you will need those visitor visa extentions
[5] You will have no troubles finding Asian food suppliers aplenty (e.g China Town, Ti Rakau Drive )
Best thing is to clear a couple of shelves completely, and then take her shopping so she can select what she wants
in these shelves. Chinese ladies tend to be very particular; one brand of Soya sauce is excellent, another apparently
identical, mediocre. We pakehas have no way of telling which is which, and it is wise not to reveal one
ignorance in these matters too soon
In fact I would caution against going overboard on Chinese cuisine, and establishing a balance with european
foods. I noticed that every third word on China TV/ Radio was Chungoa and there seems to be a campaign
to stress the correctness of all things chinese, and the cultural inferiority of 'other' Could be a overcompensation
for the opium wars / boxer rebellion / great leap forward - I don't know.
But meeting in the middle is a good strategy, and not just for the family bed
Certainly I had to establish that just because it was 'chinese' did not neccesarily make it 'right'
You may also find the same thing with chinese medicine- My wife wanted a treatment that consisted
of black funguses, tree bark and accupressure. I was able to demonstrate that antibiotics (
freely available over the counter in CHina) did the trick a lot better
[6] While the first flush of new relationship is a wondrous thing, be aware that you are not entering into
a relationship with a girl, but with a family. There is a whole matrix of obligations and traditions
that you are expected to understand, although not neccesarily to accept.
Let me give you an example:
I fought a long and hard battle with Immigration re Yan, and finally prevailed. I ended up with a wife
whose sensitivity and devotion ( and beauty) are beyond anything I could have wished for.
However, she has a 21 Year old son in China, and she wanted him to have the benefits of life in NZ as well.
So I applied for residency for him as well, and after but a few hiccups, this was granted.
He turned up at the airport, a strapping 6' 100 Kg build. But it was very soon that I discovered
that inside, there was a demanding, dependant 12 year old, who had always had everything done for him
( 2 doting grandparents, in this case 1 doting mother) and he assumes that this is his entitlement.
He also has a huge appetite - see this clip
www.youtube.com/watch?v=52azqInBO64Apparently this phenomenon is not uncommon - the local schools, who have a lot of fee paying
chinese students call it "the little prince syndrome". So I have been landed with the job of
turning a spoilt boy into a man, with all the considerable strains it puts on our marriage..
So I would check out this sort of potential hand grenande early on in the piece.
[7] Be also aware that the family system is also a banking system. Brothers and cousins lend
where there is a need, but the obligation to repay is solid. Also there is the obligations to support
parents in their old age. So I'm helping to square off old ( and unannounced) debts which were not
mentioned until after marriage...
Thats it from Me
I'm sure all will go well for you, but help from those who have been
down the path, and perchance fallen into a few of the potholes, is what this forum is about
Go Well
Peace
David K in Auckland
