Peaceful Protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to fight for the Entry, Visa extension and pathway to residency

Due to Covid-19 many of us are stuck in countries of our origin as some of us were back home to see our parents, to attend weddings, to get married or to attend funeral etc. Some of us are persons having our immediate families in New Zealand and we have been away from them for more than 19 months with no fault of ours. It is pertinent to mention here that many of amongst us who were having jobs in New Zealand have been rendered jobless as our employers have already found our replacements.

Since March 2020, a total of between 650-700 people with temporary work visas were intentionally ignored by the New Zealand government. All of these were locked out of New Zealand after the government took a decision to close doors on 20th March 2020. We acknowledge that we are passing through tough times, so we waited patiently for more than 16 months. It was a shame to see the government allowing people with special privileges to enter New Zealand, but not the people who held valid visas, to travel to New Zealand. Most of us have worked and lived in New Zealand and are just like any resident there.

Till date government hasn't disclosed any plan or shown any intention for people like us who're stuck offshore on a temporary work visas like post-study work visa, student visa, essential visa, partner visa, low-mid skill visa. The visas of many people from this group have already expired due to the inefficiency of the government.

People stuck here are still maintaining their asset in NZ like houses, cars etc. but it's a shame that

government has turned a deaf ear to pleas of people stuck in this situation. Many of us have written to the Minister of Immigration, Prime Minister, Indian Embassy in NZ, Immigration New Zealand, without any response from their end at all.

we want to request the following points to be raised.

1.Include all eligible Temporary Visa holders in New 2021 Resident Visa Category who are stuck offshore due to COVID and were able to return on 29 September 2021.

2.Extension of visas which have expired or lost due to borders being closed due to Covid-19. Provide exemption to all.

3.As many PSWV holders have lost more than 1.5 years offshore, most of them were in NZ before 29 September 2018 and borders closed without any prior notice. Please remove the eligibility criteria of three years stay in New Zealand.

4.Reunite Split Families, Partners, Kids, Spouses, Parents.

5.Allow students to finish their studies and grants post study work visa & those completed their studies, issue Post study work visa.

6.All visas expired due to employers’ needs be renewed and allow them to enter as an exception.

Our Request to New Zealand Government

We have lost around 2 years of our life and can never get back this precious time. So, we humbly request to NZ Govt to please bring us back as soon as possible with extension of lost and expired visas since March 2020 also consider a new one-off resident Visa 2021 category. Every migrant stuck offshore has worked hard and paid tax to contribute to NZ economy. Please give us the same respect and support as NZ Govt has given for current onshore migrants. - TIN Bureau (Inputs Jagdeep Singh Dhillon)