A culturally arranged marriage couple declined despite living together
A couple joined by a culturally arranged marriage, who had lived together for two months, were still declined and left stranded in India, because Immigration New Zealand was not satisfied their relationship was 'stable'. It is a stark example of how even living together may not be enough when 'stable' is left to an officer's judgement.
What happened
- The couple were joined by a culturally arranged marriage, and the husband, a New Zealand permanent resident, moved back to India to live with his wife and prove their relationship was stable.
- Even after living together, a further application was declined on the basis there was no new evidence of a change in circumstances, and Immigration New Zealand was not satisfied the partnership requirements were met.
- Their lawyer pointed out there is no fixed rule for how long a relationship must last to be 'stable' — each officer decides on the evidence in front of them.
As reported by Stuff, 25 March 2021: “Partnership visa declined for culturally arranged marriage couple, despite living together for two months”.
The lesson
A partnership visa needs a relationship that is genuine and stable, and 'stable' is a judgement call, not a fixed number of months. Simply having lived together for a short time does not guarantee approval. The way you evidence the depth, history and future of the relationship is what tips a discretionary decision your way, which is exactly where experienced help earns its keep.
The visa in this story
Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor VisaA visitor visa to come to New Zealand to marry your partner under a culturally arranged marriage, and then apply for partnership-based visas.
Don’t let this be your story
Most partnership visa heartbreak is avoidable with the right advice before you apply. Have a lawyer assess your situation honestly, backed by our money-back guarantee.