Humane response from INZ
Gratitude to INZ
Jessie (not her real name) and her children came to New Zealand from Vietnam. After several failed attempts, they eventually obtained their visas through Idesi Legal. 
Since then, she and her family have been our clients.
Jessie became friends with Dan, a slightly older gentleman of Maori descent. The friendship developed into a relationship and they began to live together here in New Zealand.
They were devoted to each other and there was clearly respect and understanding between them. Jessie’s knowledge of English was limited, but this did not seem to get in their way.
I was intrigued. Jessie described Dan as ‘a good man,’ saying, “He treated me well.”
Applying for a partner visa
We received instructions from Dan for Jessie’s temporary visa, which was granted. After some time Dan instructed us to proceed with the partnership residence application. He told us that they had plans to go to Thailand to get married. Everyone was very excited. The residence application was lodged. However, a couple of months ago, Dan visited our offices and said that he had been diagnosed with fourth stage cancer and had only nine months to live.
The news was devastating.
INZ asked for quicker response
We immediately informed Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and requested that the visa application be processed faster.
Meanwhile, the wedding plans were brought forward. The Idesi Legal team attended one of the two-day wedding celebrations surrounded by Dan’s family and friends.
Dan gave Jessie a wedding befitting a Princess.
It was a happy day, despite the ‘C’ looming in the background. Jessie was very attentive to Dan’s every need.
Merciless time
That day really brought home that we can live a whole life in a moment. That moment is all that there is: there is no yesterday and tomorrow. The moment is not to be squandered. Time is a mere concept, yet that it dictates human existence is a fact. It can also give a sense of illusory continuity.
Visas granted
We requested INZ to give this case priority. Less than a fortnight later, the passport with residence visa labels were received by our office.
Ominous feeling
That weekend I had a feeling that Dan’ time may be up. I called Dan’s home only to be told that sadly he had passed away a few days earlier. Fortunately, Dan had sorted out all issues before he left this world.
After the initial shock, I realised to my horror that the date of issue of the visas was critical; it was important to know when the visas had been issued as this would affect the status of Jessie and her children.
INZ confirmed that the visas had been issued four hours before Dan’s death. It was nothing short of divine intervention!
Thanks to INZ
Dan, and this case, exemplifies another very compassionate response from INZ.
Like Jessie and her family, there are hundreds of thousands of people who are grateful to INZ. And there are others, like my team at Idesi Legal Limited, who recognise the lengths staff at INZ will go to to help others.
