The Indian News present six stories to highlight what work visa holders stranded overseas are going through.

Taniya Ahuja

Taniya came to New Zealand 4 years ago as a student. Married 5 years back, Taniya’s husband joined her on Visitor Visa. Both of them received their Work Visa at the same time. Taniya works in the Hospitality industry. Tania went to Jalandhar, India to visit her family with her husband and 3 months old son. As her son wasn’t keeping well, due to a change of place and water, Taniya decided to return earlier than planned. She was scheduled to return on April 9, 2020, but because of the medical requirement of their son, who was born in New Zealand, she thought she will return at the earliest. But New Zealand shut down borders on March 19, 2020, and Taniya couldn’t return to Auckland as decided. Taniya’s maternity leave got over in April. She is without pay but still has the job. Her employer is being kind enough to wait for Taniya’s return.

When helplessness strikes hard

Taniya said, “Our lives are in New Zealand. We are paying the rent every month for our apartment in Auckland. My child needs vaccination which isn’t available in India. Our funds are depleting. Neither my husband or I am getting paid. It is a nightmare of a situation as we don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. I have reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office, Member of Parliament’s office, Immigration office almost 9-10 times, but there has been no luck. Have applied for exemption, but has been declined each time.” Taniya and her family are at wit’s end as there is no word of assurance from any source.

Maruf Maykdad

“I have been living in New Zealand since 2015. After being a student for 2 years, I have been on Essential Work Visa. I have paid taxes regularly, been a law-abiding person, and a hard-working man. I am not asking for anything more than my minimum legal right to return to the country which has been home for the last 5 years,” said Maruf Maykdad, who went to visit his ailing father in Dhaka, Bangladesh. As Maruf’s father has a sudden heart condition with three arteries having 100 percent blockage, he had to rush to Bangladesh to be with him. His parents weren’t aware that he was visiting them. But a visit which was supposed to be a happy reunion, turned out to become a stifling situation for Maruf.

Hanging onto hope

As Maruf is a high performer in his organization, Maruf’s employer has been supportive and has kept his position for him to return and start working again. Maruf is paying rent for the apartment in Auckland as he has all his possessions in the house. For the love of music, Maruf is a proud owner of six guitars and piano. “Life has come to a standstill as there is no clarity. I have been paying for all the dues. I am ready to bear the expenses of all the COVID tests before I board the flight, but the Immigration has been declining my exemption request each time. As I am the single earner for my family, I am very stressed about the funds reducing gradually.” The young and vibrant Maruf also adds that he is proud of the way New Zealand government handled the COVID-19 situation and has huge respect for the leaders, but the minimum he is expecting is that as the residents are returning to their country, he should also be allowed to come back and resume his life.

Balram Singh

Balram Singh, 26, has been residing in New Zealand since 2016. This February, he went to Phagwara to get engaged. He was scheduled to return on March 19. Alas, that is the day when New Zealand closed its borders for travellers.

Last when Balram visited India wasn’t a happy occasion, as his father, the only parent, had died. This time it was supposed to be a joyous occasion but fate had other plans as Balram got stuck in India due to the COVID situation.

“My employee made my position redundant last week as I haven’t been able to join work. I work as a fibre technician for Chorus. But because of my strong relationship with my manager, he has assured me that I will get back the job when I am back in New Zealand,” said a hopeful Balram.

Balram has applied for exemption to New Zealand Immigration four times but the request has been rejected.

Divyakant Prajapati

Divyakant Prajapati, 23-year old, is in a very helpless situation as his family had mortgaged the house in Gandhinagar, India, to take a NZ$40,000 educational loan for him. As Divyakant isn’t being paid since the COVID-19 situation, he has not been able to pay back the bank loan. The bank has started sending a notice that his house will be sealed if he fails further to pay the loan. Divyakant had gone to India on February 10, 2020, as his mother had fallen sick. He had taken 2-months leave as his mother had undergone surgery. Divyakant was supposed to return on April 15. He tried to prepone the return, but it was already to late as the New Zealand borders had shut down on March 19, 2020.

Looking for courage

Divyakant, who works as an Operations Manager in an Auckland based company, has made several exemption requests to New Zealand Immigration but they have been rejected each time. His employer has also spoken to immigration, without any luck. “I am not able to face my family as they might become homeless because of me if the situation continues. I am praying that this sorts out soon and I can get back to work and take control of the situation.”

Nahid Anwar

Nahid has been living in New Zealand since 2015. After being a student, Nahid has been a full-time employee for the last 2.5 years. He had gone to Bangladesh to visit his family. “I was to catch my flight back to Auckland on March 27. Now am stuck here. All my belongings and important documents are in the apartment in New Zealand, for which am paying rent throughout. I am also paying my car insurance bill. My life has come to a halt as I was living a life in New Zealand and now, I don’t know what to do. I lost my job on May 11, 2020,” said an anxious Nahid.

When life comes to a halt

“I have already lost a few months of my Work Visa and I have no funds now. I have been having sleepless nights thinking about what to do next. I have been on medication for panic attacks and anxiety for the last 3 weeks. I want to appeal to the New Zealand government to make arrangements for us to get back to our lives and help us sort our current situation,” said Nahid.

Navpreet Kaur

Navpreet came to New Zealand on a student visa four years back. Her partner was also on a student visa. Both of them decided to get married and as most of their family members are in India in Punjab, they thought of doing the marriage ceremony in Punjab. As both, Navneetand her partner have grown up in joint families, they couldn’t imagine getting married without any of them. They reached India on March 10 and were scheduled to get married on March 22. They were busy with the wedding arrangements and got to know from a friend just a day before their wedding day that New Zealand has shut down its borders.

The wedding which was supposed to be attended by a large number of relatives from both the sides, finally happened with only immediate family members from both sides at a Gurudwara. Lives have changed for them and they couldn’t come back to what they call home now, New Zealand. Navpreet who works as a Duty Manager at KFC, Christchurch is grateful that she is still getting paid by her employer. Navpreet’s husband isn’t getting paid anymore.

“The wait without any information from New Zealand Immigration is very painful. I have no idea where our lives are headed. Have applied for exemption three times but have got rejected each time,” said Navpreet.

Reporting by Shivangi Bose, an independent writer and media professional based in Auckland, who has a special interest in script-writing for brand videos.

Have you checked our this week’s double-page-spread here on pages 12 and 13: (designed by Vritti Parasher)