During pre-Covid times, in 2019 culturally arranged marriages often looked like Bollywood drama, they were getting common, without knowing that in future, post the pandemic hit world, New Zealand would have its own homegrown drama in the broken immigration system.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Dhanesh Muliyil, a work visa holder working in Intercontinental Wellington and his wife Sruthi Radhakrishnan are yet other victims of getting visa rejected due to culturally arranged marriage. But this time the rejection is after the first case officer had approved the partner of a work visa holder.
Muliyil explains that he is extremely confused by the multiple changes in his wife’s visa application, in September 2019 when they applied for a work visa – partner of a worker, after getting a thumbs up from the first case officer, the application was reallocated to another officer, with this change in forces, the outcome was a clear rejection, reasons cited that evidence given was not satisfactory according to immigration instructions WFR3. Claiming that couple have not demonstrated living together in a genuine and stable relationship.
Time and again, Indians have tried to explain the concept of culturally arranged marriage. Living together only comes after marriage in India, and a wedding is perhaps the last step to prove any legitimate relationship in Indian culture.
The concept is simple if you can get evidence such as photographs, wedding certificate and letters from family/friends of the given couple, it makes them what we call as husband and wife universally.
With over a year and a half of no response from the officials Dhanesh had no option but to return to his wife in India to prove the living together criteria. He says that because of covid the hospitality business had slumped thereby his employer approved him a three-month holiday break in January 2021 to unite with his wife.
The steak reality is that because Dhanesh left New Zealand on a work visa, he cannot return with his wife due to border closure to live in the country of his dreams, where he wanted spend time with his wife.
“I decided to fly back to India to take care of my wife because she has suffered mental health issues and is stated depressed due to visa issues” quotes Dhanesh. But he says the wrong practice by immigration still haunts him as he invested everything he had to come to New Zealand and now is struggling to pay off his debts. ‘I am depressed too!” says the helpless voice.
The question here is that individuals like him are not only facing financial and mental breakdown but are also anxious of what lies ahead? His work visa expires next month, and he can see no light at the end of the tunnel. – TIN Bureau
