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See how New Zealand Immigration Law helped Sharon navigate her elderly mother’s visa process, respond to immigration issues, and move the application forward.
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There were times I wondered if it was worth it, but we kept going — and we got the visa.
When Sharon began trying to secure a New Zealand visa for her elderly mother, she initially tried to navigate the process herself.
Having lived in New Zealand for around 20 years, Sharon was no stranger to dealing with paperwork and complex situations. However, as her mother’s visa journey progressed, she found the immigration process increasingly time-consuming and difficult to navigate.
Even when she believed she was providing the correct information, understanding exactly what was required — and how that information needed to be presented — became challenging.
I would send the correct information back, but it didn’t quite fit.
At one point, one of her mother’s visitor visas was declined. With her mother already 84 years old, Sharon began to question which direction to take and whether she could continue navigating the process on her own.
A colleague in Kerikeri recommended that Sharon contact New Zealand Immigration Law (NZIL).
Sharon wasn’t sure what her next step should be, but our free 15-minute consultation gave her an opportunity to speak with our team, explain what had been happening, and find out whether professional immigration assistance could help.
You offered a free 15-minute consultation, so I thought that was really useful to see if you could help me.
That initial conversation connected Sharon with Aaron and gave her a clearer way forward with her mother’s visa situation.
As the process continued, one of the things Sharon valued most was no longer having to work through every immigration request by herself.
Our team helped her understand what information was being requested, reviewed what she was preparing to submit, and provided guidance when we believed additional information could make her response more complete.
For Sharon, simply knowing that she could speak with someone when she was uncertain made a significant difference.
I could just pick the phone up and speak to someone or email and I would get a reply, and things just kept moving forward.
The NZIL team also helped Sharon stay on top of timelines, reminders and the information required throughout the process.
She compared the experience to her own work as a real estate agent. While someone may be able to navigate a specialised process themselves, professionals who work in that field every day understand the terminology, requirements and details that may not be obvious to someone going through it for the first time.
The journey was not without further complications.
During the process, Sharon received a request for documentation that she says had already been provided not long before. The situation was frustrating and created another hurdle for her mother’s visa.
Aaron raised the matter with the relevant manager. Sharon recalls that the issue was subsequently acknowledged, an apology was provided.
That wouldn’t have happened if I’d not engaged you guys.
For Sharon, this demonstrated the value of having someone involved who understood the immigration process and could help her respond appropriately when an unexpected issue arose.
Perhaps one of the most difficult moments came when Sharon began questioning whether the process was worth continuing.
Her mother was 84, and after dealing with repeated requests and setbacks, Sharon recalls feeling as though more and more barriers were being placed in front of them.
She contacted our team and asked whether it was still worth pursuing.
The encouragement she received was to keep going.
Rather than viewing every request for further information as a sign that the application would not succeed, Sharon continued working through what was being asked of her, with NZIL helping her understand and prepare the information required.
If they’re asking for more and more and more, at least they’ve not said no. So keep going.
Looking back, Sharon considers that perseverance an important part of the journey.
After navigating the challenges, responding to requests for further information and continuing with the process, Sharon and her mother ultimately achieved the outcome they had been working towards — her mother received her visa.
For Sharon, the experience reinforced the importance of getting professional immigration advice when a visa matter becomes difficult to navigate.
She believes having experienced people alongside her helped save time, kept her focused and gave her confidence that the information she was providing was being carefully considered before it was submitted.
Her advice to others facing a similar New Zealand visa journey is straightforward:
You need expert advice.
And reflecting on her own experience, Sharon said:
I don’t believe even with my patience and my attitude that I could have got this through without coming to you guys.
For Sharon, getting the right guidance — and persevering when the process became challenging — made a meaningful difference to her mother’s visa journey.
If you're finding a New Zealand visa application difficult to navigate, have received requests for further information, or simply aren't sure about your next step, speaking with an immigration professional can help you better understand your situation and options.
At New Zealand Immigration Law, you can start with a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your immigration matter and find out how our team may be able to assist.
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