Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visas
Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visas: Where Tradition Meets Modern Immigration Policy
Obtaining a culturally arranged marriage visitor visa can be a challenging process, requiring a deep understanding of both the immigration rules and the intricate customs and traditions involved in such unions. Let me help you navigate the complexities to secure a visa.
What is a Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa?
A Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa is a type of visitor visa granted to a person who has either married a New Zealand citizen or resident overseas or intends to marry them in New Zealand, and where the marriage follows or has followed an identified and recognised cultural tradition. If granted, the visa authorises the person a maximum stay of up to 3 months.
Eligibility Requirements
The key eligibility requirements for this category include that:
The marriage follows an identified and recognised cultural tradition where the arrangements for the marriage, including facilitation of the initial selection of the persons to be married, are made by persons who are not parties to the marriage.
There is a genuine intent to marry within three months of the applicant’s arrival in New Zealand (or where already married overseas, to live together upon arrival) and that it is intended the marriage be maintained on a long term and exclusive basis.
It is intended that the marriage will be maintained on a long term and exclusive basis
The New Zealand residence class visa holder or citizen they intend to marry supports the application, is an eligible partner under Partnership residence instructions, meets the character requirement for partners supporting 'partnership-based temporary entry applications
There is no legal impediment to the intended marriage.
Where the applicant and their supporting partner will marry in New Zealand, the couple must genuinely intend to marry within three months of the applicant's arrival in New Zealand. If the applicant has married their supporting partner before travelling to New Zealand, their visa application under this category must be made within three months of the wedding.
Helping You Avoid Common Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa Pitfalls
The Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa category is complex and the requirements difficult to meet. Unsurprisingly, the category has a high decline rate at Immigration New Zealand (recently reported to be almost 70% or more than two-thirds of applications declined).
There are two main reasons for the high decline rate in my view. First, Immigration New Zealand’s definition of a culturally arranged marriage is based on a highly traditional marriage model, which often does not always align with modern and practical realities, including for example the increasing use of matrimonial websites.
Secondly, the evidential threshold for the visa category is high. Most applicants won’t possess either the correct type or a sufficient amount of documentation required to prove that their marriage follows INZ’s strict requirements. For example, in many cases, the initial marriage arrangements will have taken place over the phone, leaving no written record as proof.
Therefore, before you decide to apply under this visa category, it’s important that you get professional advice from at expert with an extensive knowledge of the policy requirements.
Problems With Your Application? Declined Application?
Frequently, I am contacted by people whose culturally arranged marriage visitor visa application has been declined by Immigration New Zealand because:
They didn’t meet the eligibility requirements, normally because their marriage does not meet Immigration New Zealand’s strict definition of a “culturally arranged marriage” or
They didn’t provide the right type and/or amount of evidence to support their application.
In these situations, I apply my significant expertise in this specialist area to assess whether it is worth the person re-applying to Immigration New Zealand under the Culturally Arranged Marriage Visa category or whether it is better to apply under a different visa category.
I’m more than happy to chat about assisting you and your wife.
Why Choose Me As Your Immigration Lawyer?
Passionate about uniting couples, I hate seeing them forced to live apart and stuck in different countries because they received poor immigration advice or tried to apply for a visa themselves.
The Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa process is complicated, and mistakes can be difficult and costly to fix. Why take chances with one of the most important applications you’ll ever make?
As a qualified and highly experienced Immigration Lawyer (and not just an immigration consultant or adviser) and a specialist in Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visas, you can trust me to give you an honest and accurate assessment of whether you might meet the eligibility and evidential requirements for this complex visa category. If you decide to apply, I will assist you to prepare a comprehensive and compelling visa application to Immigration New Zealand. Alternatively, I’ll help you to assess other potential visa categories, such as a General Visitor Visa or Partnership Work or Visitor Visa.
Protective of my high success rate, I only submit visa applications I believe I can win.
Recent Success Stories
“James is a great lawyer he has supported us step-by-step all the way through the application we are very grateful to have found him as a lawyer for my fiancé’s application. Without James support we may have not been celebrating this wonderful day today so thank you James. We can recommend James with our eyes closed his a A+ lawyer. If you’ve got James you can’t go wrong.”
“Thank you from me James! Yesterday was the best day ever!! We were all very happy, with celebrations in both New Zealand and Pakistan with the good news.”
I’m more than happy to chat about assisting you and your fiancé.