Somehow it's a bit disappointing that offshore migrants were not included in this. Migrants stuck offshore are still struggling for an update from immigration. I am writing this letter on behalf of all New Zealand migrants having different types of visas like Post-study work visa, student visa, employer-assisted work visa, essential skill visa, and partnership visa, stuck in India due to New Zealand border closure. It’s been about 18 months since we haven’t heard any news regarding our entry or visa extension from New Zealand Government. It is a very difficult situation for us. Many of us are going through a financial crisis as we are not getting any salary and we are currently jobless. Most migrants had applied for educational loans to study in NZ and they are struggling to pay off the loans. Many migrants have their families in NZ and they are desperate to unite with their families

Main Points of Our Petition :

1. Including people who would have otherwise met the requirements but are stuck offshore as a result of the pandemic. As many PSWV holders have already lost 1.5 years offshore and borders were closed immediately without any prior notice so please remove the eligibility criteria of three years living in New Zealand. As it was the government's decision not to allow us back. If it was otherwise we would have also completed over 3 years in Nz and would have been automatically eligible for one off-pathway to the residency program.

2. Give the offshore work visa holders priority to go back to NZ ASAP if we already take the vaccines which have been approved by the WHO.

3. The period of time when people are stuck overseas and unable to return to New Zealand due to COVID-19 should be extended for the same period as the border-closure period. From 03/2020 until the time border releases to all the work visa holders, including work visas, have expired during the epidemic.

4. Qualify student visa who have been lived in NZ for 3 years.