If one talks about New Zealand's immigration policy, one category that seems to be on the back burner and seemingly forgotten entirely is the Parents' residence category. It was back in the year 2016 that the parent category – that invited parents of current residents and citizen migrants to settle in NZ – was suspended. Despite the government announcing a new programme in 2019 and then with the Covid-19 pandemic kicking in, it was again halted in March 2020.
In September 2021, the then Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi announced the one-off residency programme, which relieved many migrants and gave a residence pathway to more than 1,65,000 migrants.
However, it was disheartening that no mention was made regarding the resumption of the EOIs of the parents' category was made.
With Michael Wood taking over as the immigration minister in June 2022, there was hope among the Kiwi-Indian migrant community that there would be an announcement about the re-opening of the parents' category soon. But until today, there is no announcement or indication suggesting the Government's plan of re-opening the category.
Indian Weekender spoke to Kiwi-Indians, who are frustrated and stressed about not being able to apply for their parents' residence despite meeting the income threshold just because the category has been closed. Here are some of the heartbreaking stories.
'I feel I am the world's unluckiest son'
Kiwi-Indian Entrepreneur Nitish Bhardwaj (NZ Citizen), the founder of NIKA Consulting Group in Auckland, says that it is simply unfair of this Government to be not doing anything for the parent's category.
Bhardwaj and his sister Anjali Bhardwaj Ahuja are the only kids of their parents, Sunil Kumar Bhardwaj and Kiran Bhardwaj, who are currently in Delhi, India. Both Nitish and Anjali have been well settled in NZ for over a decade and even meet the income threshold.
Sharing his frustration, Nitish says, "I came to NZ 15 years ago, and undoubtedly, this country has given me everything I want in NZ – a place to call home, a beautiful wife, children and my own successful business. My sister also moved here in 2016. However, the biggest part of me that is still missing is my mother and father. Like a missing puzzle, our family is incomplete as our parents are not with us."
Nitish says it is sad that NZ authorities fail to understand how important it is for any son or daughter to have their parents with them.
Nitish adds, "Both me and my sister are very well settled, own our own homes, have our own families. I even have a room ready for my parents in my house. I cry every day thinking about when they will come here. My parents have been stuck in India since NZ closed the category because Immigration thinks of them to be a burden.
“Their only dream is to live with their son, daughter-in-law and daughter so they can grow old with their grandkids. As their only son and with the values I was brought up with, it is my dream and responsibility to look after my parents. We're praying daily for Immigration to open up the parents' category so we can reunite and I can take care of my parents, who are in India all alone. I feel I am the unluckiest son in the world as I can't be with my parents in their old age when they need us the most."
‘I feel helpless – this Government is failing me as a son'
Another similar heart-wrenching story is that of Kiwi-Indian Pranav Birla. His elderly parents – father Mahesh Birla and mother Shashi Birla – are currently staying alone in Patiala, India. Sharing his story, Pranav, who is an NZ citizen and staying in Aotearoa for over 14 years says, "I am the only son of my elderly parents and had been waiting to apply for our parent’s residence for past many years. It is so unfair of this government to close the category midway.
“When I came here, I always dreamt of having my parents with me in NZ so that I could take care of them. I meet the income threshold and do not want any benefit from this government. All I want is for my parents to be with me. Though I am physically here in NZ, my heart and mind constantly think about my parents.
“I hope the government thinks about thousands of kids who want their parents to be with them here. This government is failing me as a son. I've got friends who have already migrated to other countries for similar reasons. I certainly don't want to do that as I genuinely love this country but would appreciate it if the government could help us out here. I hope that this gets heard by the people in authority."
‘A review of the Parent Category is currently underway’
When Indian Weekender contacted Immigration New Zealand, Andrew Craig, Manager Immigration Policy, MBIE, confirmed that a review of the Parent Category is currently underway. “The review will look at barriers to access and options to resume selections of expressions of interest. More details about when the Parent Category will be re-opened will be shared following the outcome of the review. There are currently around 5,620 expressions of interest in the pool, which includes about 8,850 people.”
Immigration experts, too, feel disappointment and wish that the category is reinstated soon so that it brings joy to migrant families.
Pawandeep Singh, Director of Kiwiana Immigration and Education, feels that suspending the Migrant Parent residency pathway for six years is, in a way, forcing migrants to leave NZ. “There are many well-settled residents whose parents are offshore and with no clear communication over the re-opening of the Parent Residency program are disappointed with Immigration NZ for not providing any clarity over this pathway and are hesitant towards considering their future in NZ. I know many residents who have moved to Australia because this pathway has been closed for years now."
Singh reveals that he gets numerous queries from the NZ residents asking him about when the parent residencies would open. “When INZ announced in 2020 to open the pathway, there was some ray of hope, but they also increased the income cap, leaving many migrants to juggle up again to meet the higher income threshold requirements.
“As a Licensed Immigration Advisor, I would like to request the Immigration minister to open the Residency pathway for migrant parents and also take the initiative like the Australian Government in granting residencies majorly to parents based on Assurance of Support rather than the higher-income threshold, which is unfeasible for many residents here.”
Sukhpreet Kaur of Zenith Immigration Solutions also feels that clarity from the Government on the future of parents' category re-opening is needed. “It is unfair to close the parents’ residence visa after it was just re-opened. The borders are open, but we haven't heard anything about resuming EOI selections. As time passes, parents are getting older, and it will become difficult to pass the health criteria.
“The income threshold of sponsors was increased, and the Labour government made promises at the time of elections that the threshold would be reduced. The government granting residence to parents will increase the pressure on the public health system.
“However, there is no direct correlation or guarantee that parents will seek private medical treatment if their children have a household income of NZ$212,160 per year. The government needs to clearly communicate if re-opening this category in the short-term is not being considered,” says Kaur.
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