Immigration disputes couple’s claim

Immigration New Zealand says a Palmerston Northbased Uruguayan couple upset about their treatment have not applied for residency since 2010.

The husband, Winston Maciel said his concrete laying skills should be enough to earn him residency, but he said he'd been told by immigration officials it was not a skilled job.

Maciel was unhappy with his interactions with Immigration New Zealand staff, but Immigration manager Visa Services Michael Carley said Immigration New Zealand staff act in a professional and friendly matter at every possible opportunity.

“Our staff log each call and client interaction to establish a record of events.

“We have no records of

staff responding in such a manner and any such instances should be reported to our complaints process and will be dealt with accordingly.”

Carley said the most recent interaction Immigration New Zealand had undertaken with Maciel was in 2016.

“The last residency application Mr Maciel and his wife lodged with INZ was in July 2010 under the skilled migrant category, which was declined in 2011.

“There have been no further applications for residency lodged with INZ since this time.

Mr Maciel’s children have gained residency separately under partnership grounds.”

Maciel is on a work visa which expires late 2019, his wife Rosa is on an open work visa and their daughter Florencia holds a student visa.

■ Last week’s story initially said the Palmerston North Immigration New Zealand office closed in 2017. Although the public counter at the office closed in September last year, the office itself is open, with more than 70 employees.