Visa denial keeps family divided
Steve Razos has spent two years ‘‘on a knife-edge’’, battling to unite his family after immigration officials refused his Filipino fiancee a visa to bring their young son to New Zealand.
Immigration New Zealand says it is concerned about a ‘‘history of instability’’ in the couple’s relationship, but Razos, a Hawke’s Bay businessman, says the family just wants to settle down together.
Razos, 45, and fiancee Krystel Galos, 26, met four years ago and had previously lived together in New Zealand when she held a work visa.
But since she returned to the Philippines in 2015, the immigration service has refused her applications to re-enter New Zealand, saying the pair had belatedly admitted they separated that year. That led to Galos remaining on her own here for several months in breach of her visa conditions.
Immigration NZ also said it was concerned about the ‘‘risk of domestic violence’’ in the relationship and ‘‘potential negative effects’’ on the couple’s 20-month-old son, Kieran, because of a history of police being called to domestic disputes between the pair when they were last in the country together.
But Razos said the couple were committed to building a life together, and ‘‘family should come first, regardless of insignificant incidents in the past’’.
Galos was applying for a visitor’s permit, not residency, and last week Associate Immigration Minister Scott Simpson told her he would not intervene in the department’s decision to decline her application.
‘‘We are not perfect and, in hindsight, we have made some minor mistakes,’’ Razos said.
‘‘We were open and honest with our submissions to Immigration NZ and the minister’s office, but we have been stuffed around by everyone concerned and absolutely nobody has really helped us to achieve what we set out to achieve – to be a family.’’
While Galos made domestic violence complaints against Razos to police in 2015, she said the complaints, and the couple’s brief break-up, were the result of pregnancy hormone issues. ‘‘Stephen and I are still very much in love ... this has not changed.’’
They wanted ‘‘another opportunity and second chance’’ to build a life together in New Zealand.
‘‘There is no doubt in our minds things are very different now and we will get things right this time.’’
In its June decision declining her application, Immigration NZ said it had considered the best interests of the couple’s son and also took into account that Razos could travel to the Philippines to be with Kieran and Galos.
‘‘Based on the evidence we have, the risks identified, and Mr Razos’ access to the child’s country of residence outweigh the matter of family welfare or separation.’’
Razos said the couple had been exasperated by ‘‘constant delays’’ in processing Galos’ applications.
A department spokesman said ‘‘process failures’’ had been identified with Galos’ original visitor visa application but a review had found no failures with the final decision.