Overstayers granted 12-month reprieve

Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson. File photo / Northern Advocate

An Indian family has won a reprieve from deportation - at least for a year.

Usha and Sital Ram were last night granted 12 months work visas meaning they can stay here with their three children all of whom have New Zealand citizenship.

The couple, who live in Hastings, had been overstayers in the country for eight years and Immigration New Zealand rejected their bid to continue to stay.

Mr Ram is today set to be released from prison where he has been held since September.

The Rams were in the process of deciding whether to return to India leaving their children behind for a better life when they got the news last night from Associate Immigration Minister Kate Wilkinson.

The minister had been asked by the family to overturn the removal order.

Ms Wilkinson said that while she could not condone the couple's "apparent disregard" of New Zealand's immigration laws, she had considered submissions asking that they be allowed to stay, The Dominion Post reported.

"I have decided to request the cancellation of the removal orders against the couple and am granting 12-month open work visas."

Ms Wilkinson said she could not guarantee the couple would be granted further visas.

Mrs Ram said her children had been given the day off from school to welcome home their father, who was to return from prison today.

"We are just so very, very happy. We want to thank everyone who has helped us."

- NZPA