Chanders thrilled as deportation put off for at least a year

Harrie and Pawan Chander are happy a visitor visa has been issued. Photo / Stephen Jacquiery

Taieri-based nurse Pawan Chander has avoided deportation to India after being granted a visitor visa this week.

Mrs Chander's application for a work visa was originally declined by Immigration New Zealand as her husband Harrie's employment as herd manager on a Woodside dairy farm was deemed "lower skilled".

As of June 24, she was unlawfully in the country and faced deportation, as INZ said she did not have the right to request reconsideration of its decision.

Following publicity about the couple's plight, Dunedin National list MP and former Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse wrote to Associate Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi, asking him to exercise his discretion under Section 61 of the Immigration Act to instruct INZ to issue a 12-month visitor visa.

Late on Monday, Mr Woodhouse received a reply from Mr Faafoi, advising he had decided to grant the visa to line up with Mr Chander's work visa which would expire on May 2019.

"This means once the visa is granted - she must go through the application process - she will no longer be unlawful and liable for deportation. "This will also give us time to proceed with the next stage(s) in the process of gaining residence," Mr Woodhouse said.

He was delighted to have been able to support them in obtaining an "important milestone" and grateful to Mr Faafoi for his "speedy and thoughtful decision".

The couple wed in India in December 2016, and Mrs Chander (24) moved in August last year to Taieri, where Mr Chander (28) has worked for dairy farmer Mark Adam for nearly six years.

Yesterday, Mr Adam said the couple were thrilled with Mr Faafoi's decision. Mrs Chander was in Christchurch this week doing an English course, as part of requirements to obtain registration as a nurse in New Zealand.