The price of a residence permit

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Rikkitic

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# 242467 29-Oct-2018 14:21

Some random bits of fluff blowing around in my brain at the moment:

A rich American with little interest in New Zealand was able to buy citizenship.

A foreign drug dealer sentenced to 5 years was able to gain residency.

There have been some big drug busts in the news recently.

The rich American was able to buy citizenship because he was rich and promised to invest a lot of money here, though apparently he didn't. But he got to keep his citizenship anyway. The point being that if you have something big enough to give, you can get what you want.

This would not seem to be the case with the foreign drug dealer, but the Immigration Minister gave him residency for what he claims are good reasons but he can't tell anyone what they are. So did the drug dealer also give him something? Maybe the dealer knows a lot about importing drugs, and a lot about people doing it, and if it is known he is the source of all that good information, he won't last a day. I have no idea. Like I say, it is just some fluff blowing around my brain.

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# 2116241 29-Oct-2018 14:25

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I don't particularly care if rich people can buy passports, provided that they are subject to the same tests of health, good character and so forth as other people applying. If all they are doing is bypassing the need for skills because they can already bring money, then at the end of the day, so what?

The drug dealer one is very odd. It fails the sniff test IMV. When you compare that to somewhere like Australia which won't even allow convicted criminals in as tourists, it makes you wonder.

kobiak

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# 2116243 29-Oct-2018 14:27

Anyone legally allowed to buy residency in NZ.

So what's the problem?

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SaltyNZ

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# 2116253 29-Oct-2018 14:34

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kobiak:

Anyone legally allowed to buy residency in NZ.

So what's the problem?

Because it gives a very strong perception that someone could bypass all the other requirements as long as they waved enough money around, and we like to pride ourselves on making sure we don't have even the appearance of corruption, generally. To be clear, though, high-net-worth investor visa/citizenship arrangements are not unique to NZ by any means.

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eph

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# 2116267 29-Oct-2018 14:42

kobiak:

Anyone legally allowed to buy residency in NZ.

So what's the problem?

You mean Investor 1 Residency Visa?

kobiak

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# 2116272 29-Oct-2018 14:49

SaltyNZ:

kobiak:

Anyone legally allowed to buy residency in NZ.

So what's the problem?

Because it gives a very strong perception that someone could bypass all the other requirements as long as they waved enough money around, and we like to pride ourselves on making sure we don't have even the appearance of corruption, generally. To be clear, though, high-net-worth investor visa/citizenship arrangements are not unique to NZ by any means.

But there're less requirements when you compare different "ways" to NZ residency

And yes, this is not unique to NZ. There're cheaper citizenship even in EU.

helping others at evgenyk.nz

kobiak

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# 2116273 29-Oct-2018 14:49

eph:

kobiak:

Anyone legally allowed to buy residency in NZ.

So what's the problem?

You mean Investor 1 Residency Visa?

Yep.

helping others at evgenyk.nz

CrashAndBurn

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# 2116276 29-Oct-2018 14:52

A relative of mine went thru the correct process and paid all the fees and medical tests and was given 9 months to look for work related to her field to gain residency. Unfortunately she was not lucky enough to find one. She ended up going back home. Then this guy got approve for residency :( It's like come to NZ, sell some drugs and do some time. By the time you get out you are a resident.

MurrayM

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# 2116291 29-Oct-2018 15:05

For all we know the crim may have been able to prove that his life would be in danger if he was returned back to his originating country. There might be information that we're not privy to that was considered when making this decision.

freitasm

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# 2116293 29-Oct-2018 15:08

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MurrayM:

For all we know the crim may have been able to prove that his life would be in danger if he was returned back to his originating country. There might be information that we're not privy to that was considered when making this decision.

The fact he put New Zealand's lives at risk doesn't count as a negative?

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# 2116298 29-Oct-2018 15:14

MurrayM:
For all we know the crim may have been able to prove that his life would be in danger if he was returned back to his originating country. There might be information that we're not privy to that was considered when making this decision.

Why should that be our problem? I frankly don't care what happens to him if he gets sent home, He should of thought about this before hand

John

Edit: He should of been deported ASAP

wellygary

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# 2116304 29-Oct-2018 15:19

Although its not really a new thing, we've had KDC, William Yan/Bill Liu, James Cameron to name but a few,

Mind you we have also had a few NZers who weren't particularly keen on staying kiwi, Scott Ludlam, Barnaby Joyce,

tripper1000

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# 2116308 29-Oct-2018 15:30

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A normal and reasonable person does not import or sell drugs. A normal and reasonable who needs to stay in NZ for the preservation of their life does not do anything to bring themselves into disrepute and risk deportation.

This person is clearly not a normal or reasonable person. He is not a bona-fide refugee, they would have stated that. If anything deportation would be into the arms of the law in another country. There are plenty of potential immigrants who have something positive and constructive to offer NZ. We have plenty of domestic criminals to stuff things up without importing more.

blackjack17

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# 2116316 29-Oct-2018 15:46

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I read some where (stuff?) that he was under pressure from the police to not give evidence on a murderer, instead he give video evidence which resulted in the person being convicted, and he ran. And there is evidence that if he returns he is in danger from the police.

KrazyKid

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# 2116317 29-Oct-2018 15:48

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I'm going to speculate on why the drug dealer was allowed to gain residency despite his history.

Keep in mind he I have no facts or any real knowledge here so its all pure guesswork.

I feel to such an extraordinary deal, where the minister knew that he was going to get all sorts of political blow-back, is amazing.
He must have offered some info to the police. That combined with proving his life was in danger might have been enough to make this decision fly.

eph

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# 2116328 29-Oct-2018 15:59

The conditions are quite soft:

"The letter says that despite this, Sroubek will be granted a resident's visa as long as he provides a valid travel document in his true identity within five months.

The conditions of the visa include: that he is not convicted, in New Zealand or elsewhere, of any offence for the next five years, starting from his release from prison; that he not use any fraudulent identity in the next five years; that he not supply any false or misleading information to a Government agency for the next five years."

Maybe the fact the he was quite a good kickboxer (representing NZ) and also founded a company for importing juices got something to do with the decision?

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