05/10/2021
The story of Appiah Eric Junior is a challenging and overcoming one -
Whilst on-shore NZ migrants are busy celebrating the recent announcement by Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi, skilled migrants workers, students, and all other temporary visa holders stuck offshore and cannot return to Aotearoa are left in a state of desperation since there seems to be no clear roadmap - as to when border restrictions would be lifted.
Although the new one-off residence visa pathway has brought a lot of hope to the 165,000 migrants eligible to apply for this visa, it’s quite very unfair for the “other thousands” of migrants left behind New Zealand’s borders.
Eric Appiah Junior an Otago PhD candidate who has experienced visa delays by INZ is very much uncertain about his future and is considering alternative plans to study elsewhere in case offshore international students are not permitted to enter the country in time for the start of the semester 1, 2022. His scholarship providers and educational sponsors are still keen on giving him a chance to pursue his doctorate degree with the University of Otago but the current reality faced by offshore migrants is a potential obstacle to derail his plans.
The stress of having to start getting all the visa requirements (medicals, police clearance, etc.) again after an application has lapsed and a refund processed by INZ, still lingers in mind. Eric is patiently waiting to see what the NZ labour government has up its sleeve regarding the re-opening of borders and then he'll decide from there, what to do next!
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