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Craige Ivicic is delighted to be able to see his twin sons once changes to the border restrictions take effect in October.
An Australian is delighted to be reunited with his 4-year-old twins in New Zealand after the government announced changes to its border restrictions.
Craige Ivicic has spent the past six months alone in Perth, separated from his wife and two children after they moved to Geraldine, South Canterbury, in February.
He was supposed to follow them in April, but Covid-19 ruined his plans.
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His request for a border exception was rejected and he was losing hope of when he would see his family again. This week she missed her twins’ birthdays and Father’s Day, day after day.
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But the government has thrown a lifeline on him: a new policy that from October will allow him to apply for a border waiver, and from there a critical purpose visitor visa for travel and a resident visa on arrival.
Ivicic said Wednesday he was “in tears” when his wife Jessica called him to tell him the news.
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The Ivicic family is eager to reunite after six months apart.
“I couldn’t stop crying, I’m so happy.”
He hopes to be on a plane as soon as possible, saying he is looking forward to reuniting with his children and his wife “and starting our life together in New Zealand.”
“I have something to look forward to now. I’m super excited. “
Jessica Ivicic has been babysitting the twins while juggling a full-time job as a chef. She said it was “a great relief” to know that her husband could come after his life had been “on hold” for six months.
The twins had changed a lot since they moved in, she said, and she worried they were growing apart from their father.
She said they were “looking forward to family time” and introducing her husband to New Zealand.
“Come October, I can’t wait to go get it.”
The changes coming next month mean that Australian citizens or citizens of visa-exempt countries who live outside of New Zealand, but are partners of New Zealand citizens and residents, may receive an exception to travel to New Zealand. .
They will be required to submit an exception request at the border and show that they are in a genuine and stable relationship, as well as undergo 14 days of isolation or quarantine administered upon arrival, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said.
“Australian partners, if granted a border exception, will automatically receive a critical purpose visitor visa to allow them to travel to New Zealand, and will receive a resident visa upon arrival; in line with customary immigration policy for Australians, ”Faafoi said.
Members from visa-exempt countries and their children who receive a border exception will be invited to apply for a six-month critical purpose visitor visa, and those who want to stay longer can apply for another visa.
