Thousands of migrants face uncertain futures after their partners were granted visa extensions to remain in New Zealand, but they werent.

About 16,500 people on employer-assisted Essential Skills and Work to Residence visas due to expire by the end of 2020 were granted an automatic six-month extension on July 7.

But partners and children attached to those visas must reapply at a cost of hundreds of dollars to remain in the country with them.

A British mother, who moved to Auckland with her husband and child, has applied for residency but a huge backlog means she does not know if it will be approved before her current visa expires in November.

123RF/Stuff

Accredited employer visas have been extended by Immigration NZ for six months.

READ MORE:* Huge backlog in visa processing an expensive nightmare, says applicant * Coronavirus: Cutoff date for visitor visa extensions 'ridiculous', Auckland woman says* Coronavirus: Visa confusion reigns after NZ shuts borders to all but citizens and residents

While her husbands accredited employer work visa was automatically extended due to a temporary coronavirus-related law change, her and her childs partnership and dependent visas will expire in November.

Are you affected? Email aucklandnewsroom@stuff.co.nz

We came to New Zealand as a family in 2015 because we felt it would be a better life for our child here.

As a teenager I was meant to move to New Zealand with my parents, but they changed their minds, before deciding to go ahead with the move later in life, so we moved here to be close to them as well.

123rf/Stuff

New Zealands borders remain closed to all but permanent residents and citizens due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The woman said applying for a visa was a very long, tedious and expensive process.

Weve been through several rounds of applications and if we aren't granted residency before mine and my child's visas expire in November, we will have to apply again whilst waiting for residency.

She believed her and her childs visas should have been given an automatic extension like her husbands, as they are linked.

If our residency isn't granted before that [November], myself and my child will need to apply for another work visa/student visa to fill the gap which is another expense that we can't really afford.

The woman said she was concerned she and her child could be sent back to the UK, if the alternative visas which cost in the region of $500 each - were not granted.

My child has just started school here and this country is all she has ever known, she said.

A spokeswoman for Immigration NZ said visa extensions were approved because it gave both employers and migrants certainty.

Covid-19 has had a large impact on the job market in New Zealand and more jobs are now needed for unemployed Kiwis.

We didnt include an extension for partnership visas as those on them are less likely to have a job which is necessary.

Supplied

Visa applications from people overseas are currently on hold.

Its their responsibility to be here legally, and they will need to apply for a new visa when it runs out.

They can apply for another or make plans to leave New Zealand.

The spokeswoman confirmed there was a large backlog of visa applications to get into New Zealand but anyone re-applying and already in the country would get their visa processed in time.

There are currently 37,700 migrants in New Zealand who are reliant on another temporary visa holder, such as a partner with an employer-assisted work visa.

Originally posted here:

Coronavirus: Migrants fear being split from families over visa extension issues - Stuff.co.nz