The result of 3+ year’s research, time, effort, worrying and more than a few tears.
Some people can tell you where they were when Kennedy was shot or how they stayed up late to watch Kennedy’s pledge to put a man on the moon come true. Well, it may not be on the same world-rocking scale but I’ll always remember where I was when I learned we had been granted indefinite residence in New Zealand. It was the rather mundane and unglamourous men’s toilet of a conference venue because SWMBO has an unerring habit of calling me whenever I’m otherwise engaged.Earlier today, exactly eight months to the day from the day we flew into Auckland as a family of emigres, I walked out of the Immigration New Zealand office into the crisp Kiwi winter sun, clutching passports with residence permits and returning resident’s visas for 4 of the 6 of us. The last two permits and visas will be issued when the passports concerned are renewed in a month or so. I shall be using my newly enhanced passport next week when I travel to Melbourne and Perth on business but, for now, I’m just happy to relax and drink a glass of Pinot and be thankful for the outcome of our hopes and labours.