Mon, 29 Apr 2002

Application for NZ visa rejected

On April 23, 2002, I applied for a New Zealand visa. My main reason for visiting the country was to do a comparative study on tourism and sociocultural affairs. Having submitted the completed requirements, the receptionist informed me that the process would take two working days.

The next day, on April 24, I was telephoned and told that my visa application had been rejected for the following reasons: * I had no travel history. Does that mean anyone wanting to travel to New Zealand has to have traveled abroad before? * I was too young to travel to New Zealand. I found this a rather irrational reason. I was chosen to do this study because I am 26 years old and physically fit enough to go on such a long distance trip and suitable for this kind of research. * I had no strong reasons. What did they mean by strong reasons? In actual fact, I had a very strong reason to travel to New Zealand as I had an "employment letter" stating that I was chosen by the company to do the assignment mentioned above. * I would not return to Indonesia, they said. How did they know that? Do they think I will like New Zealand more than my native country? Frankly speaking, I earn a sufficient income with my current job in Indonesia. * I was considered married, even though my passport and other documents state that I am unmarried/single. This suggests that the working procedures in the New Zealand Embassy are "awful" and careless.

Could the New Zealand Embassy give a logical and reasonable explanation for rejecting my visa application?

AJI SAPTAJI

Bandung