Iranian Solidarity Group Aotearoa New Zealand
500 signatures reached
To: The New Zealand Government
Urgent Visa Pathways and Family Reunification for Iranians
We urge the New Zealand Government to create pathways to allow for Iranian New Zealanders to sponsor family members currently dealing with the ongoing human rights crisis and war engulfing Iran, and enable for the reunification of Iranians with their family members.
We see the current conflict as increasing the risks of persecution and repression towards our family members in Iran which have already been longstanding and prevalent. We consider the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa to be a helpful precedent which can be replicated with the Iranian community.
In addition, we urge the Government to urgently review the Parent Resident Visa ballot and prioritise Iranian applicants, as many have been waiting in the queue with no clarity as to timeframes or next steps.
We also seek blanket extensions for all Iranians currently on temporary visas in New Zealand (whether student, work or visitor visas), as the current conditions in Iran are unsafe for their return.
Why is this important?
The Iranian community has been following the news coming out of Iran with anxiety, dread and fear for our families and loved ones. Iranians have suffered immensely in recent years, whether as a result of dictatorship and oppression or now due to conflict and war[1,2,3]. The experience of watching atrocities, whether crimes against humanity committed by the Iranian Government or war crimes now taking place in Iran and harming Iranian civilians, have been traumatic and deeply troubling to Iranian New Zealanders.
In this context, Iranian New Zealanders are desperately seeking ways to support their loved ones, uphold their right to life and support their safety in any way that they can. The ability to sponsor loved ones would make a meaningful difference to the well-being of Iranians living in New Zealand, and provide a lifeline to those caught up in violence.
The New Zealand Government has demonstrated its capability in addressing urgent humanitarian crises in the response to the war in Ukraine and through establishing a special visa category[4]. The Iranian community seeks a similar opportunity to aid their loved ones, and is ready, willing and able to commit to any formal undertaking necessary, agreeing to be responsible for their maintenance, accommodation and other relevant costs.
In addition, Iranians have faced deep hardship as parents wait years in the Parent Resident Visa ballot while conditions in Iran grow more dangerous and unstable. Elderly parents lack safety and support, and long delays cause serious emotional and mental strain. We also urgently seek prioritisation for Iranian parents currently awaiting confirmation of the status of their Resident Visa applications.
Lastly, we are also seeking blanket automatic extensions for Iranians currently in New Zealand on temporary visas, as returning to Iran under these conditions places these Iranians in great danger.
Call to Action: If you would like to help, please sign and share this petition with your friends and family, together we can make sure that the government supports our community and families can be reunited.
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How it will be delivered
This will be handed over to a current MP at Parliament.