Immigration New Zealand to waive permit fees for stranded visitors
by Guneet S - April 21, 2010
New Zealand, 21st April: New Zealand immigration minister Jonathan Coleman has announced that Immigration New Zealand will be waiving fees for travelers who are stranded in New Zealand and require permits to stay in New Zealand due to delays of flights to Europe.
The facility of waiving permit fees will also be for those travelers whose New Zealand visas are to expire shortly but are being forced to put off their travel plans due to disruptions in the flights following the Icelandic volcano.
While expressing sympathy towards stranded travelers in New Zealand due to large-scale cancellation of flights in the last 6 days, Mr. Coleman said that a backlog of airline passengers is likely to be there despite efforts by airlines to restart normal flights to Europe.
He reiterated that there are no intentions to put any further burden on stranded New Zealand visa holders and tourists in New Zealand by charging any extra money for allowing their stay in New Zealand till normalcy in flights resumes.
Meanwhile, restrictions on international flights have been lifted today, much to the relief of stranded airline passengers following closure of air space to Europe for past few days.
Nearly 2000 passengers have been stranded in New Zealand and the backlog might take nearly 15 days to clear. All efforts are being diverted to help clear the airline backlog at the earliest, Air New Zealand has stated. It further said that a total of seven flights will be operating between Europe and New Zealand in the next 24 hours.
Air New Zealand has ensured all stranded travelers in New Zealand that it is likely to deploy additional aircrafts to help clear the backlog of stranded immigrants and travelers in New Zealand.
Any traveler or holder of New Zealand visa who has paid money for a further permit or New Zealand visa in the past couple of days might be eligible for getting a refund of such fees. Hence, he must contact Immigration New Zealand at the earliest.
However, those in need of extending their permits due to disruptions of flights require to submit a visitor permit application form.
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