A British 18-year-old's plans to reunite with family in New Zealand is in limbo after an error with her date of birth on her working holiday visa application.
Lucie Pickersgill was due to arrive in Auckland in September ahead of a summer working for her aunt at a salon in Auckland. It would have been the first time she'd seen her cousins in about 15 years and her parents were planning on joining the rest of the family for Christmas.
"I'd just love to get into the country to see my family," she says. The reunion was particularly important as she'd lost three grandparents during Covid and they'd hoped to come together to mark their passing.
But it wasn't until the teen first arrived at Manchester Airport for her flight through to New Zealand that she became aware that the birthday on her visa did not match the one on her passport.
She doesn't know how that happened, but says the application was "complex" and there was an assumption that a cross-reference check would be made with her passport.
Despite the discrepancy she was allowed to fly through to Dubai - but it was there that the teen was told she wouldn't be allowed to board her plane to Auckland.
Even though she's travelling on a British passport that would ordinarily allow her entry to New Zealand the issue with her work visa made her ineligible.
Since then the family say they've made repeated calls and emails to Immigration New Zealand and several weeks on remain no closer to knowing whether or not she'll be able to travel in time for Christmas.
They say they sought advice from Immigration, and National MP Chris Penk, her aunt and uncle's local MP, and were told to reapply for the visa.
But the second application seems to have raised more questions.
Dad Neal Pickersgill says it's hard to be made to feel like your child is a criminal.
"New Zealand Immigration are saying now that this is down to poor character, makes it feel like they are telling you your child is a criminal."
An email from the agency to the family writes "during the course of applying for this work visa, it has been identified that you may have provided Immigration New Zealand with false information".
The false information refers to Lucie Pickersgill ticking false on the question regarding having any previous working holidays.
But the teen says there was no other option for her to tick, as if she said yes, it would throw her out of the system with no way of moving forward.
She's since submitted references and an explanation to Immigration, but there's been no resolution. The latest response she's received from the agency on November 2 indicated it had received the information and "we have concluded that you do not meet our good character requirements".
In a statement provided to 1News Immigration indicated it was not satisfied the error with Lucie Pickersgill's visa was due to human error. Nor did it think the error was due to its systems.
"Immigration New Zealand will make corrections to visas issued if it is satisfied the error had no impact on the applicant's eligibility for the visa and was a genuine mistake, for instance the incorrect spelling of a name," says National Manager Border, Peter Elms.
"We have let Miss Pickersgill know that she will need to apply for a visa if she wishes to travel to New Zealand in the future."
The family's now worried the decision could have long-term implications for the teen if she chooses to travel to other countries too.
Immigration lawyer Pooja Sundar says it's possible the family was given inconsistent advice that has complicated the issue.
But she says it's important to remember that immigration staff can't provide legal advice and if there's any doubt, or any issue, it's best to seek that from a legal expert.
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