Couple plead with Government over Immigration NZ ruling that will force them apart

Filipino woman Leonora McKelvey has been refused a visa to stay in the country despite being married to a Kiwi.

A husband and wife are pleading with the new Government to step in to stop their separation.

Immigration New Zealand has refused Filipino woman Leonora McKelvey a visa to stay in the country, despite her being married to a Kiwi and despite evidence she was the victim of a passport scam.

Mrs McKelvey, 67, met 72-year-old David McKelvey in January 2015 while she was here visiting her son.

They married the following month and applied for a partnership visa.

But it was refused after Mrs McKelvey disclosed she was deported from Hong Kong in 2001 for travelling on a fake passport.

Mrs McKelvey deliberately withheld information from Immigration New Zealand

—  Peter Elms | Immigration NZ Visa Services Assistant General Manager

She claims she was a victim of identity theft, deceived with a promise of work abroad to support her family. Eventually Filipino officials cleared her of wrongdoing.

But Immigration New Zealand’s Visa Services Assistant General Manager, Peter Elms, says Mrs McKelvey should have told officials sooner.

"The reality is Mrs McKelvey deliberately withheld information from Immigration New Zealand and that for us constitutes a character issue that she needs to answer for," he said.

INZ also believes Mrs McKelvey is in poor health and has doubts over the authenticity of the couple's relationship.

But David McKelvey says people don't see "all the little bit and pieces that happen in between with a marriage".

The pair attend church regularly and has the congregation's full support.

"She being sent back to her home in Philippines which isn't her home, this is her home here," Oasis Church pastor Ross Banbury said. "They're part of the community".

Earlier appeals to the High Court and former Immigration Minister Craig Foss were unsuccessful.

Now Mrs McKelvey has asked new Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway to use his discretion to grant her visa so she can stay in country.

She is also seeking a pardon for her historic conviction by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

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