Why You Should Write a Letter to Support Your Visa Application
A letter to support a visa application is one of the most important documents that all visa applicants should prepare. That sort of letter includes cover letters, support letters from your friends and family members, personal statements and work certificates from both previous and current employers.
Some of you may find it easy but usually it seems overwhelming and daunting to many, especially if you have never written one before.
Don't fret! After reading this article, you should get some ideas for drafting letters to support your partnership, student or visitor visa application.
What and why is a cover letter?
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- When someone applies for a visa, a cover letter is helpful, definitely for a New Zealand visa application. The visa processing authority, Immigration New Zealand (INZ), wants to see why you believe you are entitled to a visa that you are applying for. Without a letter explaining the links with your claims, your case officer may be confused about why you sent particular evidence supporting documents. It is a legal term often used in the immigration setting, but the onus is on applicants to show that they meet the visa requirements.
So, my question to you is, without a clear and professionally written cover letter, how can you convince your case officer that you have provided evidence compelling enough to grant a visa to you?
You may have only one chance for some applications
Unlike onshore applications, offshore applications are not subject to fairness and natural justice. That means that INZ is not obliged to give you a chance to comment on any adverse information which may be enough to decline your application. It may be entirely possible that you suddenly receive a decline letter from INZ because your case officer finds it hard to believe that you demonstrated your eligibility just with evidence provided to INZ.
A cover letter can save you from being denied the chance to come to NZ
If you apply for your temporary entry visa onshore, INZ must afford you the opportunity to comment on any potentially prejudicial information that INZ has identified. The letter containing INZ's concerns is called a PPI letter. At this stage, INZ will decline your visa application unless you can successfully mitigate their concerns through a cover letter and new evidence (if applicable). You can present your claims for the entitlement of a visa well before a PPI letter is issued to you. That way, you can fully utilise at least two opportunities to convey your claims rather than one opportunity at the PPI stage. On rare occasions, you may be issued another PPI letter after responding to the first PPI letter, which technically means you will have had three opportunities to make your justifications known to INZ, including the time you write at the visa lodgement stage.
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What should contain the cover letter?
In a nutshell, a cover letter is designed to provide credible justifications that you deserve to receive a visa, explaining how each evidence provided in support is linked with your claim. A professional level of English would be helpful but the most important thing to keep in mind is that credible justifications need to be made in light of the immigration instructions, relevant case law and international Conventions. Claims you make without legal backing would be meaningless because INZ assesses your applications against the applicable law.
Case officers can use their discretion to grant a visa for temporary entry visa applications even if the instructions are not met. So it is important to convey any pertinent circumstances by way of a cover letter that you would like your case officer to avoid a decline letter.
Your personal statement
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It is imperative that INZ be satisfied that you have a lawful purpose and you are unlikely to become an overstayer in New Zealand for temporary visa applications. In other words, for example, your student or visitor visa cannot be granted unless you show that you are a bona fide applicant to New Zealand.
For student visa applications, you could prepare a personal letter addressed to INZ, stating why you wish to study the intended course.
For partnership-based applications, if you write what you would like to do in the future with your partner, your case officer will have more assurance from you that you truly intend to stay with your partner on your visa in New Zealand.
Employment Letters
A work certificate should be produced to demonstrate that the applicant has enough work experience to be granted a work visa or employment-related resident visa. Regardless of your circumstances, it has to back up your claim for your work experience from your current or previous employers. A person must sign it in HR or senior management with contact details for INZ. To establish the legitimacy of the business, print the letter on company letterhead.
It is possible that your employer may receive a phone call or email asking for further information as part of their general verification duties.
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Support letters
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There are various reasons why support letters from friends and family or even employers can strengthen your case. The cases are when;
- You are applying for a visa and want someone who knows about you to support your visa application
- You are applying for a partnership-based visa and want your friends or family to talk about the nature of the relationship
- You or your supporting partner has a criminal conviction and want the third party to testify about your character to mitigate their concerns.
Translation requirements
Unlike other immigration agencies in the world, INZ does not have approved translators for immigration documents that applicants have to use. Accepted translation still has to meet certain requirements, such as the translators must be paid and signed or bear the translator's or translation business's stamp. The translator must not be an applicant, family member or immigration adviser assisting with your application. Make sure your translator must be able to pick up the nuance of the original document without possibly confusing INZ when they process your application.
Bottomline
Writing a letter to support your visa application such as a good cover letter, is crucial as a means of communicating effectively and convincingly with the processing officer, whether it is a student visa, visitor visa or a partner of a New Zealander resident visa.
Remember, your case officer must consider all the submitted information, including a cover letter and support letter. We have seen unfortunate cases where the poor and illogical content of cover, support, or work reference letters was used to reject (or almost reject) your visa application. Some had to be separated from their partners for 2 years due to the Covid border closure.
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At the same time, look for a reliable visa partner who produces outstanding cover letters and check documents from your friends, family and employer – like New Zealand Visa Partner – We thoroughly analyse your case and apply our sound New Zealand immigration legal knowledge and expertise to best represent you.
Contact Us
To address all of your worries, we will work with you. Contact us to receive professional immigration law advice or to have us represent you. Visitors must have an appointment.