The number of Indians staying in New Zealand past their visa entitlements has increased significantly, estimates show.
Overstayers were up 97 to 678 between May 2011 and August last year, despite overall numbers dropping 986 to 14,044 from May 2011.
An immigration adviser said many Indian nationals who see the
student visa as a pathway to residence but cannot find employment are overstaying their visas.
"Residency is seen as an incentive to students from India for choosing to come to New Zealand to study," said Tika Ram, an adviser who specialises in Indian cases.
Of those who had overstayed, 192 had been on a student visa and it is believed that many of the 263 who stayed beyond what was permitted on their visitor visas could possibly be spouses of Indian students.
