Foliaki said this allows the man to return to his construction job in Auckland, and within that six-month period he can apply for a residency visa on the basis of his marriage to a New Zealand resident.
“He will do that before the six months is up,” Foliaki said.
“But it takes about a year or two - it could be fast - but usually [it takes] about a year to do that process. So he would need to apply to renew his work visa, as they process his residency application.”
Foliaki said the man had paperwork for an application.
He said some of the supporting documentation was “a little bit old” but they were trying to file an application when he was picked up.
Foliaki claimed the early-morning visit by immigration officials to the Tongan man’s home was no different to the Dawn Raids of the 1970s.
But he said the Government ministers who had spoken about the issue were “genuine”.
Immigration Minister Michael Wood and Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni were at a meeting in Auckland on May 6, and among the issues discussed were pathways to residency for overstayers.
Sepuloni said the Government is working steadily to improve Immigration New Zealand’s policies and processes.
It is also considering an amnesty for overstayers but Wood said he cannot say when a decision would be made.
Meanwhile, a Tongan community leader who chaired the public meeting rubbished claims that overstayers were “a drain” on the New Zealand economy.
Pakilau Manase Lua said overstayers pay taxes - GST and income tax - like everyone else: around $30 million a year just on GST.
“To say that they’re a drain here - they’re not,” Pakilau said.
He said while he does not condone overstaying, some have complex circumstances that lead to it.
