A Wanganui man's long distance marriage could soon be closer to home.
Dave Feickert is hoping immigration rules will allow his author wife Marina Lewycka gain New Zealand residency.
Mr Feickert went to Chester Borrows' electorate agent Viv Chapman with his concerns. She called the Immigration Service in Palmerston North.
The senior officer clarified the rules around immigration applications, Ms Chapman said.
If the first application is declined, the applicant can then reapply.
But this is at considerable cost of hundreds of dollars, Mr Feickert said.
Ms Chapman said officers in the service have to follow due process and it was the minister who approved the final application.
"Immigration is by far the most number of enquiries we receive in this office," Ms Chapman said.
Mr Feickert and Ms Lewycka married in 1987 in Tauranga and have a daughter Sonia who was born in the UK.
Ms Lewycka, author of the international bestsellers A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian and Two Caravans wants to join Mr Feickert and their daughter who is pursuing job options in this part of the world.
Mr Feickert said Ms Lewycka has been in New Zealand every summer since he returned to Wanganui in 2004.
"She writes the bulk of her novels here, but she does not live here at the moment as she has a visitor's visa."
Ms Lewycka has a UK passport and Penguin publishes her books in the UK, which means she has to be there before and after publication, Mr Feickert said.
"If/when she gets residency I guess her next novels from number four onwards will still be launched in the UK - I can't see them being devolved to Penguin NZ."
After publication Ms Lewycka travels endlessly from one UK literary event to another and one country to another as the books are translated, he said.
"Marina is never at home, just as I am never here, except in the summer mainly and now a bit in the autumn and winter."
Mr Feickert is an international coalmine safety adviser, and because he travels extensively, the couple was seldom in New Zealand at the same time for long periods.
Lewycka hopes to join hubby in Wanganui
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