Sisi Cifuentes.
Wanaka mother Sisi Cifuentes says she has been granted a
temporary extension to her visitor's visa while the courts
determine whether her children can leave the country with her.
Ms Cifuentes (43), who was born in Nicaragua, was due to fly
to the United States next week, having failed to get another
New Zealand work visa. Her visitor's visa was due to expire
tomorrow.
She wants to take her three children with her, rather than
leave them behind with their New Zealand father,
international model Peter Nolet, from whom she is separated.
Ms Cifuentes' lawyer, Graham Hill, made an application for
the removal of the children this week on behalf of his
client. During a review of the parenting order at the
Queenstown District Court yesterday, Judge Michael Turner
gave timetabling directions for the application, Mr Hill
said.
A list date of March 12 had been set down to review
proceedings. However, there was no date yet for the
application to be heard and ''it could be months before one
is available'', Mr Hill said.
''It's an invidious position for an applicant to be in.''
Ms Cifuentes said she visited the Immigration New Zealand
office yesterday while in Queenstown and was granted a
two-month extension on her visitor's visa so she could attend
the next court date.
She had also been able to change her March 6 flight to a
later, yet-to-be-confirmed date.
''I'm going to stay to fight it,'' she said.
lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.