Dr Muhammad Hassan, who has lived in Dunedin with his family of four since 2018, received a letter from Immigration New Zealand (INZ) informing the family they had to leave by February 23. But after the family contacted the Otago Daily Times and MP Rachel Brooking earlier this week, authorities changed their tune, apologised and have allowed the family to stay.
Originally from Pakistan, Dr Hassan said he was "relieved and happy" and his wife Alika — a local business owner also pregnant with their fourth child — said the experience had been "very stressful and confusing" for them and their children, who have grown up in Dunedin and consider themselves New Zealanders.
"We were being asked to pack up and leave within three weeks, with nowhere to go."
Dr Hassan was awarded a doctorate from the University of Otago in 2022 for research into the causes of seizures in children, and subsequently became a teaching fellow at the university.
His fixed-term role came to an end and he is now working as a support worker for health organisation Idea Services while applying for registration to train and practice as a New Zealand neurosurgeon.
University of Otago senior teaching fellow Susan George described Dr Hassan as a "highly skilled, dedicated medical professional who has already made a meaningful contribution to medical education in New Zealand".
"His commitment to teaching and service reflects the values we want in our health workforce. Retaining people like Muhammad, who are motivated to train, serve and build their lives here, is of clear benefit not only to our health system but to New Zealand as a whole. His family’s contribution and commitment to this country deserve recognition and support."
Dr Hassan’s career path in New Zealand means that, so far, he has been reliant on obtaining a series of student and work visas.
INZ declined Dr Hassan’s latest work visa application earlier this month, saying the family had to leave the country because he did "not meet the requirements" of immigration instructions.
Dr Hassan had not provided up-to-date police certificates — that demonstrate he is not a criminal — from two countries he had lived in as an adult.
Dr Hassan provided the certificates twice before during his eight years in New Zealand, but the rules say the certificates must be provided for every visa application and cannot be more than six months old.
Due to convoluted administrative challenges, including Dr Hussan’s Pakistan passport needing to be sent to another country for a police check, Dr Hassan did not have current police certificates ready in time for his latest application.
Dr Hassan had asked INZ if an exception could be made in his case, but was told no.
In its letter, INZ said "acquiring your [police certificates] from both countries may require a significant amount of time, and holding the application is not justifiable."
The ODT raised his case this week with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which oversees INZ.
Within hours, Dr Hassan received a call from an immigration officer saying he could have a short-stay six-month visa, hopefully providing time to get the required police certificates and resubmit his application for a long-stay work visa.
MBIE operations director Dominic Forde said he recognised it had been a "distressing situation" and the department "apologise for the stress this has caused".
The rules had been changed last November, meaning a visa application could not be submitted with police certificates still pending. However, Dr Hassan’s application was submitted before the change and the department had not given "due consideration" to this.
Ms Brooking said she was "relieved" and would continue to support the family.
Friend and regional councillor Andrew Noone said it was "great news" the family had been given breathing space.
"Muhammad certainly ticks all the boxes in terms of adding significantly to our local and wider community."
Dunedin immigration lawyer Teresa Chan said she was "really pleased".
There were "challenges in dealing with the bureaucracy of different governments in the world. The geopolitical climate in recent times only adds to those challenges".
INZ needed to take these challenges into account when setting policies and allow applicants more "time and understanding", she said.
