W3.80 Dependants of United States Government personnel (26/07/1999)

1. Under a 1981 reciprocal agreement with the United States, dependants of employees of the United States Government who are assigned to New Zealand for official duties in Operation Deep Freeze and at Black Birch Astrometric Observatory, may obtain authority to work.
2. Work visas authorising employment for the length of the spouse's or parent's government contract may be issued without the applicant having to pay fees or provide evidence of a job offer.
3. Visa and immigration officers must sight evidence of the United States Government personnel contract or a continued engagement in the programme.

W3.80.1 Definition of 'dependants'

Under the terms of the agreement, dependants means:

1. spouses; and
2. unmarried dependent children under 21; and
3. unmarried dependent children under 25 who are full- time students at a tertiary institution; and
4. unmarried children who are physically or mentally disabled.

W3.80.5 Operation Deep Freeze personnel

1. Operation Deep Freeze personnel are exempt from having to hold a permit when in the Ross Dependency, but personnel arriving in New Zealand with orders for the Antarctic may be granted a visitor's permit for 9 months.
2. Operation Deep Freeze personnel who will be working on the mainland of New Zealand must apply for a work visa, unless they are exempt under section 11(1)(b) of the Immigration Act 1987 from having to hold a permit.
3. Those applying for work visas are exempt from having to pay the application fee and from a labour market test.
4. Before granting further work permits, visa and immigration officers must sight evidence of the applicants' continuing engagement in the programme.

W3.80.10 Black Birch Astrometric Observatory employees

1. Under a 1982 agreement with the United States which facilitates the movement to and from New Zealand of United States military and civilian personnel involved in the operation of the Black Birch Observatory:
   1. uniformed members of the United States armed forces are exempt from having to hold a permit if they present their military identification card and appropriate orders; and
   2. all United States civilian personnel associated with this programme must apply to the New Zealand Embassy in Washington for work visas; and the Embassy will authorise a permit for a maximum of 3 years.
2. Before granting further permits, visa and immigration officers must sight evidence of civilian applicants' continued engagement in the programme.
3. Applicants are exempt from having to pay an application fee for the grant of a further work permit.

Effective 26/07/1999