An Indian-origin healthcare worker in New Zealand, Nithin Mankeel, received the greatest shock of his life when he learned that his five-year-old son could not be allowed legally in the country as he is autistic. Mankeel moved to New Zealand from India in January 2024, followed by his wife and son later that year.He works as an elder care nurse, and his wife Aparna Jayandhan Geetha works as a senior healthcare assistant. Mankeel, whose job is on Tier 1 of INZ’s Green List, applied for the straight-to-residence pathway, listing his family members as secondary applicants.The administration sought to know about his son Aidhan’s delayed speech abilities and was then told that all their visas would be declined unless he withdrew Aidhan’s name and applied separately for a different visa category. RNZ reported that Mankeel did that and his and his wife’s visas were approved but their son’s was not and this means the five-year-old could be deported. “I was really, really shocked,” Mankeel said. “It’s really heartbreaking. I don’t know how, mentally, I can cope, if that’s going to happen,” he said.
Bur rules are rules…
INZ deputy chief operating officer Jeannie Melville said applicants assessed as likely to impose significant costs on health and education services could not be granted a waiver, “regardless of family circumstances or occupation”.“We understand the challenges faced by Mr Mankeel and his family; however, immigration health requirements are very specific and can only be waived through ministerial intervention. The granting of residence to Mr Mankeel and his wife was based on the critical need for healthcare professionals in New Zealand, as reflected by their inclusion in Tier 1 of the Green List. All secondary applicants must still meet the health criteria for their visa category,” she said.Meanwhile, Mankeel explained why he can’t go back to India now. “I don’t have any license to practice in India because we canceled that and got the registration here. We left everything and came [here]” he said.“We are living full of fear but I’m getting so much support from many, many different communities,” he said. “I’m getting weaker day by day but I’m getting all this support, I’m getting the energy to push forward. We are just praying and hoping for the best.”
