Ankur Sabharwal

Ankur Sabharwal

Ankur Sabharwal is a Licensed Immigration Adviser and founder of Visa Matters, an Auckland-based immigration advisory firm. He provides immigration commentary on TVNZ Breakfast and has been published by Stuff and The Post.

The Parent Resident Visa queue is back. The door is still narrow.

The Parent Resident Visa queue is back. The door is still narrow.

There is an obvious problem with having to wait up to five years. Circumstances change.

Aug 12, 2026 | 5 min read
Man who couldn't be saved back home granted NZ residence over life-threatening condition

Man who couldn't be saved back home granted NZ residence over life-threatening condition

A rare pathway allowed a seriously ill migrant to stay in New Zealand and access life-saving treatment.

Jul 17, 2026 | 4 min read
New English rule for overseas cooks, handymen makes sense. The timing doesn't

New English rule for overseas cooks, handymen makes sense. The timing doesn't

For a change affecting such a large part of the AEWV system, six days feels more like an emergency notice.

May 25, 2026 | 4 min read
Case files: Declined twice, then INZ got it wrong again. How Ayesha got her visa

Case files: Declined twice, then INZ got it wrong again. How Ayesha got her visa

A blow-by-blow account of what can go wrong if you want to bring your spouse to New Zealand.

May 15, 2026 | 4 min read
India-NZ FTA: What it changes for overseas students. And what it doesn't

India-NZ FTA: What it changes for overseas students. And what it doesn't

The trade deal is a positive step, but not a dramatic new opening from an immigration perspective.

Apr 30, 2026 | 5 min read
Case files: How to get residency when you don't qualify for it

Case files: How to get residency when you don't qualify for it

A man convicted twice of drink driving and once of assault has been granted ministerial amnesty for New Zealand residency

Apr 16, 2026 | 4 min read
Case files: The wedding trip to India that ended his New Zealand life

Case files: The wedding trip to India that ended his New Zealand life

The officer asked him questions about his job interview from two years earlier. He could not remember every detail.

Mar 28, 2026 | 4 min read