Prince is a chef who has lived in Christchurch, Aotearoa for the past 10 years. Due to discriminatory immigration requirements, she has been separated from her 15 year-old son Jap sahib for the past 7 years.

Prince moved to Aotearoa in 2014 with her son and husband at that time. During the process of applying for Jap sahib’s student visa, he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. As a result, his visa was rejected because of the discriminatory Acceptable Standard of Health (ASH) requirements which see disabled students as cost burdens to education services.

In 2016, when Prince tried to seek an exemption to the health requirements to get another visa for Jap sahib, the family was told Jap sahib needed to leave the country. He has been living in India ever since. Prince also separated from her husband, who is unable to care for Jap sahib due to alcoholism. Jap sahib is living with Prince's mother, who is finding it more challenging to care for him as she is getting older herself.

Prince desperately wants her son with her here in Aotearoa NZ, and equally Jap sahib really wants his mother around as he's growing up.

No one should have their immigration status penalised due to health or disability.

We call on the Associate Minister of Immigration Hon. Chris Penk to make an exemption to the Acceptable Standard of Health requirements and grant Prince’s son Jap sahib New Zealand residency.

Join our call for justice by signing and sharing this petition.