Struggling to reunite with a partner in New Caledonia

[Chris31415]

Originally Posted by sailor Martin

All wise people who have no way to help but still want to write they wise opinion please dont

I don’t have a solution.

My first question is do you have to be physically present to get married?

There is something called a “Proxy Marriage” where one or both people do not need to be present. Unfortunately, the Wiki page says “Proxy weddings are not recognized as legally binding in most jurisdictions: both parties must be present.”

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_marriage

I also found an article in the New Yorker from 2012 that says the state of Montana (USA) still allowed double proxy weddings.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...proxy-marriage

I don’t know anything about this and am not recommending it, but it is something you could explore.

Good Luck!

[JPA Cate]

Sailor Martin,

Check carefully into the Fijian Blue Lines program. I think your time in Fiji would be limited either by visa term or by cyclone season, but I could be wrong. I feel concerned that you will have nowhere to go, unless you plan to take your bride with you to Israel, who are the only nation who will accept you. Or take her, married, to NZ. So one question is whether you want to spend the next unknown while in NZ? It is only an opinion, but I'm sorry to say, I think it will be roughly 5 years before the corona virus situation has normalized....

No one knows when the Covid 19 pandemic will end. The process of "flattening the curve" may actually prolong the international travel restrictions.

I'm thinking it would be a very bad idea to just show up and throw yourself on the mercy of New Caledonian bureaucrats, that you risk deportation, without your boat and possibly with a fine. Until they have a method in place, you cannot go to her legally.

If you can, find out if the French Consulate in Canberra is still open for business (some nations have closed theirs). If they are, you could petition them directly. Most of the members here believe such a petition will be turned down, but one doesn't really know till one has tried. I'd suggest that you find a way to explain why you would be useful to them, perhaps there is a work visa for you, if your training is something they have a high need for... Check if there is an Alliance Francaise who can help you. And if you're going there for work as well as desire to see your fiancee, study colloquial French, if it is not already among your languages. A properly flowery letter written in formal French will be looked upon better than one in English.

We have friends living in New Caledonia, and the restrictions there are formidable, according to them. So good luck with it.

Ann

PS. Sorry you have a low tolerance for being told you will have to wait, but if you get snarky about not getting your way, it will turn everybody off. This forum tries to keep discussion friendly, respectful, and kind. Sometimes it is kinder to tell the truth, even when it is not what the recipient wants to hear.

[gonesail]

good point by the OP. do you have be in the same place to get married?

[Wylah]

Originally Posted by Geoff H.

OP states that Fiji is "now open." Really? To whom? Would love this to be true, as my boat waits for me in a cyclone pit at Vuda and I would truly love to get to her!! (I'm in the states -- I'm pretty sure Fiji has not opened to me.
Any fresh rumors on when it will?
Or ideas on how to get my baby to Australia or NZ where I will likely sell her?

Thanks!
Geoff
s/v Un Mundo

Fiji Blue Lane process - its all laid out. Just google. Also check youtube Sailing Zatara video. They were one of the first and sailed up from NZ. Seems easy enough, but a process.

[Simi 60]

I still don't get it.
Why would you want to sail into Fiji just in time for cyclone season?

[sailor Martin]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Sailor Martin,

Check carefully into the Fijian Blue Lines program. I think your time in Fiji would be limited either by visa term or by cyclone season, but I could be wrong. I feel concerned that you will have nowhere to go, unless you plan to take your bride with you to Israel, who are the only nation who will accept you. Or take her, married, to NZ. So one question is whether you want to spend the next unknown while in NZ? It is only an opinion, but I'm sorry to say, I think it will be roughly 5 years before the corona virus situation has normalized....

No one knows when the Covid 19 pandemic will end. The process of "flattening the curve" may actually prolong the international travel restrictions.

I'm thinking it would be a very bad idea to just show up and throw yourself on the mercy of New Caledonian bureaucrats, that you risk deportation, without your boat and possibly with a fine. Until they have a method in place, you cannot go to her legally.

If you can, find out if the French Consulate in Canberra is still open for business (some nations have closed theirs). If they are, you could petition them directly. Most of the members here believe such a petition will be turned down, but one doesn't really know till one has tried. I'd suggest that you find a way to explain why you would be useful to them, perhaps there is a work visa for you, if your training is something they have a high need for... Check if there is an Alliance Francaise who can help you. And if you're going there for work as well as desire to see your fiancee, study colloquial French, if it is not already among your languages. A properly flowery letter written in formal French will be looked upon better than one in English.

We have friends living in New Caledonia, and the restrictions there are formidable, according to them. So good luck with it.

Ann

PS. Sorry you have a low tolerance for being told you will have to wait, but if you get snarky about not getting your way, it will turn everybody off. This forum tries to keep discussion friendly, respectful, and kind. Sometimes it is kinder to tell the truth, even when it is not what the recipient wants to hear.

Thanks for your advice

About my snarkiness, I dont mind hearing that I have to wait. But this is not the platform for that since I asked for ideas, not how to give up. I do mind opinions about wether or not I should get married since again not the right platform since I never asked about that.
I feel like some people just want to be heard even if they are irrelevant and it's confusing the thread.

[Lokiyawl]

Martin,

Do a search on virtual weddings. Not sure how the paperwork would happen but where
there is a will there is a way. Good luck. James

Originally Posted by sailor Martin

Hi all

The current elimination of our freedom of movement is taking it's toll on me.

Perhaps there is someone here with some border procedures knowkedge that could advise me. I'm looking for relevant fresh open minded ideas. Preferably with some knowledge behind them.

Background- I'm an Israeli citizen living in Australia as a student. My unmarried partner is a New Zealand citizen living and working in New Cledonia. We are trying to reunite.

If we could manage to meet (anywhere) then we could get married and that would solve the problem because I would then be allowed to sail into New Caledonia. Problem is we have no option to meet.

She can only leave New Caledonia to NZ. Even if she could legally go somewhere else, like Europe to meet me, the company she works for will fire her. I can only go to Fiji since they are now open.

I'm wondering about any option to somehow get married with her. Or just permission to land in New Caledonia.

Perhaps get married on-board in New Caledonia?
Perhaps arriving in New Caledonia and claiming to have a technical failure on-board?

Another important note is that if I leave Australia, I'm not allowed back. So I cannot just try my luck in entering New Caledonia.

[billgewater]

Fortunately you can both express many modes of affection via Skype etc. And no consequent children!
We are all sympathetic to your cause, but there are much worse things that can happen.
The barriers in place are there for many reasons and unless you are a politician or wealthy businessman, you are not going to have much chance of success.

Send her some flowers (Interflora etc.) and all will turn out well. Add some poetry. Worked for me.

[alansmith]

Sailor Martin, what a pickle. My wife has been stuck in Beijing for 9 months. She flew home January 5th. I feel your frustration and pain. I have been involved with two K1 visas in USA.

When I was a student I had no money. So I don’t how this would work for you. But when you are involved with two different nationalities... and then throw in a 3rd nation... and Covid restrictions to travel.... wow.

Let me tell you one thing straight up. For no reasons ... do not do anything half assed concerning the law. It can create a real legal issue later for your immigration proceedings with New Zealand, Israel, or New Caledonia. The immigration officers have seen every trick in the book and 10 permutations of each one of those tricks. They love to fail people for even the most arcane miscalculations. “Make my day!”

I mentioned money awhile ago. I highly recommend that you pay for an hour sit down with an immigration attorney and state your case. They deal with all of the minutiae of jumping hurdles week in and week out. If there is a way they will advise you. Shouldn’t cost more than 100-200 bucks. It may be painful to cough that up. But you will get solid legal advise. Then you know what course to steer or what reefs lie before you.

Do not break the laws trying to force the issue. It literally could destroy your chances to campaign for your K1. Good luck.

[SeanPatrick]

Originally Posted by sailor Martin

About my snarkiness, I dont mind hearing that I have to wait. But this is not the platform for that since I asked for ideas, not how to give up.

This is not the platform for telling the truth? If you ask a question, you should be prepared for the answer ... even if it's not the answer you want. If you think the answer might be one that you don't want to hear, well - don't ask.



You could just sail to New Caledonia tomorrow, march onto the island, scoop her up, take her away and marry her. Authorities and Australia be damned. That's an idea. A really bad one. But at least I didn't say you have to wait.


The forum members are trying to help you because you asked for it. Responding like you did in post #14 is, IMHO, a "dick move".

[sailor Martin]

Originally Posted by SeanPatrick

This is not the platform for telling the truth? If you ask a question, you should be prepared for the answer ... even if it's not the answer you want. If you think the answer might be one that you don't want to hear, well - don't ask.



You could just sail to New Caledonia tomorrow, march onto the island, scoop her up, take her away and marry her. Authorities and Australia be damned. That's an idea. A really bad one. But at least I didn't say you have to wait.


The forum members are trying to help you because you asked for it. Responding like you did in post #14 is, IMHO, a "dick move".

Again
I asked for ideas from whoever has them.
Not for advice to give up. It's not fruitfull.

Cheers
Have a nice day

[sailor Martin]

Originally Posted by alansmith

Sailor Martin, what a pickle. My wife has been stuck in Beijing for 9 months. She flew home January 5th. I feel your frustration and pain. I have been involved with two K1 visas in USA.

When I was a student I had no money. So I don’t how this would work for you. But when you are involved with two different nationalities... and then throw in a 3rd nation... and Covid restrictions to travel.... wow.

Let me tell you one thing straight up. For no reasons ... do not do anything half assed concerning the law. It can create a real legal issue later for your immigration proceedings with New Zealand, Israel, or New Caledonia. The immigration officers have seen every trick in the book and 10 permutations of each one of those tricks. They love to fail people for even the most arcane miscalculations. “Make my day!”

I mentioned money awhile ago. I highly recommend that you pay for an hour sit down with an immigration attorney and state your case. They deal with all of the minutiae of jumping hurdles week in and week out. If there is a way they will advise you. Shouldn’t cost more than 100-200 bucks. It may be painful to cough that up. But you will get solid legal advise. Then you know what course to steer or what reefs lie before you.

Do not break the laws trying to force the issue. It literally could destroy your chances to campaign for your K1. Good luck.

Thanks mate

I'd love to ask advice from an immigration agent but I don't know any that specialise in this case because it involves New Caledonian/NZ/Australian rules and maritime rules.

The agents I know here in Aus don't even know which port is a port of entry and all specialize in visas for flying into/staying in Australia. My agent is one of those and already told me that since we are not De facto, we are unable to bring her in.

I was hoping there will be sailors that actually know these stuff but I suppose this lockdown situation is too fresh

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by Geoff H.

OP states that Fiji is "now open." Really? To whom? Would love this to be true, as my boat waits for me in a cyclone pit at Vuda and I would truly love to get to her!! (I'm in the states -- I'm pretty sure Fiji has not opened to me.
Any fresh rumors on when it will?
Or ideas on how to get my baby to Australia or NZ where I will likely sell her?

Thanks!
Geoff
s/v Un Mundo

You can get in here. Ring David of yachthelp.

[daletournier]

Originally Posted by sailor Martin

No rumers

Fiji is open (to yachtys)
You cannot arrive by air

Just look it up mate
It's all there

You can arrive from air, people are getting in.

[sailor Martin]

Originally Posted by daletournier

You can arrive from air, people are getting in.

Did you find any official information stating that?