My name is Viola Namyalo a female Ugandan aged 22. I am a humanist and I have been working with the Uganda Humanist Association together  with the Humanist Association  for Leadership Equity and Accountability( HALEA) for over five years, empowering youth and Young mothers. We have been providing youth and young mothers with school fees bursaries, scholastic materials, entrepreneurship skills at our Pearl Vocational Training college and Menstrual Hygiene Management tips.

As an active humanist in Uganda, I got a chance to attend the 2018  International Humanist and Ethical Union General Assembly in Auckland, New Zealand. Transport and Accommodation costs would be catered for. My  job was to get a visa.

At first I thought getting a via would be easy, but I was wrong.

After getting a chance to attend the General Assembly in Auckland, I was so happy. With thus,  I started working on my visa application in April , because New Zealand has no embassy in Uganda, I opted for an online application and sent my passport in Pretoria, South Africa for further checking .

After a period of one month, my application had been assessed already, I was looking forward to reading the decision. To my surprise, it was a no. The Immigration argued that my bank statement had limited balance. In addition, they said that I had no strong family background in Uganda hence, they were not satisfied that I would return to Uganda once granted Visa.

The hosts of the General Assembly were not happy about the decision, they decided to apply on my behalf through Yana Gild. We started the application process again, but this time round, everything was done by Yana Gild. Yana worked so hard , she advised me to add more documents of my family members together with my academic documents in order to illustrate that I have a family in Uganda and besides, I am a student who will come back to continue with my studies and also continue with my work.  Yana did everything and submitted the application online.

After a period of two weeks, we got a reply from NZ Immigration . Unfortunately, it was a second no.  The NZ Immigration argued that I had no international travel history, they were not sure whether I would return to Uganda once granted visa. This made me, Yana and the New Zealand Association (the hosts for the General Assembly ) so sad.

However, Yana and the Humanist Society of New Zealand never stopped the fight despite the fact that my application was declined for the second time. They opted for political means. I cannot tell how they did their thing, but all I remember is that, they got the decision for my Visa changed in just a few hours by the Minister. I was so amused to receive an email from Yana telling me to receive my Visa in an attachment below.  This made me so happy.  I had lost all the hope to New Zealand, but because of Yana’s hard work and support I finally made it to New Zealand.

All I can say is, thanks a lot Yana for working so hard with the Humanist Society of New Zealand. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have made it to New Zealand.

Thanks to Yana and the whole team for helping me throughout the process of my work visa and followed by my residency application. After 6 months of waiting I finally have my residency. Thanks for helping through each step and getting it all done right.

Yana clearly knows what she is doing and there is no mucking around. She went through every document I submitted and suggested the changes that could be done. She goes to every little detail and takes care of your application just like it’s her own. I can never thank her enough for making my dream of calling New Zealand my home a reality.

Will surely suggest her service to anyone who needs support with their immigration status.

Thanks a lot for your help with a visitor visa — it was a straightforward process and we only needed to follow your instructions. I look forward to working with you in future!

I met my beautiful Kiwi wife, Eleanor, when we were both teaching at the same school in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2013. We dated for a year while Eleanor was living and working in Nepal, but for a number of reasons Eleanor returned to New Zealand in 2014. Our relationship continued to flourish long distance, and in 2015 we decided I should come to New Zealand to meet her family. However, my application for a visitors visa was declined. We continued to apply for me to come to New Zealand and continued to receive rejections from immigration New Zealand. In 2016 we were engaged but still unable to secure a visa for us to marry in New Zealand as we hoped. We were having little success understanding the reasons given for m visa rejections. This is when we contacted Yana, and she began working on my case. Yana took the pressure off us as a couple to complete the arduous paperwork involved in multiple visa applications, and was able to advocate for my case with immigration New Zealand. Eleanor and I were married in January 2017 in Wellington, and thanks to Yana I am now a resident of New Zealand and am living a happy married life with my wife. — Damodar Neupane, Nepal

I had a complicated case as my previous visa was declined, I knew I needed someone who would know how to handle the issues and ensure the visa is granted. Yana has helped me with the visa and it was approved. She has shown a great deal of dedication, commitment and support and I am thankful for all the efforts. After that, me and my family are always using services of Kiwi Immigration when we need to apply for a visa!

It was a very stressful time when I received a decline letter from INZ. I was sure that all requirements were met and did not expect it. It was clear we needed some professional help and approached Yana as I had my partner using her services previously. It made such a difference to have someone to talk to Immigration and ensure that they do the right thing. Afrer a few weeks my visa was successfully granted. Can definitely recommend Kiwi Immigration if you need help with visas

Thank you very much for helping with my Working Holiday visa! I cannot believe that 1 of just 100 visas was granted to me — it was such success. The process was flawless and I cannot recommend you enough. I will definitely be back for my next visa.

I will be always grateful, for Yana Gild’s advocacy in NZ Immigration Law, which directly resolved two NZ Immigration Visa situations.

The first situation was for our daughter who had met a fine young man from Nepal, while spending a year volunteering with an organisation in Kathmandu. After much deliberation, they felt that the strength of their relationship meant that they would like to marry. Our daughter wanted her intended partner to visit NZ to experience NZ culture as she had experienced Nepali culture before making the final commitment of marriage.

Applying for a NZ Visa became an extremely fraught experience. Their initial application, prepared by themselves, was declined with very spurious reasons given. Advice from Immigration NZ was contradictory and not helpful. Aware of my daughter’s despair, I searched online for an Immigration Lawyer.

When I made an approach through an online message service, Yana Gild responded with immediate understanding. Yana’s commitment to obtaining a NZ Visa for my daughter’s partner was absolute and tenacious. Applying for a NZ Visa is a high-stress situation. When it all got too hard, and I telephoned with a query Yana was always calm and patient

After lodging much documentation and following the application through different management levels, Yana was successful in obtaining a NZ Visitors Visa, for our now son-in-law.

Yana continued with her expert assistance to change the Visitor Visa to a Partnership/Work Visa and then to a Partnership/Resident Visa, with one more step to Permanent Residency

The second situation was assisting a volunteer charitable organisation, to which I belong, obtain NZ Visitor Visas for Conference speakers and participants from non-Visa Waiver countries.

We approached Yana for advice as to how best assist persons from non-Visa Waiver countries prepare their Visa applications. Our organisation was very appreciative that Yana gave us her advice free of charge.

Again individuals from a non Visa Waiver country prepared and lodged their applications.

To our devastation, several NZ Visitor Visas, for a speaker and conference participants were declined.

Yana understood our extreme distress and with utter determination lodged new applications with Immigration NZ. These applications were eventually all successful due to Yana’s wide experience and knowledge of the NZ Visa process. I say eventually, as one Visa application was declined a second time. Yana was so very supportive of the person concerned that after further higher level management intervention, Yana finally obtained a Visa.

This was a most stressful and emotional time for our organisation and the persons applying for a NZ Visa.

Yana was professional, caring and supportive, with a comprehensive understanding of the issues around this situation. They were issues of human rights and equality.

The persons whom Yana helped obtain NZ Visas were very appreciative of being treated with dignity. It is their common experience to have a visa refused simply because they live in a poor non-Western country.

Our organisation will always have gratitude for Yana as her skills and dedication as an Immigration Lawyer ensured the success of our International Conference.

With my heart I recommend the dedication and skill of Yana in approaching a difficult yet valid NZ Visa application.

Gaylene and Iain Middleton

Kiwi Immigration helped me with a work visa. It was challenging as my employer needed to prove there were no New Zealanders available for the role. Yana helped me and my employer to understand the process and the visa was granted. I am very happy that we chose Kiwi Immigration, I will surely be using their services for a residence application too!

I’ve known Yana for a long time and it was an obvioous decision for me to approach her for my residence application. Fast, efficinent, responsive — everything you expect from an immigration adviser will be exceeded. I received timely updates, good advise and it was a pleasure to deal with her profesionally. My best wishes to you and your career, I will recommend your services to my friends 🙂

Many thanks to Yana who helped me to secure a visitor visa, that made it possible for me to attend a conference in New Zealand in August 2018. My first self-lodged application was declined and I almost gave up on visiting new Zealand and attending the event. But Yana ensured that the next one was approved. Thanks a lot for your dedication and support, I had a great time in New Zealand»

We had a great experience lodging our residence visa application with Yana. The other adviser who we initially approached said that we do not have a chance and we did not have much hope at all. However, it was such a difference with Yana’s approach. She has guided us through the process and in a few months the residence was granted. We highly recommend Kiwi Immigration to all our friends.