IMMINZ · IMMIGRATION GUIDE
Section 61: understand a discretionary request
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What to check first
- Establish your exact immigration status, expiry dates and correspondence received.
- Identify whether Section 61 is available in your circumstances.
- Provide a complete, accurate account; INZ is not obliged to consider a request.
Prepare for a useful first conversation
Prepare a timeline of visas, applications and decisions. Tell the adviser immediately about any deportation documentation or deadlines. Avoid placing sensitive case details in a public website enquiry.
A common question
Does submitting a request make my stay lawful?
No. A request is not a visa grant. Do not assume it gives permission to stay or work while you wait.
Prepare your application file
- Timeline: visa expiry, applications, decisions, appeals or requests already made, with copies of the relevant correspondence.
- Urgent issues: tell the adviser about any deportation order, contact from INZ or immediate deadline at the outset.
- Current circumstances: a factual account of what happened and documents relevant to the reasons you want INZ to consider.
A point worth checking early
Do not reuse someone else’s request or omit adverse information. A Section 61 request does not make an unlawful stay lawful and is not a guarantee that removal action will stop.
Our published service fee
Enquire
This is the fee displayed on our service page. Confirm the scope and applicable costs before engaging us. Government charges, where applicable, are separate. Official processing estimates can change and are not guaranteed completion dates.
Discuss the support you need
Seek an individual assessment promptly. Use the initial form only to request contact; arrange a suitable channel before sharing sensitive case documents.
We will confirm the work included and the applicable fees before you engage us. The checklist is a starting point; the documents required depend on your circumstances.
Related guides
Explore relevant options; moving between visas is not automatic. Each route has its own requirements.