A teacher from⁤ Tuvalu with a visual impairment ⁤has faced repeated visa⁤ rejections, preventing her from reuniting with⁤ her daughter who resides in New Zealand. Her story highlights the challenges faced by Pacific⁤ Islanders seeking to migrate or visit New Zealand, and the emotional toll of family separation.

Alta, ⁢a 55-year-old teacher from Tuvalu, has been separated from her daughter for nearly a decade due to New Zealand visa complications. In 2015, her family applied for a Pacific Access Category (PAC) visa, a New Zealand immigration program offering residency to citizens of certain⁣ Pacific Island nations. The program aims to address skills shortages and allow Pacific Islanders to contribute to the New⁢ Zealand economy (Immigration New Zealand, Pacific Access Category).

In 2016, Alta made the heartbreaking decision to remove herself⁤ from the family's PAC⁢ visa application to allow her husband and then-six-year-old daughter to proceed to Aotearoa New Zealand. She remained in⁤ Fiji, hoping to re-apply for her own visa, but has been unable to join them as.