March 2020 - NZ Immigration

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S):

STUDENT VISA WITH NEW ZEALAND IN SHUT DOWN MODE DUE TO COVID -19

As all of you are aware, due to the circumstances arising out of Covid-19, New Zealand is now in a state of National Emergency, and at Alert Level 4. The country has shut down, apart from essential services.
Given these unprecedented circumstances, we have been flooded with questions relating to various aspects of student visa. To assist you in gaining clarity, we have prepared a list of such FAQ’s:

Question 1. I was thinking about studying in New Zealand before the current situation unfolded. Can I carry on with my research as I still plan to study after a few months?
Answer- Yes, you can still carry on with your plans and use this time to do a thorough research. The admission team for most education providers is working remotely to process offers, and we are also here to answer your queries and address your concerns.
Question 2. I have applied for an Offer of Place to the education provider, and I am awaiting a response. Are the education providers still issuing offer letters?
Answer- Yes, the admission teams for most education providers are working remotely to process requests for offer letters; however, the intake may get delayed due to the current situation.
Question 3. When is the next available intake? Is there any intake before July 2020?
Answer- As of now, the next earliest available intake is expected to be in July 2020.
Question 4. I have my offer of place, but my student visa application has not been submitted yet. Can I apply for my student visa during the shutdown period?
Answer- Yes, currently the applications can be lodged online and are being accepted for processing by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Question 5. My Student Visa application is currently under process, and I did not receive my E-visa before the shutdown happened. Will my admission get automatically deferred to the next available intake?
Answer- No, the admission will not automatically be deferred. You would be required to submit the revised offer letter after your application is approved in principle by INZ. You are not required to take any action till then.
Question 6. My student visa application was approved in principle (AIP); however, I was unable to fulfil the AIP requirements before the shutdown happened. Will my AIP requirement date be extended automatically, or do I have to request for an extension?
Answer- The AIP requirement date would not be extended automatically, and you are required to upload a request for extension online. Considering the current situation, INZ is most likely to approve this request.
Question 7. My student visa application was approved in principle (AIP), should I complete the requirements such as transfer of fees, or should I wait for the shutdown period to get over?
Answer- You must try to complete the AIP requirements if you can or else request for an extension by providing reasons for the delay. The financial institutions are still operational, and you should be able to transfer your fees to the education provider.
Question 8. I have completed the AIP requirements, but my intake is now delayed, should I upload the revised offer, or will my education provider inform INZ directly.
Answer- The onus is on the applicant to inform INZ about the change in circumstances; hence, you would be required to send the revised offer letter to INZ to ensure the visa validity is in line with your course duration.
Question 9. I have got my E – Visa but I am unable to travel, how do I extend the first entry date?
Answer- As per the last communication received from INZ, an extension could be requested; however, we are still awaiting clarity and further information on the process to request such extensions. As soon as we receive further information on this we will share it with you.
Question 10. My first entry date on my E – Visa has expired, what should I do now?
Answer- As per the last communication received from INZ, an extension could be requested; however, we are still awaiting clarity and further information on the process to request such extensions. As soon as we receive further information on this we will share it with you.
Question 11. I have travelled to New Zealand, and am currently under self – quarantine, what should I do and who should I inform, and keep in touch with?
Answer- You must be in touch with your education provider, who would ensure your wellbeing is taken care of. The education providers in New Zealand are required to follow a code of practice for the pastoral care of international students.
Question 12. I am in New Zealand and am unable to get my bank account opened/get my Fund Transfer Scheme (FTS) account verified. I am, therefore unable to access my bank account. I am running short of money, what should I do?
Answer- You can contact your education provider for assistance.
Question 13. I am under self-quarantine, and I am unable to attend classes due to the poor or no internet connectivity, will it have an impact on my visa? Am I in breach of my visa conditions?
Answer- You should contact your education provider to discuss your situation. If the reason for non-attendance is beyond your control, this would not be considered as an intentional breach. The important thing is to make your education provider aware of your circumstances.
Question 14. My education provider has deferred my intake after arrival into New Zealand, what are my obligations, and what should I do now to ensure that I do not breach my visa conditions?
Answer- Please ensure you immediately inform INZ of the change in your circumstances. If you are unable to get through to INZ, you can also get in touch with your education provider to assist you.

We are aware that despite our efforts to cover all possible FAQ’s here, there may be more questions or elaborations which you may like to ask.

Please feel free to contact us on contact@nzimmigration.info or +64 9 379 0219 and get your queries answered.

Please be advised that INZ has started to process Essential Skills work visa applications – and that they may ask for more information, as well as ensure the availability of New Zealanders remains unchanged.

When INZ asks for this information, you may need to contact your employer for details about the sustainability of their employment and the availability of New Zealanders.

Furthermore, an advisory to immigration offices on labour market testing and sustainability assessments for Essential Skills work visa applications has been issued today. The points covered are as under:

Point 1. Immigration instructions now require an immigration officer to be satisfied that, at the time the application is assessed, there are no New Zealanders available to do the work offered.

Point 2. Immigration officers may require updated information when assessing applications that the employment offer remains valid, and continues to be sustainable, and that there remain no New Zealanders available regionally and able to do the work on offer.

Point 3. Concerns that New Zealanders may be now available, or that employment may not now be genuine and sustainable will be considered potentially prejudicial information (PPI) and applicants will be given an opportunity to comment and provide further information before a decision is made.

Point 4. An applicant may be required to seek further information from their employer regarding the possible increased recent availability of New Zealanders, and confirmation that the employment remains valid, and provide any other relevant information they believe addresses the concerns raised.

These changes have been done as COVID-19 has greatly affected New Zealand’s economy and job market, and it’s vital to consider the current employment environment.

FAQS BY INZ
LABOUR MARKET TEST
Why am I being asked for updated information about the availability of New Zealanders?

Under current immigration instructions, INZ needs to balance facilitating businesses getting the workforce they need, and protecting the employment opportunities of New Zealanders.

COVID-19 has had significant impacts on New Zealand’s job market, and unemployment rates are rising. Assessing applications only on information provided before the impacts of COVID-19 does not align with the requirement to protect the employment opportunities of New Zealand. This means that INZ needs to ensure that no New Zealanders are available to do the work being offered, before visas are granted to any migrant employees.

Do I have to re-advertise?

Employers aren’t required to re-advertisee the vacancy, but they may need to provide updated information, to the best of their knowledge, that there are still no New Zealanders available in this current job market. Employers may choose to re-advertise as part of providing further evidence.

What does genuine and sustainable mean? My business is receiving the wage subsidy, does this matter?

The employment offered to Essential Skills visa applicants needs to be for real and genuine work, for at least 30 hours per week. Essential Skills work visas are granted for a period of either 12 months, 3 years, or 5 years, and consideration needs to be given to whether the work being offered is going to remain available for the entire duration of the visa. It’s likely that New Zealand’s economic situation is going to continue to change, and employers must be confident in their ability to continue trading (to the best of their knowledge).

The wage subsidy provides support for a business that has experienced a reduction in revenue and doesn’t necessarily mean the business won’t be sustainable going forward. Employers receiving the wage subsidy can still hire Essential Skills work visa applicants.

Check Out Latest Minimum Wages In New Zealand

I’m confident my business and the employment is sustainable. But what happens if my business’s situation changes, and I can’t keep my workers on?

If your business situation changes then you must go through normal employment law processes. Any work visas holders who are made redundant, employment if they wish to work and remain in New Zealand, they would then need to obtain new employment and either obtain a new work visa or vary their existing visa to begin that new.

What kind of things does INZ usually take into consideration if there are no New Zealanders available for the role being offered?

INZ considers a range of factors when determining whether any suitable New Zealanders are available for the work. This includes, but isn’t limited to, things like:

The employer’s case in support of an individual worker’s application
Evidence of a genuine attempt by the employer to recruit New Zealanders, through advertising and the use of other channels, such as recruitment agencies
Advice from Work and Income about the availability of New Zealand citizens or residence class visa holder workers to do the work offered
Advice from relevant stakeholders within the particular industry, including unions
TIMING

How long will it take to process the Essential Skills work visa application I’m supporting?

Due to the complexities of the situation and INZ’s current limited visa processing capability, we’re unable to give exact timeframes as to when these applications will be processed. However, we aim to do so as quickly as possible given the current constraints on visa processing resources.

Can I submit this further evidence now, even though I haven’t been asked for it yet?

INZ will request additional evidence at the time when the application is being assessed.
SKILLS MATCH REPORTS

What is the Skills Match Report (SMR) and why is it important?

Current immigration instructions require employers seeking to employ an overseas worker for an occupation with an ANZSCO skill level of 4 or 5 are required to obtain an SMR from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). An SMR details if any New Zealanders are available to work in the role being offered to the migrant worker. One can only be issued to employers who have advertised their vacancy with Work and Income New Zealand, where no suitable New Zealanders have been found.

Will I be able to get an SMR from MSD?

MSD has confirmed that SMRs are available to employers who engage with MSD to recruit New Zealanders for vacancies.
GENERAL

What about if the role I want to recruit for is on the skills shortage list?

No New Zealanders are considered available if the job offered is on one of the skills shortage lists, and the applicants meet the qualification and work experience required by the list for that particular job.

What if I want to hire someone under the Skilled Migrant Category?

There is no labour market test for applications under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).

I need to hire someone but I can’t pay them a full wage like I normally would. How does this impact the work visa application?

To be granted an Essential Skills work visa, the applicant must be paid the market rate for the role. If you are unable to pay them the normal rate for the role, you should provide evidence that either the market rate for the role has changed or reasons why the visa should be granted despite the market rate not being paid. These applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The wage or salary paid must also always be above the minimum wage. The pay offered may also affect the duration of the visa and whether the visa holder can support visas for family members.

What if I want to recruit migrant workers in the future – how long will these changes be in place?

Decisions around changes to Immigration Instructions are made by the government. INZ and the wider Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment are working through possible options for longer-term solutions and providing advice to the Minister of Immigration. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we’re unable to give a timeframe at this stage. But we will keep employers informed and provide more information as decisions are made. In the meantime, INZ will continue to process visas according to current Government policy as expressed in immigration instructions.

There might be New Zealanders available somewhere, but people aren’t able to move regions due to COVID-19. Does this mean I still have to hire them over migrant workers?

Employers who are unable to recruit New Zealanders for a vacancy due to COVID-19 restrictions should be able to provide evidence of particular barriers where this is the case.

If I can’t hire the migrant worker I need, I’m not going to be able to keep my business running. What options are available?

Essential Skills work visa applications will be assessed in date order.

Are we able to hire migrants for a short period just to see us through, and move to hire New Zealanders later down the track?

Essential Skills work visas are granted for the duration that the employment is offered – for the periods of 12 months, 3 years, or 5 years (depending on the skill level of the role). Employment law may determine what reasons are considered sufficient for offering employment for a fixed term; you may wish to seek legal advice on your options.

Ref – https://www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/visa-paks

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Month: March 2020