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Immigration New Zealand has introduced Accredited Employer Work Visa, which is a three-step process.

A job check is the second step of the process and has been introduced to ensure employment is acceptable (the job pays the market rate, at least 30 hours per week, and the terms and conditions comply with employment laws). It is also to ensure that no suitable New Zealand citizens or residents are available to do the work specified (labour market test).

Job check is the most important aspect of the process as, on approval, you can recruit migrant workers for the positions available in your organisation. Therefore, you must ensure that all mandatory requirements are complete before applying for a job check.

The below listed are required to apply for a job check successfully.

1. The employer must have accreditation to hire employees on an AEWV.
2. An acceptable job offer, employment agreement and job description.
3. Evidence of advertisement where the position is not listed in the Green list or paid less than twice the median wage.
4. The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) code best matched the position offered.

The employer should advertise the position on a national platform for two weeks, and the advertisement should list the below essential factors:

• Position offered.
• Job description.
• Explicit pay rate.
• Minimum guaranteed hours.
• Details of the qualification and
• Work experience required for the position.

Jobs paying 200 % of the median wage do not need a labour market test. Jobs paying at or above the median wage in regions also do not need a labour market test. In cities, jobs that are on a skills shortage list and pay at, or above, the median wage don’t need a labour market test.

You can only hire a migrant worker if the job check is passed. Please note that employers pay for a job check.

Considering the complexities involved in the job check it is sensible to obtain the services of an experienced Licensed Immigration Adviser. An adviser could advise on all matters that are not common knowledge, such as the correct ANZSCO code, experience and qualification requirements for a particular position and such. This is essential to get a positive outcome on your application.

Due to the closure of New Zealand’s border, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) could not process most categories of visa applications until now.

Therefore, given the time that has passed, INZ requires information about any changes in circumstances that may have taken place.

Please be aware you are legally obliged to tell INZ about any changes to your circumstances that may affect the decision on your visa application. If you do not, INZ may decline your application.

If the information relevant to your application’s decision is withheld from INZ, you may later become liable for deportation. Therefore, failure to comply with the obligation set out in immigration instruction E4.75 (c) amounts to the concealment of relevant information.

A few examples of change in circumstances are as under:

• Had or currently have tuberculosis
• A medical condition related to Renal dialysis, Hospital care, Residential care
• Pregnancy
• Conviction on accord of any offence
• If under investigation, wanted for questioning or facing charges
• Have been excluded, refused entry, removed or deported from any country
• Have been refused a visa/permit to visit, work, study or reside in any country
• Change of partnership status
• Change of employment circumstances

Multiple factors affect the outcome of a visa application. However, interpreting and deciding based on your understanding of complex immigration instructions leaves room for error and may get the application rejected.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd; we stand ready to represent your best interests, protect your lawful status, and help you make sound immigration decisions at every stage of the immigration process. You can contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info  or call on +64 09 3790219.

Generally, veterinarians diagnose, treat and help prevent animal disease and injury.

The new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) complements the inclusion of veterinarians on the New Zealand Government’s Green List, which can provide a streamlined and prioritised pathway to residency.

The Green List incentivises highly skilled workers to relocate to New Zealand long-term.

Study pathway to becoming a veterinarian in NZ

If you like a career as a veterinarian in NZ, you’ll need a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree. This degree involves five years of study.

Massey University’s Institute of Veterinary and Biosecurity Science (IVABS) is the only training institute for veterinarians in New Zealand. Students do a pre-veterinary semester and have a minimum of 10 days of veterinary work experience before being considered for the course. Each year 124 students, of whom 100 are New Zealand residents, are accepted by IVABS.

Find out more about studying for a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree at Massey University.

The entry requirements consisting of recommended secondary school education and personal needs, job outlook and pay scales can be seen on the Careers NZ website.

Overseas veterinarians wanting to work in NZ

All people working as veterinarians in New Zealand must, by law (Veterinarians Act 2005) be registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) and hold a current practising certificate.

If you have a veterinary qualification from overseas , you will need to register in New Zealand.

Other ways to get registered

Suppose you received your primary degree from a university not on the list of recognised institutions and not registered in Australia, or you do not hold a pass in a recognised examination or assessment programme. You may be entitled to apply for registration by sitting and passing the combined Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE).

The AVE is a two-part assessment comprising a preliminary and final examination administered by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC). For information about the NVE, refer to the AVBC website at www.avbc.asn.au.

What are you waiting for? Contact us to know about the eligibility criteria and list of universities/institutes offering business & management courses.

Skilled workers are in great demand in New Zealand. Those migrants who have the right skills and qualifications are not only wanted but welcomed and seamlessly absorbed into the country’s skilled workforce.

Many industries, businesses & sectors in New Zealand require appropriately skilled professionals. A skill shortage occurs when employers are unable to find workers with the right skills for the job. To enable the economy to be sustained, the New Zealand government had three lists for skills in demand, collectively called the Essential Skills in Demand (ESID) lists or the Skills Shortage Lists.

The three lists recording skill shortages in New Zealand –

• Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)
• Regional Skill Shortage List (RSSL)
• Construction & Infrastructure Skill Shortage List (CISSL)

Workers with skills that are on one or more of these lists find it easier to apply for work and resident visas.

Impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic on the Labour Market

Due to the global pandemic, NZ borders have been almost shut for over two years. The pandemic affected jobs & businesses with some industries growing and some shrinking.

Hospitality & tourism and the transport sectors were badly affected as there were no tourists. On the other hand, there was an increase in the demand for health care professionals and teachers.

New Zealand Government’s Initiative to Rejuvenate the Economy

New Zealand is all set to open its borders and welcome tourists, students, workers and migrants from 31 July 2022. In preparation for this and to revitalise the economy the New Zealand government recently announced some changes to its immigration policies.

One such change is the introduction of the new skills shortage list called The Green List. With effect from 4 July 2022 the Green List replaces the three existing skills shortage lists and is now the only list which will be used to determine skills shortage.

The Green List contains a limited number of highly skilled roles that are in huge demand globally and for which there is a shortage in New Zealand. It includes the occupations that New Zealand employers find difficult to recruit for.

Occupations on the Green List

The Green List has 85 hard-to-find-skill roles that can primarily be divided into seven categories:

1) Construction roles – Engineering, Quantity Surveyor, Project Manager etc.

2) Engineering roles – different types of engineers such as Chemical, Civil, Structural, Electrical Electronics, Mechanical, Telecommunication etc,

3) Health & social services roles – General Practitioner (GP), different types of Surgeons, different types of Psychologists, Veterinarians, Psychiatrists, Dermatologists, anaesthetists etc.

4) Primary industries and science roles – Food Technologist, Environmental Research Scientist etc

5) ICT, Electronics & Telecommunications roles – ICT Project Manager, Software Engineer, Multimedia Specialist etc.

Professions in Demand in New Zealand

There are certain specific trades and professions that are in demand in New Zealand. These include a Quantity Surveyor, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Veterinarian, Multimedia Specialist (Film Animator), Chef, Teacher, Accountant,  Dairy Cattle Farmer, Baker, Panel beater etc. The table below gives a snapshot on what these professions are, the qualifications and/or experience required for these roles and the average pay that a worker can expect.

Knowing which jobs are in skill shortage can help interested migrants choose the option that is best suited for their migration pathway.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info  or call on +64 09 3790219.

Source:  Link 1   Link 2   Link 3   Link 4

After being almost completely shut to the outside world since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic over two years ago, New Zealand borders will completely be open now for everyone from midnight of 31 July 2022 (technically 1 August 2022). Going forward the NZ Government plans to support a higher-productivity, higher-wage economy through “Immigration Rebalnce” announced.

What is Immigration Rebalance

Immigration Rebalance is a plan for New Zealand’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. It aims to boost working conditions, improve career pathways and encourage businesses to focus on increasing productivity & resilience. The aim is to attract high-skilled migrants instead of relying on low-skilled ones.

Aim

The changes aim to:

• Encourage employers to offer competitive wages, hire less experienced New Zealanders & train them and work together to showcase employment opportunities
• Encourage businesses in New Zealand to invest more
• Reduce the pressure on infrastructure, housing & support economic growth. Shifting dependence from low skilled labour to high skilled labour can boost the growth of a more productive economy.

Changes for Workers & their Dependants

Multiple changes have been introduced as part of the Immigration Rebalance plan.

The changes include:

• Introduction of the ‘Green List’ (explained below)
• A median wage threshold for Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV) and Foreign Fishing Crew Visas.
• Employment as a chef will henceforth require qualification for migrants on an Accredited Employer Work Visa.
• Exemption for many tourism & hospitality roles. A lower wage threshold of NZ $25 per hour has been allowed for them until April 2023.

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

• 3 July 2022 – Essential Skills Work Visa closes to applications
• 4 July 2022 – Accredited Employer Work Visa will open for applications
• December 2022 – Partners of temporary migrant workers can apply for a Visitor visa or an AEWV if they want to work in New Zealand

The AEWV will be available mainly to workers earning over the median wage of NZ $27.76 per hour from 4 July onwards.

By 2023, the NZ Government wants all employers to be accredited to hire migrant workers, even those with openwork rights (Eg. working holidaymakers and students)

Immigration New Zealand aims to complete AEWV processing within 30 days: 10 working days for the accreditation check, 10 working days for the job check and 20 working days for the migrant check.

Sector Arrangements

The NZ Government has introduced a Green List. This list will make it easier for employers to hire and attract migrants for high-skilled, hard-to-fill positions in the construction, engineering, trades, health and ICT sectors.

If an employer wants to hire migrant workers on the AEWV and the role is on this list, then advertising for the job check is not required.

• Exemptions to the median wage threshold: Certain transition arrangements will allow specific roles in the construction, care, tourism & hospitality sectors to be recruited at rates slightly lower than the median wage.
• New sector arrangements: Sector-specific agreements support a shift away from low-skilled migrant labour. This includes care, construction and infrastructure, meat processing, seafood, and seasonal snow and adventure tourism sectors.
• For Green List Occupations, please click here.
• For roles exempt from AEWV median wage threshold, please click here

Partnership-based Work Visas

In a significant change, most partners of temporary work visa holders will be granted Visitor Visas from December 2022. If the partners wish to work in New Zealand, they will have to qualify for an Accredited Employer Work Visa in their own right.

Unlike other work visas, which require the holders to work for a minimum of 30 hours a week, the partners can work for less than 30 hours a week. The reason being they will have other responsibilities, such as childcare and will not be the primary household earner.

Partners of migrant workers working in occupations on the Green List or paid twice the median wage will continue to receive automatic open work rights.

This is to ensure that New Zealand attracts high-skilled migrant workers. There are no changes to automatic open work rights for partners of New Zealanders.

Easy Residence Pathways

Immigration Rebalance will streamline pathways to residence for migrants working in the Green List occupations to attract high-skilled migrants.

• Fast-track Residence: Some can come to New Zealand from 4 July on a work visa and directly apply for residence after September 2022
• Others can apply for residence after two years of working in New Zealand
• Migrant workers earning twice the median wage can apply for residence after two years of being on an AEWV

For other migrant workers, the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) is an option as a pathway to residence.

Impact of the changes on current & other visa holders

The Immigration Rebalance changes focus on the future and migrants coming to New Zealand to work in permanent roles. They don’t affect holders of visas with openwork rights like working holidaymakers. Accreditation is a requirement only from 2023. Visa conditions of current work visa holders and partners who apply for a partnership-based visa before the changes take place in December 2022 will not be affected.

What the changes mean for employers

• The median wage threshold will not apply when hiring working holiday makers or students.
• Changes to the current employment agreements with migrant employees are not required.
• Employers must get accreditation by 2023

It is important to note that there are no changes for partners of New Zealanders or a specific purpose, short-term business or visitor visas, Working Holiday Schemes, the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme or other family and humanitarian categories.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.

After being almost completely shut to the outside world since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic over two years ago, New Zealand is now ready to completely reopen its borders to everyone from midnight of 31 July 2022 (technically 1 August 2022). This means that the opening date for the Student Visa category has been brought forward by 3 months, from October.

What is Immigration Rebalance

Immigration Rebalance is a plan for New Zealand’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. It aims to boost working conditions, improve career pathways for New Zealanders and encourage businesses to focus on increasing productivity & resilience.

Changes for International Students

Along with the border opening, the NZ Government has made some immigration changes that affect international students who want to study in New Zealand.

The changes that affect international students are:

Post-Study Work Rights

Changes have been made to post-study work visa rights. They will apply to all student visa applications lodged on or after 11 May 2022 not covered by transitional agreements, including applications from people already in New Zealand.

• Students enrolled in non-degree programmes (Level 7 & below excluding Bachelor’s degree) will not get post-study work rights except in shortage and skilled occupations.
• Work privileges for degree-level and other eligible international students (bachelor’s degree, bachelor honours degree and postgraduate diploma) will now be equivalent to the duration of their study. (See the table below)
• Masters and doctoral students will be permitted to work in New Zealand for up to three years following graduation as long as they have spent 30 weeks of full-time study in New Zealand.
• Additionally, students will not be able to apply for a second post-study visa in New Zealand.
• Students who have already commenced studying an eligible qualification under current settings and who have applied for a visa or hold a visa for that specific study will be considered under the ‘old’ post-study rules. This includes students who enter New Zealand under the most recent border exception for 5,000 students, provided they meet the current educational requirements.
• In-study work rights for international students have not been changed.

It is important to note that 20 occupations on the Green List have direct pathways from Level 7 and below level qualifications.  These include:  Construction Project Manager; Project Builder; 12 specific engineering roles; Civil Engineering Technician; Electrical Engineering Technician; Secondary School teacher; Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher; Automotive Electrician; Diesel Motor Mechanic

International students studying at non-degree levels can work while studying. Also, they can apply for another visa after their student visa, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa, if they are eligible.

Change in cost of living for international students

From 31 July 2022, fund requirements f will increase:

• From NZ $15,000 to NZ $20,000 per annum for prospective tertiary student visa applicants
• From NZ $15,000 to NZD$17,000 for prospective international primary & secondary school students
• Both these amounts will be adjusted for shorter study periods.
• Except for some aviation students, students will need to pay tuition fees for the first year or first programme of study (whichever is shorter), and they will have to provide evidence of funds for the same period.
• As of 11 May 2022, students transferring to post-study work visas must show NZ $5,000 in funds.

International students make significant contributions to New Zealand education providers & its economy & add to the country’s skill-base.

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info or call on +64 09 3790219.

Reference: Link 1   Link 2

Previously, individuals in a Culturally Arranged Marriage (CAM) with a New Zealand (NZ) citizen or resident were only eligible for a Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa if the marriage was scheduled to take place in New Zealand.

Now, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) even grants a Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa to individuals who had an arranged marriage three months before lodging the visa application, regardless of where the wedding ceremony took place.

This visa category benefits those applicants looking to stay in NZ longer-term with their spouses but doesn’t yet meet the living together requirements to be issued a partnership-based visa by INZ.

What is a culturally arranged marriage?

According to INZ, a culturally arranged marriage follows a recognized cultural tradition wherein the facilitation of the initial selection of the persons to be married is done by people who are not parties to the marriage i.e. the initial selection is not done by those getting married. Also, one partner has to be a New Zealand citizen or resident.

What is a Culturally Arranged Marriage (CAM) Visitor Visa?

This visa category allows the offshore applicant to travel to New Zealand for a culturally arranged marriage with a New Zealand citizen/resident OR have a culturally arranged marriage with a New Zealand citizen/resident overseas offshore, i.e. outside New Zealand.

In short, with the CAM visa, the applicant can –

• Come to New Zealand to get married.
• Come to New Zealand after getting married overseas.
• Apply for an NZ partnership-based visa once lived together with the partner in New Zealand and meet the partnership requirements.

Challenges faced in getting a CAM visa

Getting a CAM visa for NZ is not easy, though it may seem so. INZ is very particular about the relevant immigration instructions being met. One of the main requirements is to provide documentary evidence to show that the initial selection was not made by people who are getting/got married.

Let us explain.

The initial selection for a prospective partner in a culturally arranged marriage can be made in many ways:

• Through matrimonial advertisements in newspapers, social media, etc. and matrimonial websites
• With the help of a person acting as a go-between like a matchmaker Eg. parents, relatives, friends etc.

However, there are many challenges faced when providing evidence related to this. For example:

• The matrimonial website profiles are often created by the boy/ girl themselves and not by the parents as they are not very IT-literate. The profiles may then be handled by the respective parents or siblings of the boy/girl-to-be married or by the couple for various reasons.
• More often than not, the initial communication regarding the selection between the concerned parties (e.g. Matchmaker & parents or both sets of parents) is done face to face, over the phone, and nowadays through WhatsApp and messenger calls. There may be limited documentary evidence to support this claim.

In the above circumstances, it is difficult but not impossible to show how the initial communication was initiated and by whom. Therefore, you just need the right guidance to know what evidence is acceptable by INZ.

Besides this, other immigration instructions also need to be met to get a CAM visa.

While INZ has a low approval rate for CAM visitor visas (Less than 50 % CAM VV Applications approved), we at Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd have a very high approval rate (Almost 100% CAM VV Applications approved). We are the experts in processing NZ CAM visa applications and always provide the right guidance for a successful outcome.

Please remember: CAM visa applications are time-bound. So, make sure you apply for this visa on time. 

Get in touch with Immigration Advisors New Zealand Ltd, which provides up-to-date immigration information so you can consider opportunities and prepare yourself for the future. To know all the required procedures, contact us at contact@nzimmigration.info  or call on +64 09 3790219.