Category: Updates

As the Covid-19 related lockdown in New Zealand continues and alert levels change, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) continues to provide updates.

Staff returning to INZ offices:

From next Monday (13th September) most staff members will be returning to offices that are outside Auckland. This means that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will be processing both online & paper-based applications.

Mail has been redirected:

INZ has redirected mail from the Auckland documentation office to offices outside the city. Some paper-based applications have been moved for lodgment & processing. Delays are to be expected in the receipting and lodgment of paper-based applications as these are processed by other offices.

Online VOC request process:

Online requests for a Variation of Conditions (VOC) of a work visa started on Friday, 3 September 2021. Requests will be processed in the order received. Priority will be given to paper-based VOCs which were submitted before the lockdown.

More information about changing the work visa conditions can be found here

Refunds:

Applicants who have submitted both paper-based & online applications will be eligible for a fee refund on one of the applications. INZ will work with the client regarding this once the application has been assessed.

Exceptional circumstances:

Those individuals in exceptional circumstances who are awaiting a decision on a paper-based temporary visa application are encouraged to contact the Immigration Contact Centre (ICC) to discuss available options.

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.

As the lockdown in New Zealand continues, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) continues to provide processing related updates.

Staff working from home/ office:

Currently, due to alert level restrictions some INZ staff members are working from home. From next week, some staff will return to most of the INZ offices to receive & process priority temporary visa application categories. Delays are to be expected.

Mail will be redirected to offices outside the Auckland region to ensure lodgment of applications.

Most staff members will continue working remotely and will process online applications. INZ encourages applicants to use online channels whenever possible.

Variation of Conditions (VOC) form is now online:

The new form to apply for a Variation of Conditions of a work visa is now available online.

If a VOC paper application was sent before the nationwide Alert level 4 lockdown started and was not acknowledged with an email, in that case, you can now submit a new VOC application online.

To know more about changing work visa conditions, click on the link here.

INZ contact information:

The Immigration Contact Centre (ICC) continues to assist with policy queries, technical issues, updating contact details and other similar queries.

Visa applicants can also register for Voice Identification (Voice ID) service which helps protect privacy and save time on calls.

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.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) offices continue to remain closed due to the lockdown. Owing to the current Covid 19 alert levels, INZ continues to prioritize online applications and put more visa products online. However, due to information, security & privacy reasons, paper-based applications cannot be processed.

INZ is still deciding the protocols for Alert Level 3 and whether staff members can re-enter the office to process priority paper-based applications. Information about the level 3 alert changes & its impact will be made shortly.

Information regarding visa processing during covid-19 restrictions can be found here.

VOC application to go online:

INZ is working on having an online form for work visa holders to apply for Variation of Conditions (VOCs) for work conditions. This is to enable INZ to continue processing these requests when staff are unable to work from the office. This will be announced when the change is formally made.

Travel condition extensions for overseas resident visa holders:

Travel conditions of resident visas set to expire between 25thAug 2021 and 10thSept 2022 have been extended to 11th Sept 2022 by the Minister of Immigration.

Resident visa holders must be eligible for exemption from border restrictions before travelling to New Zealand.

More information regarding this can be found here.

Benefits to supermarket workers with visa conditions flexibility:

To provide essential services in supermarkets during alert level 3 or 4 lockdowns, employed temporary migrants are allowed to:

•  vary work hours
• be redeployed to other roles within their current workplaces
• be redeployed to workplaces within the same region

The above changes apply to Woolworths New Zealand Ltd employees, Foodstuffs North Island Ltd and Foodstuffs South Island Ltd supermarkets operating as essential services during level 3-4 lockdown restrictions.

A VOC application is not needed & eligible workers will automatically benefit from these changes.

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.

Despite the Level 4 lockdown restrictions Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has ensured that some of its staff members continue to work from home. As a result following online visa categories will continue to get processed.

Processing online visa categories:

INZ has confirmed that staff members who are working from home are able to process the following categories-

• Border Exceptions
• Essential Skills Work Visas
• Work to Residence Visas
• Partnership visas (temporary & residence)
• Post study Work visas
• Visitor visas
• Section 61 requests

If you are unable to apply online and your visa is about to expire, please contact the Immigration Contact Centre (ICC) immediately. Alternatively you can click here and mail Immigration Advisers New Zealand to assist you.

Reconsideration process for temporary entry visas:

During the course of the lockdown, INZ has set up an interim reconsideration process for temporary entry decisions for onshore applicants. Applicants requesting reconsideration via the ICC must do so within 14 days. Alternatively feel free to mail Immigration Advisers New Zealand and seek assistance. More information regarding this can be found here

Escalation process for employment visa:

Though INZ is monitoring the Employment Visa Escalation (EVE) requests, it is unable to prioritize paper applications due to the current lockdown restrictions. If you want to request for priority allocation of employment related applications, an email must be sent to EmploymentVisaEscalations@mbie.govt.nz

The following criteria will be considered:

• Compelling personal circumstances
• Humanitarian factors
• Matters of national interest

More information regarding this can be found here

New online form for Essential Skills Work Visa:

From 31 August 2021 applicants are encouraged to use the new online application form for Essential Skills Work visa.

Changes were made to the Essential Skills Work Visa on 19 July 2021 to streamline the application process and increase the visa duration of migrant workers who are staying with the same employer. More information about the changes can be found here. Alternatively feel free to mail Immigration Advisers New Zealand and seek assistance.

Migrant Exploitation Visa:

Employment New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand will help protect migrants from exploitation.

Migrants should visit Employment New Zealand to complete the form online.

Information regarding Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa can be found here

Paper based applications not being processed:

Paper based applications cannot be taken out from the office due to information security & privacy reasons. As a result, they cannot be processed at current lockdown alert levels.

With the resurgence of covid cases in New Zealand, the country has once again gone into a complete lockdown. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is operating under Alert Level 4 lockdown requirements.
This means that INZ offices are currently closed and most staff members are working remotely.

Working remotely is challenging for everyone. However, the INZ visa processing workforce has the ability to work from home and the focus is on online applications including border exemptions.

Under the current restrictions, INZ is doing its best to process as many visa products as possible including providing further training to staff. Current Covid -19 restrictions have impacted the ability to process paper-based applications and these will be held at the courier depot for the time being.

INZ remains committed to processing applications as fast as possible in spite of the challenges faced.

It will remain practical in requesting further information from applicants keeping in mind the difficulties the applicants will face in providing additional information. Applicants are encouraged to scan and email the pending documents to their respective Immigration Officer.

Section 61 requests must be emailed to this address: s61@mbie.govt.nz

To prevent the spread of Covid 19 in New Zealand, entry from other countries remains strictly controlled. More information & updates can be found here.

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.

Changes have been made to add deep-sea fishers to the border class exceptions provisions and the Rugby Championship 2021 to the government approved events list.

Immigration New Zealand has made these amendments to Restricted Temporary Entry
Instructions which will be effective from 16 August 2021.

Deep Sea Fishing Crew Approved Class of Workers:

Up to 615 deep sea fishing crew have been added to the approved class of workers list. The crew must be paid at least the minimum wage plus NZ $4 per hour ($2 more per hour than currently required) to be eligible for a 12-month visa as a border exception.

Rugby Championship 2021 In Government Approved Events

• The Rugby Championship 2021 has been added to the government-approved events.
• The existing entries for the Bledisloe Cup and Summer of Cricket is to be used for the 2021-22 season.

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.

Immigration New Zealand has made some important changes to processes in recent times.
Here are the highlights.

Changes to Essential Skills Visa Application Form:

Applicants must provide the updated version of the Employer Supplementary Form. If applying before 30 August 2021, applicants will have to print and complete the Essential Skills Work Visa Application Form. From 30 August 2021 onwards, applicants will be able to apply online using the updated form.

INZ recommends waiting until 30 August 2021 if applicants are currently in the process of applying for an Essential Skills Work Visa and use the updated online form. Applications made using the original online form will remain eligible.

Labour Market Test:

Employers no longer have to meet the labour market test requirements for workers who have remained in their full-time employment and not changed their role, employer or region of work.

Electronic Signature Changes:

Paper based applications usually require a hand written signature. To streamline the process, Immigration New Zealand will now accept electronic signatures from applicants. However, scanned signatures will not be accepted.

Documentation for partners and dependent children:

Partners and dependent children of Essential Skills Work Visa Holders will not have to provide medical and police certificates if submitted with a previous visa application.

Until 30 Aug 2021, partners and dependent children will have to print and complete the application form. From 30 August 2021 onwards, they will be able to apply online on the updated forms.

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.

Immigration New Zealand has made some amendments to temporary entry and residence immigration instructions effective 5 August 2021.

Changes made to Temporary Entry instructions

Partners and dependent children applying for a visa on the basis of their relationship to an Essential Skills Work Visa holder do not need to provide medical and chest x-ray certificates if they have already provided them with a previous visa application.

Changes made to Residence and Temporary Entry instructions

The requirement to provide police certificates with the application has been removed for 2 groups of applicants:

• Partners and dependent children applying for a visa on the basis of their relationship to an Essential Skills Work Visa applicant/holder, who have provided these certificates with a previous visa application
• Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers who have been in New Zealand for a sustained period due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

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.

Immigration New Zealand has made some changes to the temporary and residence immigration instructions to simplify the process Australian citizens and permanent residents undertake to travel to New Zealand with the border restrictions still in place. This change has come into force from 30 July 2021.

The changes mean that Australians can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) if they want to travel to New Zealand. If the EOI is approved and they are given an Invitation to Apply (ITA), they can apply for a resident visa on arrival at the New Zealand border. This new process will replace the need for Australians from requiring a critical purpose visa during border restrictions since they too were not exempt from it.

A new border exception has also been introduced that will allow certain Australians who want to return to Australia but have limited options for travel, to travel through New Zealand but they will have to complete Managed Isolation & Quarantine (MIQ).

An instrument of delegation has been amended to remove the ability of immigration officers to grant resident visas to Australian partners of New Zealanders under section 61A of the Immigration Act 2009. These individuals will instead be considered for a resident visa under the new residence instructions.

For more information related to the above information please contact Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd by sending an email at contact@nzimmigration.info or call us on +64 09 3790219.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) recently made some amendments to the character requirements which came into force from 2 July 2021.

Instruction A5.15 which was formally titled ‘Applicants not considered to be of good character for a residence class visa’ has been renamed ‘Summary of Character Requirements’.

This change has been done to clarify the scope of character requirements and explains when a visa might be granted if an applicant does not meet them.

Instruction A5.30 describes the character requirements in relation to those who may pose a risk to New Zealand’s international reputation. This includes a person who has or has had an association with, membership of, or involvement with, any government, regime, group or agency that has advocated or committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and/or other gross human rights abuses.

The changes include a clarification that if an immigration officer is satisfied that the nature and extent of the association, membership or involvement was or is minimal or remote, then the visa officer may grant a visa to the applicant, provided all other immigration instructions are met.

Instruction A5.50 which was a similar set of instructions for temporary entry visa applicants, will be removed from the Operational Manual effective on 2 July 2021. The content of A5.50 will be incorporated into A5.30.

If you are confused or have any queries, talk to our team of Licensed Immigration Advisers and have a proper understanding of these changes – and how they might affect you. Please contact Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd  by sending an email at contact@nzimmigration.info or call us on +64 09 3790219