The government is poised to revamp visa regulations affecting relatives of non-native permanent residents and citizens, as indicated by Immigration Minister Erica Stanford. The anticipated revisions could facilitate longer visits for parents and grandparents from abroad.
Stanford has also highlighted the need to reassess partnership visa rules, particularly criticizing the efficacy of visas designed for culturally arranged marriages. However, these adjustments to partnership visas might be postponed, as the government prioritizes other initiatives, such as refining the accredited employer work visa program. Prior electoral pledges by the National and ACT parties included the introduction of extended, interim visas for non-native parents of residents and citizens. In line with the coalition's pledge, the government plans to institute a renewable five-year visa for parents, with a stipulation for families to bear healthcare costs independently. At present, excluding the residence visa—which was reinstated after a six-year suspension—parents are able to visit for up to 18 months within a three-year timeframe under a multi-entry visitor visa. While the implementation timeline for these visa changes is influenced by broader policy decisions, they are assured to be enacted within the current legislative period as part of the coalition's commitment. Minister Stanford acknowledges the urgency of other matters such as the accredited employer work visa and combating migrant exploitation, and future reforms are being lined up in a structured sequence for when and how they should occur. The Association for Migration and Investment anticipates that these changes will be well-received by migrants' parents, potentially reducing the burden on parent residence visa applications. Following the establishment of a yearly 2,500-visa limit for parents and grandparents by the prior administration in 2022, demand has substantially outpaced supply. Currently, over 13,000 expressions of interest have been lodged for the parent resident visa draw, with 308 individuals having been selected so far. With prior applications now addressed, the selection process is expected to quicken to meet the full annual quota. Coalition agreements suggest a healthcare surcharge may be introduced for the proposed five-year renewable visa. The treatment of culturally arranged marriage visas has been a point of contention, particularly following 2019 policy tightening by Immigration New Zealand, which impacted couples in arranged marriages who had not cohabitated before arrival. This policy faced pushback from various community sectors, pointing out its failure to accommodate non-cohabitating partnerships due to religious or other valid reasons. Recent statistics reveal a close tally between the number of approved and rejected culturally arranged marriage visas. Acknowledging the existing policy shortcomings, Stanford expresses a need to revisit these visas, although a comprehensive review might be delayed due to an extensive policy agenda. The minister assures that the concerns surrounding the current state of culturally arranged marriage visas are in view for future deliberation.
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The New Zealand Government has implemented adjustments to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, which primarily affect future applicants and certain current visa holders in specific occupations.
The modifications introduced do not alter existing visa conditions or duration for current AEWV holders. However, they may influence the length of time individuals can remain in New Zealand. The changes are not retroactive and do not impact applications already submitted. Instead, they are effective for new Job Check and AEWV submissions as of the announcement date. Employers with an approved Job Check must ensure that AEWV applicants adhere to the updated, more stringent criteria. A pivotal change is the introduction of shorter visa lengths and a reduced maximum stay for new AEWV applicants in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 roles. Furthermore, some existing AEWV holders in these occupations will also be subject to a decreased maximum continuous stay in the country. While their current visa's duration remains unaltered, they will no longer be eligible for the five-year AEWV period introduced the previous year, contingent upon their job's skill level, eligibility for residence, and the submission date of their AEWV application. For new AEWV applicants, there is now a minimum skill threshold to meet, along with the requirement to furnish evidence of relevant qualifications and work experience pertinent to the job in question. Migrants in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 occupations will be expected to demonstrate a basic standard of English proficiency. Employers are also subject to heightened criteria when advertising roles and recruiting migrants under the AEWV. This encompasses assessing the suitability of New Zealand candidates more rigorously and taking reasonable measures to confirm that a migrant is suitably qualified for the position. If the role is within ANZSCO level 4 or 5, the employer is mandated to extend the advertising period and liaise with Work and Income. Additionally, there are new accreditation stipulations for employers. They must now report to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) if a migrant exits their employment before their visa expires. Employers who fail to provide a minimum of 30 working hours each week may face revocation of their accreditation. These changes are part of a suite of modifications affecting all three stages of the AEWV system. Comprehensive details regarding these amendments are available on the INZ website for those seeking more information. Source: INZ website In a move that significantly impacts secondary school teachers, the New Zealand government has announced a shift from the Green List Work to Residence pathway to the Straight to Residence (STR) pathway. This change is poised to offer a more direct route to residency for eligible teachers.
For teachers already working in New Zealand, this update brings a welcome opportunity. If eligible, they can now apply for the STR visa, potentially streamlining their journey to securing permanent residency. This is a significant development for those who have been contributing to the education sector and are looking to make New Zealand their long-term home. Additionally, the change extends to overseas secondary school teachers who are considering a move to New Zealand. Starting in May, those who are eligible and have an offer of employment from an accredited employer will be able to apply for residence directly from offshore. This opens up a more straightforward path for skilled educators to join the New Zealand workforce and community. It's important to note that this change is specific to secondary school teachers. Other teaching roles will continue to be processed under the Green List Work to Residence pathway, ensuring that the unique needs of each educational sector are met. For those interested in taking advantage of this new pathway, it's crucial to stay informed about the application process and eligibility criteria, which will be detailed in May. This adjustment in the residency pathway is a significant step forward for secondary school teachers looking to build their futures in New Zealand. Source: INZ website |
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January 2025
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