There have been changes to the immigration instructions for people working in roles on Tier 1 and Tier 2 Green Lists (Appendix 13 in the INZ Operational Manual) and those earning at least twice the median wage. The three new residence pathways are as below:
INZ has also been amended to allow independent contractors to apply for residence under the Green List Straight to Residence category. These changes come into effect on and after 5 September 2022. Please note that these changes are subject to change and may be revised without notice. Check the INZ website for updates. Do you think you are qualified for the newly introduced pathways? Our licensed advisors are here to help you. Book a consultation with us today to see how we can help you with your immigration journey.
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Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has helped to protect New Zealand from COVID-19 and enable critical travel.
At 11:59 pm on 31 July (NZST) we reach the final steps of the Reconnecting strategy: 1.those outside New Zealand will be able to apply for student and visitor visas, and 2.the border will be reopened to travelers arriving by air and sea. Visitors Every non-New Zealand or Australian citizen travelling to New Zealand needs a visa or New Zealand Electronic Authority (NZeTA) to enter the country. Visitor Visas From 11:59 pm on 31 July (NZST), applications for Visitor Visas will reopen. Group visitor visa fees will increase: 1.Approved Destination Status (China) will be NZD $90 per person (previously NZD $45) 2.Other group visitor visa will be NZD $110 per person (previously NZD $65) NZeTA With an NZeTA you can travel to New Zealand without first applying for a visa if you are: 1.a cruise ship passenger, 2.travelling on a passport from a visa waiver country, or 3.a permanent resident of Australia Students Student visa applications reopen from 11:59 pm 31 July 2022 (NZST) to support the rebuilding of a high-value international education sector. Costs From 11:59 pm on 31 July 2022, Immigration fees and levies for student visas will increase. The new costs for a student visa will be: 1.$375 for Band A (New Zealand) 2.$315 for Band B (Pacific) 3.$395 for Band C (rest of world) The amount students need for living costs while in New Zealand will also increase to: 1.NZD $20,000 a year for tertiary, English language students and other non-compulsory education 2.NZD $17,000 a year for students in compulsory education (years 1-13 at a school) 3.NZD $5,000 for applicants for post-study work visa. Application process Applications online should be made between one and three months before intending to travel. Maritime border The maritime border will reopen to foreign-flagged vessels at 11:59 pm on 31 July 2022 (NZST). Travellers on cruise ships must apply for an NZeTA. Phasing out border exceptions Most border exceptions will close at 11:59 pm on 31 July (NZST). The full timeline for INZ’s transition back to standard visa processing was announced earlier this month. 2021 Resident Visa category closing The Government created the 2021 Resident Visa to recognise the contribution migrants made during COVID-19. Among those eligible to apply are critical workers in longer-term roles who: 1.held a visa as a critical health worker or other critical worker on 29 September 2021, or 2.were granted a visa as a critical health worker or other critical worker after 29 September 2021. The 2021 Resident Visa category closes at 11:59 pm on 31 July 2022 (NZST). We encourage those eligible to submit their applications before then. COVID-19 restrictions COVID-19 restrictions still apply when travelling to New Zealand. Check the New Zealand COVID-19 website for up-to-date details on entry requirements. It's no secret that the process of obtaining a visa can be long and frustrating. Applicants are often left waiting for months on end, with no guarantee of success. The Covid-19 pandemic has only made the process more difficult, as many countries have suspended or reduced their visa services. Immigration New Zealand has introduced a fast-tracked process for residency applications, but it appears that decisions being made are not even among different nationalities. There have been reports of delays in processing applications from certain countries, resulting in frustration and anxiety for those affected. Immigration New Zealand has responded to these reports, saying that they are working hard to process all applications as quickly as possible. About 26% of all Chinese applicants had their residency approved, but 73% were still waiting for a decision - the highest among the top 10 nationalities. This statistic is surprising, given that the Chinese are the largest ethnic group in New Zealand.
Fiji and the Philippines had the second highest pending application rate at 68% of all applicants from each of the respective countries. The approval rates for the countries were about one-third. (reference to https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/07/22/security-check-sees-some-residency-applications-delayed) The high rate of applicants from India is likely due to the recent surge in popularity of the skilled migrant category visa. The data shows that out of the number of people who applied from the United Kingdom 93% have received approval and only 3% are waiting for a decision. When asked about the difference in rates between applicants of different nationalities, a spokesperson said it could vary depending on when people applied, if extra information was needed, and any extra checks like health or character. In an interview with Q+A last month, National's immigration spokesperson Erica Stanford said the difference in the rate of approvals depending on where an applicant was from was because "Immigration New Zealand are making them do a National Security Check". (reference to https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/07/22/security-check-sees-some-residency-applications-delayed) A national security check is a check of an applicant's criminal history and other information that may be relevant to their character. They are carried out by the country's security intelligence service. Applicants are required to provide information about their work and study history, as well as any involvement they have had with military and intelligence organisations, and that national security checks were carried out on all applicants, regardless of nationality. However, it is not clear why some applicants are being asked to provide additional information or undergo extra checks. It is possible that this is due to the increased scrutiny of applications from certain countries, but it is also possible that it is simply a matter of processing backlogs. Delays in processing applications is having a significant impact on people's lives. Those who have been waiting for months or even years to hear back about their application are struggling to plan for their future. It is hoped that the New Zealand Government will be able to provide some clarity soon about the delays and why some applicants are being affected more than others. In the meantime, those who are waiting for a decision on their application can only hope that their case will be processed as quickly as possible. |
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