Parent Category draw in October

In a bid to fulfill the annual cap of 2,000 visa approvals, the New Zealand Immigration (INZ) has decided to expedite the selection process for the Parent Category queue of expressions of interest (EOIs) received before 12 October 2022. The decision comes as a relief to the large number of prospective migrants eagerly awaiting selection. To this effect, INZ has announced that a one-off draw for 1,500 EOIs will be held on 17 October 2023, while all remaining EOIs in the queue will be selected in the following month.
 
It is important to note that there will be no balloted draw from the Parent Category in October and the next draw will be in November. However, it is anticipated that the processing of the large number of EOIs may take a while, and INZ has advised candidates to be patient as they conclude the selection process.
 
Looking ahead, INZ has reiterated that the Parent Category ballot selections will continue to take place every three months – that is, every February, May, August, and November. Therefore, the next ballot selection is expected to take place in November, with at least 100 randomly selected EOIs set to be drawn.
 
Prospective migrants are reminded that applications will only be approved if they contain all the required information. Once selected, applicants will have a four-month window to gather all necessary information to ensure faster processing of their applications. Further information about the process can be found on the INZ website.