Multiple current and former Immigration New Zealand (INZ) employees have come forward with concerns about the country's visa processing system. They report a series of problematic practices designed to expedite visa approvals, including ignoring criminal records, not reviewing supporting documents in visa applications, and taking a "light touch" approach to work visas at the border.
INZ staff also raised concerns about the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, describing it as flawed and manipulated by bad actors within the system. Key Issues Raised by INZ Staff:
INZ's Response: Acting head of immigration Catriona Robinson denied specific instructions to disregard criminal records or avoid reviewing visa attachments. She emphasized that character waivers would be considered for individuals with criminal records on a case-by-case basis. Robinson also defended the "streamlined" approach for low-risk visitor visa applications, suggesting that certain standard checks could eliminate the need to examine attachments. Regarding border staff, Robinson stated that their primary role was not to re-assess visa applications but to facilitate entry for individuals with legitimate visas, unless new information came to light. Despite the allegations, Robinson encouraged individuals to provide specific details for further investigation and assured that staff were encouraged to report any concerns. Source: Stuff.co.nz
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Immigration New Zealand staff have been alerting their managers for a year about significant flaws in the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system. Despite their concerns, their warnings have been disregarded. The staff are worried that the AEWV system enables employers to bring in migrants without proper documentation or financial checks, even in cases where jobs might be fake, funded by illegal payments, or where migrants could face exploitation.
Instead of addressing these issues, the staff claim they have been instructed to prioritize faster processing times. This has led to a situation where migrants are potentially being exploited and businesses are gaining accreditation when they shouldn't have. The AEWV system was launched to streamline the work visa process by allowing employers to apply for accreditation to hire overseas workers. However, critics argue that it has inadvertently led to an increase in migrant exploitation, with migrants paying large sums, up to $30,000, for jobs that often don't exist. In response to these concerns, an independent review of the AEWV system has been initiated at the direction of Immigration Minister Andrew Little. Despite the urgent need for change, the staff claim that upper management has downplayed the severity of the problems. Immigration New Zealand staff reveal that they were instructed to skip checks on most applications under the AEWV scheme. Only two out of nearly 28,000 applicants were declined accreditation. The staff feel pressured to make quick decisions and overlook risks. Recently, Alison McDonald, MBIE’s deputy secretary of immigration, expressed support for the minister's decision to conduct an independent review. However, some staff members find her statements ironic, as they believe the system is deeply flawed and they are not truly doing a good job. The sources also emphasize that there is a lack of scrutiny on employers entering the country, which may result in the entry of unscrupulous employers. Despite some revocations and suspensions of accreditation, staff members remain concerned about potentially thousands of problematic employers slipping through the system. Critics and sources within INZ suggest that the current system's approach to processing times and reducing red tape has led to significant flaws and corner-cutting. They argue that a balance should be struck between facilitating migrant labor and maintaining the integrity of the visa system. In response to the claims made by staff members, McDonald defended the AEWV system, emphasizing the need to find a balance between enabling necessary migrant labor and preventing exploitation. She mentioned that risk settings are reviewed and adjusted regularly to ensure compliance. Source: Stuff.co.nz New Zealand has updated the conditions for Interim Visas for those waiting on the outcome of their visa applications. The changes reflect the new partnership-based work visa instructions that were implemented in May 2023.
Interim Visas are granted automatically to allow migrants to remain lawfully in New Zealand while they wait for the outcome of their visa application. These visas are intended to be temporary measures only and have varying conditions based on the applicant's current visa status and the visa they are applying for. The updated Interim Visa conditions specifically affect partnership-based work visa holders who have applied for another partnership-based work visa. In this case, an Interim Visa will allow them to work for any employer without restrictions on working for an accredited employer or earning a specific wage. However, for partnership-based work visa holders who have applied for a different work visa type, such as an Accredited Employer Work Visa, their Interim Visa will not permit them to work and will have the same conditions as a Visitor Visa. These changes ensure that Interim Visa conditions are consistent across all partnership-based work visas and other work visas. It is important to note that there are no changes to Interim Visa conditions for those applying for non-work visas, such as visitor or student visas. These changes to the Interim Visa conditions came into effect from 11 August 2023. These updates to the Interim Visa conditions provide clarity for migrants who are awaiting the outcome of their visa applications. By aligning the visa conditions across all partnership-based work visas and other work visas, it makes it easier for individuals and their employers to understand their work rights and obligations. The New Zealand government has announced the final expressions of interest (EOI) selection for the current Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) settings. The EOI pool will officially close on 16 August 2023, after which a new simplified points system will be introduced, replacing the current settings. People who are interested in submitting, withdrawing, or updating their EOI are advised to do so before 11:59PM (NZST) on 15 August 2023. It is important to note that only those with 180 points or more will be invited to apply. Therefore, if an individual does not have at least 180 points or will not be able to provide evidence that they meet the criteria, it is recommended that they withdraw their EOI before the deadline. Furthermore, customers who withdraw their EOI can apply for a refund of their EOI fee. Those whose EOI is assessed as having at least 180 points will be invited to apply for residence under the current SMC settings on 16 August, and they will have four months from the date of their invitation letter to submit their application, including all necessary evidence. Those whose EOI is assessed as having less than 180 points, however, will not be invited to apply for residence. They may still be eligible to apply under the new simplified points system that will be implemented on 9 October 2023, provided they meet the required criteria. The new simplified points system aims to make the immigration process more straightforward. More information about the new Skilled Migrant Category can be found on the New Zealand government's website. Secure Your Chance to Apply your EOI Under the Current SMCIncreased minimum pay and sick leave for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers
The previously-signaled increase in minimum pay and a new sick leave entitlement for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers comes into effect from 1 October 2023. RSE worker pay increase From 1 October, 2023 employers must pay their RSE workers the minimum wage (currently $22.70) plus 10%. This means at the current minimum wage, RSE workers must be paid at least $24.97 per hour for actual hours worked. The pay increase applies to all RSE workers from 1 October 2023, including those granted RSE limited visas prior to 1 October 2023. Paid sick leave adjusted RSE workers are currently entitled to sick leave after they have worked for six months, as per the Holidays Act. As most RSE workers can only stay in New Zealand for up to seven months during any 11-month period, they largely miss out on sick leave. From 1 October, RSE workers granted an RSE Limited Visa will receive a new sick leave entitlement giving them paid sick leave from their first day on the job. They will receive 10 days paid sick leave – two days when they start work, and an additional two days each month until they reach their 10-day entitlement on their four-month anniversary. If a worker transfers from one RSE employer to another, the new employment agreement must also comply with these pay and sick leave requirements. This change does not apply to RSE Limited Visas granted before 1 October. Source: INZ website In light of some customers missing the submission deadline for their Parent Category expression of interest (EOI), Immigration New Zealand has announced the addition of another Parent Category ballot. This new ballot, scheduled for September, will randomly select 100 EOIs from the ballot pool. To be considered for this selection, applicants must ensure they submit their EOI before 31 August 2023.
The decision to hold this additional ballot comes in response to concerns raised by some customers who were not aware of the 1 August 2023 deadline for EOI submissions. The introduction of this September ballot not only allows those who had missed the latest ballot a second chance, but also ensures that those who submitted their EOIs before the deadline are not at an unfair advantage. Immigration New Zealand acknowledges the confusion and inconvenience caused by the lack of clear communication around the deadline for the Parent Category EOI ballot. The organization apologizes for any confusion that may have arisen due to this and strives to prevent such incidents in the future. Furthermore, the addition of a one-time September draw does not affect the ongoing Parent Category selections every three months, taking place in November, February, May, and August. For applicants keen on being considered for the November draw, they must submit their EOI no later than 31 October. To be eligible for any upcoming ballot draws, it is necessary for interested parties to submit their EOIs before the first day of selection month. In conclusion, the addition of the extra Parent Category ballot attests to Immigration New Zealand's commitment towards fairness and transparency in their selection process. The organization urges all applicants to observe the requisite submission deadlines and requirements to increase their chances of being selected. Source: INZ website Mark your calendar for the next Parent Resident Visa selection!
On August 8, 2023, INZ will be choosing 1100 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from the queue. INZ selects the oldest EOIs until they reach their goal of 2000 visa approvals each year. They will continue this process until the queue is empty. Keep in mind, the number of EOIs selected each quarter may change as they gather more data on approved visas. Selection of EOIs submitted on or after 12 October 2022 The August 2023 selection will be the first selection that includes EOIs submitted on and after 12 October 2022. These will be selected by a random ballot. There are about 5,000 EOIs in the ballot, and 200 will be selected on 8 August. INZ selects enough EOIs from the ballot draw to reach 500 visa approvals each year. EOIs in the ballot expire after 2 years. Attention sponsors! As of May 2023, the income threshold for sponsorship has increased. Double-check the new minimum rates to ensure you meet the requirements by visiting this link. Update your EOI If you need to update your EOI details, simply fill out sections A1 to A5 and any other changed information on the EOI update form. Send it to EOIupdate@mbie.govt.nz. Keeping your EOI up to date will speed up the invitation process if you meet the criteria. Withdraw your EOI Want to withdraw your EOI? Fill out this form provided and email it to EOIfeerefund@mbie.govt.nz. Remember, refunds are typically only considered if you withdraw your EOI before the selection. If you don't meet the category requirements, it's best to withdraw before selection. Registrations for the 2023 Samoan Quota (SQ) ballot and the Pacific Access Category (PAC) ballot will open on 1 August 2023 and close on 31 August at 1700 (NZ Standard Time) .
The SQ and PAC schemes allow people from Samoa and Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji to become permanent residents in New Zealand. Both schemes operate through an annual ballot. The ballots will be drawn in early October 2023. People who are successful in the ballot will be invited to apply for a resident visa in late October. Ballot space reallocation The PAC and SQ Resident Visa schemes were suspended for 2020 and 2021 when New Zealand’s international border closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unused ballot places from 2020 and 2021 have been reallocated over future years. Samoan Quota The maximum number of SQ visas available is: 1,650 Samoan citizens each year to 2025 1,100 Samoan citizens each year from 2026 onwards. Pacific Access Category The maximum number of PAC visas available for 2023 is: 500 Fijian citizens 150 Kiribati citizens 500 Tongan citizens 150 Tuvaluan citizens. The maximum number of PAC visas available for 2024 onwards is: 250 Fijian citizens each year 75 Kiribati citizens each year 250 Tongan citizens each year 75 Tuvaluan citizens each year. Invitation to apply People who are successful on the ballot and are invited to apply for a PAC or SQ resident visa will have eight months to submit their application. These will be processed by INZ’s Pacific offices. Since February of this year, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has experienced a significant rise in the number of visa applications for partners and dependents of temporary visa holders.
In a typical month, INZ receives around 5,000 applications. However, recent numbers have consistently surpassed this, with over 13,000 applications received in May alone. This surge in applications can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, there has been a rush of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications before the upcoming median wage increase. Secondly, recent changes to partner work rights in May 2023 have also contributed to this influx. As a result of these circumstances, the average processing time for applications is expected to increase. Rest assured, the INZ website will be regularly updated to keep customers informed about the situation. To handle this high volume of applications, staff reallocation has been implemented to expedite processing times. The goal of INZ is to process complete visa applications promptly. However, bear in mind that thorough assessment is necessary before decisions can be made, which inevitably takes time. There is also a concerning trend where visa applications for partners and dependents are being submitted without all the necessary information. We strongly urge applicants to ensure that all required documents are submitted for smooth processing. To enhance the chances of a successful application, please take note of the following:
During the 2021 Resident Visa (RV21) application process, INZ inadvertently requested certain individuals to obtain new medical certificates, undergo health screenings, and obtain chest X-rays. This occurred for a brief period in 2022, despite the fact that INZ possessed valid medical documents from previous applications.
Fortunately, it has been determined that these additional checks were unnecessary. As a result, individuals who were affected by this error have the opportunity to be reimbursed for the expenses incurred in obtaining the aforementioned certificates, screenings, and X-rays. To initiate the reimbursement process, they must complete the Reimbursement Request form for medical certificates, which is available on the INZ website. Applicants who were affected by this oversight have until September 30, 2023, to submit their reimbursement request. To do so, they will be required to provide evidence of payment, which may include any of the following
To apply for reimbursement, click here. |