Iranian-born Doctor and New Zealand FiancĂ©e Caught in Lengthy Security Check for Partnership Visa3/5/2023 Shay, a doctor born in Iran with dual Canadian citizenship, and his New Zealand fiancée Briar, also a doctor, are facing a 17-month wait for a partnership visa, almost double the time other couples have experienced. The two doctors, who are expecting a baby in August, have been caught up in national security checks and face having to decide whether to leave the country.
Shay believes he was singled out due to his Iranian birthplace, which he says constitutes racial profiling. "I have a high suspicion that this is only because I was born in Iran. My fiancee is finding this whole process incredibly stressful as she is a New Zealander - fifth generation - and worried that she and my unborn child may face being separated from me in the future if this visa is not sorted. "I think this needs to get out there, that there are hard-working people in this country who get racially profiled with no reason." The couple, who work as junior doctors at a hospital in New Plymouth, have not been given a reason for the lengthy wait for the visa, and could face the prospect of moving to Canada and becoming doctors there instead. Meanwhile, another migrant who asked not to be named, and who arrived in October via the Straight to Residency pathway, is still waiting for a national security check with no updates and feels the situation is "incredibly frustrating". He is worried that he will be forced to leave if his residency application is declined, and that if a medical crisis were to occur in his family during this waiting period, there remains the possibility of rejection. They are not given a specified time to wait – currently over six months – and not given any updates. At the same time, they are not able to buy properties, and can’t get Kiwisaver, and had to apply for temporary visas that cost thousands of dollars. "If some medical crisis were to happen to any member of our family in this time that we're in limbo, we would face a very real possibility of having our residency application declined. There are very real monetary and emotional costs." According to a statement from the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), the turnaround time for completing National Security Checks (NSCs) has been consistently maintained for years. The vast majority of NSCs are processed within weeks, while only a negligible number take longer than that. The time taken to complete the NSC procedure varies depending on the applicant and their circumstances. Applicants who may have links with international extremist groups, involved in espionage activities, or weapons of mass destruction proliferation are subjected to NSCs. This screening process enables border protection agencies to impede the entry of individuals who could pose a threat to national security. It is worth noting that the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service does not have the authority to approve or decline visa applications. Instead, its role is to provide assessments to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), which helps them make decisions. Source: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/489134/iranian-born-doctor-endures-17-month-wait-for-security-checks-in-visa-process
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During a recent immigration webinar, Hon Michael Wood, the Minister of Immigration for New Zealand, provided updates on various policies and plans related to immigration. Our CEO, along with other advisers and lawyers, participated in this webinar.
Firstly, the Minister announced that the new Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) system will be revealed within a month. However, there is no confirmation yet of the implementation timeline. It is advisable for those who meet current eligibility requirements to apply now to avoid potential uncertainties. Secondly, a two-year "Work-to-Residence" pathway for Bus/Truck Drivers and Ferry Operators is being considered. The details of this pathway will be released in May. Thirdly, there will be a multi-stage review of family and partnership visa policies, with a particular focus on family/domestic violence and culturally arranged marriages. The government is committed to ensuring sustainable and well-considered policies from a humanitarian perspective. Fourthly, from 31 May 2023, any AEWV holders earning at least the median wage may support their partner's Partner Work Visa application. However, these visas will come with conditions, such as only being able to work for accredited employers and earning at least the median wage, unless exempt. Finally, Green List settings will be subject to reviews to ensure that the roles included are of national importance and globally competitive. If there is evidence of demand, more roles may be added to the list. In December, the Government declared that certain professions would be included in the Green List and that a deal would be formed within the transport sector to offer a two-year work-to-residence option for to critical transport occupations.
The detailed settings and eligibility requirements for these occupations are now available and they have been formulated in collaboration with with key sector bodies, unions and government agencies. Median wage exemption for bus drivers Employers will have a median wage exemption set at $28 an hour when hiring bus drivers for an eligible role on an Accredited Employer Work Visa. This exemption takes effect immediately. To be eligible, the role must either:
Interim Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) job check application approach Due to system constraints, associated transport sector changes to the online AEWV job check application form will not come in effect until 29 May 2023. In the interim please note the following: When completing the AEWV Job Check application form and entering $28 into the ‘minimum hourly rate of pay’ field, a ‘below the median wage’ warning will pop up. This warning should be ignored, and the rest of the form completed. The user will not be stopped from completing or submitting the form. If an amount less than $28 is entered the job check application is unlikely to be approved. Transport sector agreement residence applications open later this year The transport sector agreement provides a two-year work to residence pathway for people working in the following occupations:
Detailed eligibility criteria for each occupation are available on the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website. Eligible migrants will be able to apply for residence from 29 September 2023 if they have completed their two years of New Zealand work experience and they meet the other eligibility requirements. More occupations added to Green List More nationally significant, skilled and skills shortage occupations have been added to the work to residence Green List pathway and will open on 29 May 2023. The full list of occupations added to the Green List work to residence pathway, and detailed eligibility criteria, can be found on the INZ website. Source: INZ website INZ is collaborating with employers who hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa to ensure that they comply with the accreditation requirements. After the accreditation process, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) conducts a review to identify potential instances of exploitation of migrant workers. Any employer with an accreditation may be chosen for this process.
MBIE may request information from selected employers to verify the commitments and statements made during their accreditation application. This may entail the following:
In some circumstances, MBIE may conduct a site visit to gather information effectively. In order to assist employers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme, the government implemented an extension for the initial accreditation period. This decision was made to provide more certainty to employers as they become accustomed to the accreditation system.
Employers who are already accredited need not take any action as their accreditation will be automatically extended for a period of 24 months from the date of their approval. They will receive notification once the expiry date of their current accreditation certificate is updated to the new expiry date in the improved Immigration Online system. It is important for all currently accredited employers to update their details by June 2, 2023. In case an employer has an accreditation application in progress, they do not need to take any action. If their application gets approved, their 12-month accreditation will automatically be updated to 24 months in the improved Immigration Online system, and they will receive a notification about it. If an accreditation application is submitted before July 4, 2023, and gets approved, the accreditation will be granted for a period of 24 months. However, for first-time accreditation applications submitted and approved after July 4, 2023, the accreditation period will be for 12 months. Source: INZ website In December 2022, the government announced that bus and truck drivers would have a time limited residence pathway through a sector agreement.
It has now been confirmed that people who work in roles covered by the ANZSCO code 231213 Ship’s Master / Skipper, and 899211 Deck Hand will be added to the sector agreement with a time limited pathway to residency. Skippers will need to be paid the market rate, and migrant worker deckhands will need to be paid at least the median wage to utilise this sector agreement. Details of the bus truck, and now skipper and deckhand, sector agreement are still being worked through. Full details will be announced soon with implementation expected to begin from late May. Thirty-two new health roles have been added to the Green List and all health roles on the Green List will be moved to the Straight to Residence pathway.
The roles span across the health system and are considered critical to the delivery of health services in New Zealand. Eligible people are encouraged to apply from 29 May 2023. List of health sector roles going on the Green List:
Existing roles on Green List Work to Residence pathway moving to Straight to Residence pathway:
Existing roles on Green List Straight to Residence pathway:
ANZ Bank has undergone a restructuring process that involved separating its banking and non-banking businesses and establishing a new parent company as a non-operating holding entity. Prior to the restructuring, ANZ equities were issued by the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group which is a New Zealand registered bank. The equities were, therefore an acceptable investment for immigration purposes. However, as a result of the restructuring, ANZ Bank now issues equities through a non-operating holding company called ANZ Group Holdings Limited (ANZ GHL). ANZ GHL is incorporated overseas and is not a registered bank in New Zealand, which means that the equities may no longer be considered acceptable for immigration purposes. It is important to take into account that investor, parent, and temporary retirement applicants may encounter varying impacts depending on their current stage in their immigration procedures. Would you like to talk to an adviser?For several years now, New Zealand has consistently been placed in the top 10 happiest countries in the world, and this year is no different. According to the 2023 World Happiness Report, New Zealand has claimed the 10th spot. This is particularly exciting news for individuals who are contemplating moving to New Zealand as it serves as a reaffirmation of what many have already come to realize: New Zealand is an excellent place to call home. The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network has released a report ranking over 150 countries based on their average life evaluations from 2020-2022. It uses six key factors including social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption to determine each country's happiness level. The report also examines the happiness gap between the top and bottom halves of the population in each country ranked, highlighting that the gap is smaller in countries where almost everyone is very unhappy or in top countries where almost no one is unhappy. New Zealand scored highly in all of these areas, which is why it has consistently been ranked among the happiest countries in the world. For migrants considering a move to New Zealand, this ranking should be seen as a positive endorsement of the country's welcoming and inclusive culture, as well as its high standard of living. New Zealand has a strong economy, world-class healthcare, and a diverse range of opportunities for work and education. It is also a safe and secure country, with low crime rates and a stable political environment. For those considering a move to New Zealand, it is important to remember that the country has a strong immigration system, with clear pathways for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and investors. The country is also known for its friendly and welcoming people, which makes it easy to settle in and make new friends. Overall, New Zealand's ranking as the 10th happiest country in the world is a testament to its quality of life, strong social fabric, and commitment to well-being. For migrants considering a move, it should be seen as an endorsement of the country's many strengths and a compelling reason to explore the opportunities that New Zealand has to offer. Ready to start your immigration journey?New Zealand's Immigration Minister, Michael Wood, has announced that over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents since the processing of 80% of 2021 Resident Visa applications has been completed. The 2021 Resident Visa is one of the measures taken by the government to address the global skills shortage caused by COVID-19. The top occupations represented among the new residents are nurses, early childhood education teachers, software engineers, and primary school teachers.
The government is working to unlock additional labour through the Accredited Employer Work Visa, the expansion of the Green List, reopening the Pacific Access Category and Samoa Quota, and resuming the Skilled Migrant Category and Parent Category. The immigration plan seems to be paying off, as there have been significant increases in migrant arrivals month on month, and international migration numbers show a steady increase. The Working Holiday Scheme has also been in high demand, with over 53,300 visas granted and over 33,900 people welcomed into the country. Although the vast majority of applications have been processed, some applicants are still waiting to hear the outcome of their applications, and INZ is working to process them as quickly as possible. Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-160000-new-kiwis-call-nz-home |