Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd.

Kia Ora!

I'm delighted to welcome you to the October 2024 edition of the Immigration Advisers New Zealand newsletter! It's exciting to share the latest updates from New Zealand's vibrant education and immigration sectors, helping you stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're dreaming of migrating, studying, working, or reconnecting with family in New Zealand, we're here to guide you through the intricacies of immigration policies and visa documentation.

This edition is packed with essential updates, including new work rights for partners of migrant workers and extended visas for the partners of New Zealand citizens. For those planning their educational journey, we've outlined the key details on student visas for the 2025 intake. As we gear up for the holiday season, you'll find important information on visitor visa processing times and news about the closure of Immigration New Zealand's Dropbox.

We've also included valuable updates on Accredited Employer Work Visas, ANZSCO being phased out with NOL coming in, how to plan events in New Zealand with groups over 30 and insights from our latest blogs and LinkedIn articles, focusing on expanding open work rights and imminent changes for healthcare professionals in New Zealand.

Recently, the NZAMI hosted its Annual General Conference on October 18th, where New Zealand's Immigration Minister, Hon. Erica Stanford, and Deputy Secretary Alison McDonald acknowledged the ongoing efforts to streamline immigration policies and reduce visa wait times. Exciting announcements are on the horizon, with plans to introduce a new skilled migrant visa policy, attract more international students, and a new investor visa. Plus, a renewable parent category visa is in the works for next year.

On a personal note, I'm honoured to have been elected as a director on the board of NZAMI. I'm eager to contribute to advancing the interests of migrants seeking a future in New Zealand.

Thank you for joining us in this edition. We're here to support you every step of the way on your immigration journey. Stay tuned for more updates, and don't forget to connect with us on social media for the latest insights and discussions.

Until next time, take care, and I wish you a very joyous and prosperous Diwali!

Vandana Rai

Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser

LIA Number: 201400900

Changes to work rights of Partners of Migrant Workers

With effect from 2 December 2024, eligible partners of holders of Accredited Eployer Work Visa holders will granted open work visas.

Longer visas for Partners of New Zealanders

With effect from 1 October 2024, partners of New Zealand citizens or residents may be granted a maximum visa duration of work and visitor visas for upto 3 years. This change aligns with the maximum visa duration for partners of temporary migrants. It will apply to applications received from 1 October and applications that have been submitted but not yet decided on that date. However, current visas will not be automatically extended and a new application will need to be made for the longer duration.

Applicants still need to meet the requirements. Partners of New Zealanders who have been living together for less than 12 months will continue to receive 12-month visas.

Update on Student Visas for 2025 intake

As Immigration New Zealand approaches their peak processing times, the time taken for deciding visa applications are likely to get extended. Therefore, it is recommended that you apply at least 3 months before your plan to travel to New Zealand. To avoid delays, please follow the student visa information sheets. Applications with insufficient information may be declined.

Bona fides is an important aspect of student visa requirements that needs to be met. Immigration New Zealand looks for information in the application that shows the student is genuine and will leave New Zealand if required. This may include evidence of strong family ties and any personal, financial, employment or other commitments in their home country.

Visitor Visa processing timeframe for the holiday period

If you are looking to applying for a visitor visa to travel in the New Year, including the Chinese and Lunar New Year, we encourage you to submit their applications by mid-November. 

Applications received after this date may not be processed in time for the Chinese and Lunar New Year period. To facilitate a faster decision on your application, it is important that complete applications are lodged with Immigration New Zealand.

Closure of Immigration New Zealand's Drop Box on 8 November

Immigration New Zealand’s Auckland drop box for hand-delivery of paper documents will close permanently. The last day to use the drop box will be Friday 8 November 2024. 

Update on Accredited Employer Work Visa

Immigration New Zealand is working towards improving wait times for employer accreditation, Job Check and AEWV applications. To do this, groups of applications from the same sector or location, or where applicants are in similar situations, will be allocated to a dedicated team to assess at the same time. All other applications will continue to be allocated to teams for processing in date order from oldest to newest. The groups of applications that are being prioritised for allocation across the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme can be checked on thee Immigration New Zealand website. These groups of applications will be reviewed each week and will be updated weekly on each Friday.

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