Kia Ora!
Welcome to another edition of our newsletter, where we discuss the latest immigration developments and how they will affect you.
Last month, New Zealand was hit by Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, which left a trail of devastation in its wake. Our hearts go out to the families of those affected, and we stand in solidarity with all those impacted while we pray for their quick recovery. The New Zealand government has announced the Recovery Visa, a sub-type of the Specific Purpose Visa, to assist with the recovery efforts. It allows employers to sponsor migrants to come to New Zealand and work on the emergency response.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) due to the cyclone, delayed and carried out the Expression of Interest (EOI) selection for the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) on 22 February.
Although it was anticipated and in the news for some time, the median wage has now been increased to NZD 29.66 an hour. Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applicants must note that even if their Job Check was done before the increase, they still need to meet the new wage rate if the application is lodged on or after 27 February 2023. An informative article about the impact of the new median wage on employers & migrants has been included in this newsletter.
On 28 February 2023, INZ announced changes to the work rights of partners of temporary work visa holders. The main changes are that for certain partnership-based work visa applications submitted from 31 May 2023 onwards, the partners will only be eligible to work for accredited New Zealand employers and must earn the median wage or meet the sector agreement threshold rate as applicable. Currently, the partners can work for non-accredited employers and earn below the median wage. When the changes were initially announced, it was thought that partnership-based work visa applications wouldn’t have work rights, but thankfully there has been some letting off by INZ in this regard. You can find more information about the changes in immigration space in the informative blog and video included in this newsletter.
Applying for a partnership-based visa is advisable before the rules change on 31 May 2023.
Partnership-based visas continue to be popular amongst migrants who want to bring their partners to New Zealand. I have included some interesting articles and videos covering the most common questions I am asked regarding partnership-based visas in this newsletter. The Q&A videos provide clarity and help answer your questions. If you want us to assist you with a partnership-based visa, please click here and complete the form.
In our line of work, it is inevitable to come across many domestic violence victims who have left abusive relationships and are looking for visa pathways to remain in New Zealand. The good news is that INZ has now expanded the criteria for Victims of Family Violence Work Visa to include partners of temporary migrants. Previously, this visa was available only for partners of residents & citizens.
As the war rages on in Ukraine, the New Zealand Government has made some changes to the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa to give more time to Ukrainians in New Zealand to bring their family members here.
Sometimes, when INZ requests additional documents or information, it is challenging to meet the submission deadline, as gathering relevant and required evidence takes time and effort. If the requested information is not provided on time, INZ may decline your application. I have written an awareness article on requesting extensions for submitting documents; some of you may find it very useful.
Meanwhile, New Zealand continues to be a popular study-abroad destination for international students, and INZ is keeping busy managing the ever-increasing number of student visa applications accumulated in the system from various markets. Finally, students from China have also started coming to New Zealand due to recent policy changes in their country.
Master of Information Technology, Master of Information Security & Digital Forensics, Diploma in Electrical Engineering and Diploma in Community Healthcare & Support are some in-demand courses.
Many Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students come to New Zealand annually. I have included an informative article on the benefits of studying for your PhD in New Zealand in this newsletter. If you want our assistance with Student Visa, then please click here and fill out the form.
Am I allowed to work in New Zealand when I am studying? Will I be allowed to work in New Zealand after my studies? - are some of the questions I am frequently asked. I have included an article on working in New Zealand as an international student for you to read.
Those who held a Post Study Work Visa but could not enter New Zealand due to the Covid -19 border restrictions have finally been heard. They are now being granted a 12-month open work visa. INZ is contacting the affected applicants directly.
Last but not least, don’t miss our client success stories.
I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter.
Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser
