A variety of immigration, business and general news articles taken from New Zealand newspapers, websites and other sources (sources are mentioned at the bottom of each article) and selected by Terra Nova Consultancy Ltd. It may assist the reader being more or less up-to-date what is happening in Aotearoa, "the Land of the Long White Cloud". Happy reading, enjoy ... and if you have any questions on these updates - please contact us...
Newest article always on top.
The Government has made further changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme. From today, AEWV holders in ANZSCO level 4 or 5 roles can no longer support work, student or visitor visa applications for their partners and children.
Partners and dependent children can still apply for their own work, student or visitor visas if they meet immigration instructions in their own right.
Today’s change does not affect:
The Government has made this change to align with the broader suite of changes to the AEWV scheme earlier this year, and returns the settings to similar ones under the previous Essential Skills Work Visa.
(Source INZ)
New Zealand lost more than 1000 citizens a week in the year to March 31, amid a contracting economy and rising unemployment. What can they expect in the countries they’re moving to?
For every citizen who migrated back to New Zealand in the year ended March 2024, another three New Zealanders decided to leave the country, according to Stats NZ.
The record net migration loss of 52,000 New Zealand citizens came at the same time the country experienced a net migration gain of 163,000 non-citizens.
As Q+A presenter Jack Tame wrote last week, New Zealand’s population grew amid a recession, a 25% drop in consents for new dwellings, an increase in the average rent, inflation that still sits at 4%, and an expectation that unemployment will soon top 5%.
“Young Zealanders now find themselves competing with more people for relatively fewer houses and relatively fewer jobs,” Tame wrote.
“And, as we enter a winter of economic discontent, who could blame them for leaving?”
But what are those same economic measures looking like in the countries New Zealand citizens often migrate to?
Australia
Unemployment has risen slightly in Australia, while figures show the median rent has jumped 8.5% (Source: istock.com)
The bulk of Kiwis choosing to leave New Zealand opt to hop across the ditch to Australia, with its promises of higher wages, more jobs, and better standards of living.
How are those promises looking?
The United Kingdom
The UK has traditionally been another popular destination for New Zealand citizens to relocate to.
Here’s what their economic picture is currently looking like.
The United States
The Labor Department says inflation appears to be trending in the right direction in the US (Source: istock.com)
How are things looking in the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Canada
Canada's unemployment rate is sitting above 6% (Source: istock.com)
The Canadian labour market has been showing signs of stress. How are other economic indicators holding up?
(Source 1 News)
Many clients are asking me; "What is the current time frame for citizenshipapplication?"
Application assessment
The oldest applications we are starting to assess were received in March 2023.
If your application was received after March 2023, the Department of Internal Affairs cannot provide any further information on the status of your application.
These timeframes were updated in May 2024.
The time taken to process an application in the past is no guarantee of how long it may take in future.
Application outcome
96% of applicants receive an outcome within 18 months of submitting their application.
Application process
90% of applicants are granted citizenship within 19 months of submitting their application.
We collect data on the status of New Zealand citizenship applications by the date they were received
Source DIA
From 11 April 2024 Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will be able to issue infringement notices to employers with the aim of addressing lower-level immigration non-compliance and deter those who take advantage of migrant workers.
Infringement penalties can include: a minimum fine of $1,000, loss of accredited employer or Recognised Seasonal Employer status, and being banned (stood-down) from supporting further visas for migrant workers for a period of time depending on the number of infringement notices the employer receives. More serious breaches may result in criminal charges.
Being stood-down means employers cannot get their accreditation back or support visa applications during the stand-down period. Stand-down periods include: 6-month stand-down for a single infringement notice, an extra 6-month stand-down for each subsequent infringement notice and a 12-month maximum stand-down for multiple notices issued at one time.
Employers can hire migrants on open work visas while on the stand-down list. When the stand-down ends the employer must show they have rectified the matter and done what is needed to stop it happening again before they can get accredited again under the AEWV.
Stephanie Greathead, National Manager Immigration Compliance says the majority of employers do the right thing and the employment situation works well for both employer and the migrant worker. However, Immigration sees a small number of employers who aren’t following the rules.
“In the past the only real significant deterrent option available to Immigration was prosecuting employers through the criminal court system, while that is still something we will continue to do, being able to issue employers with infringement penalties allows us to take immediate action against employers who aren’t complying."
“We will be publishing a stand down list on the Immigration website naming those employers who have been penalised and stood down, this adds a layer of transparency,” Greathead says.
Infringements can be issued for employing people in breach of their visa conditions, employing a person unlawfully in New Zealand, or failing to comply with a 10-day information request.
“Non-compliance with these 3 requirements now has immediate consequences. The new tools make it easier to stop employers who have committed immigration offences from accessing migrant workers in the future. It also ensures we have strong systems in place to enforce employment and immigration standards, which will help create a fair and level playing field for all employers in New Zealand,” Greathead says.
(Source Immigration New Zealand web)
From 1 May 2024 secondary school teachers are now on the Straight to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand roles.
In April, the Government announced that secondary school teachers will move to the Straight to Residence pathway on the Green List of in-demand roles.
Eligible overseas secondary school teachers can now apply for residence from outside New Zealand:
Other teachers remain on the Work to Residence pathway.
(Sourve INZ Website)
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running afoul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely.
Immigration officers are concerned by the number of temporary migrants committing crime seemingly not aware of the implications for their immigration status in New Zealand.
Deportation may be the outcome for migrants who commit crime in New Zealand. For serious criminal offenders, it is often the only option, once their custodial sentence is served.
What may be perceived as a minor offence or misdemeanour back home, can have serious consequences here.
MBIE’s General Manager Immigration Compliance and Investigations, Steve Watson, says in some areas across the country, increasing numbers of migrant workers in construction, tourism and hospitality are facing alcohol related charges and court appearances. He has a message for them.
“If you commit an offence, it may affect your ability to remain in the country.”
He says offenders are often unaware of the consequences of what they may see as minor matters.
“And they are shocked when we tell them that committing a crime may mean an early plane ride home,” adds Mr Watson.
However, he says that immigration officers work with migrants to achieve the best outcome for them and New Zealand.
The decision to deport is made by looking at a total picture of an individual’s circumstances.
This may include:
“We compare the risks of their offending with the value they bring to New Zealand, and balance that against a careful assessment of their character,” says Mr Watson.
“Deportation may affect their ability to return to New Zealand and potentially their ability to visit other countries as well.”
Check our criminal conviction page to learn more about the impact of crime on peoples’ ability to come to New Zealand.
Criminal convictions
(Source INZ website)
The 49 prioritised actions announced this afternoon include:
In June 2023, the Government announced changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
These changes take effect on 27 November, and include:
To apply for the balance of the longer visa, AEWV holders will need to meet criteria. Employers of current AEWV holders may be able to reuse existing job tokens, without completing a Job Check, to support their worker to apply for the balance of the longer AEWV. There is criteria employers need to meet, including holding valid accreditation.
Processing order for AEWV balance applications
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) expects a significant number of people to be eligible for AEWV renewals for the balance of five years.
We will generally only start processing balance applications when their current AEWV expiry date is within the next nine months. The applications for associated partners and dependents will also be queued until the AEWV application is decided.
This processing order of AEWV renewal applications manages demands on INZ processing resources, while ensuring fair treatment of visa applications made to INZ.
In the unlikely situation that an applicant’s current AEWV expires before we complete their balance application, the holder will be eligible for an interim visa to let them stay and continue their job for up to six months.
Our website has information on these changes, including guidance on the steps current AEWV holders and their employers need to take to apply for the balance of the longer AEWV.
EXAMPLE
From 27 November 2023, if you get an AEWV and you are paid at least the median wage:
Immigration New Zealand is aware of recent targeted phone scams coming from various New Zealand mobile numbers.
One example of these scams states the call is coming from 'The Immigration Bureau' saying there is a 'serious problem with your visa'. The call then prompts recipients to press different numbers for English or Chinese services.
Please be aware that these are not genuine calls from Immigration New Zealand. If you or someone you know receives this call or a similar one, report it to CERT NZ and do not engage further.
The Immigration New Zealand website has more information on recent scams, how to report them and how to protect yourself.
Great to see a few additional roles added to the Green list amongst a raft of other changes. Specifically, the following roles will now have a pathway for residence and enable employers to hire migrants more easily.
Some other welcome changes;
Changes to the Partner of a Worker work visa settings.
From 31 May 2023, many partners of workers who hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV) will need to work for an Accredited Employer and be paid at least the median wage, or if working in a role covered by an uncapped Sector Agreement, they must be paid at least the relevant wage threshold.
These conditions will need to be met at the time the employer provides the offer of employment, or for those who are already employed, from the start date of the work visa (whichever is the latest). Any subsequent changes to the employer’s accreditation, the median wage and sector agreements will not impact the visa holder for the duration of the visa if they remain in the same employment.
From 31 May 2023, people will be able to check on the INZ website if an employer is accredited.
The changes do not affect current work visa conditions or people who apply before 31 May 2023. There are no changes to visa conditions for partners of New Zealanders or partners of those holding other work visas (such as a Post Study Work Visa).
Supporting changes have been made to E3.26 (Varying the conditions of temporary entry class visas) to enable visa holders subject to the above conditions to apply to remove these conditions if their partner’s employment situation subsequently changes (for example, if their partner receives a pay rise taking their remuneration over twice the median wage, or if their occupation is added to the Green List).
These changes will take effect on 31 May 2023.
Source; INZ
As the impact of the coronavirus continues to evolve, we face this unprecedented situation together. The pandemic is affecting all of us. At Terra Nova Consultancy Ltd we wish to reach out and update you on how we are addressing it. Our top priority is to protect the health and safety of our employees, clients, and our communities. Our focus on customer service remains at the center of everything we do, and we are fully committed to continue to serve you with our services, and striving to provide our services without interruption.Please listen and act upon the advise given by the Government, only in that way will we together be able to combat this challenge. And as always, stay healthy and keep safe.
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