.|
NEWS
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.
01/20/2021 - Immigration: What we’ve all been waiting for
At last! Action from the government on the issue of residency for migrant workers – and relief for thousands of visa holders who meet the just-announced criteria.
An estimated 165,000 migrants on temporary work visas could be fast-tracked for the 2021 resident visa, which will offer a simplified pathway to residency on a one-off basis, primarily to workers in health care, education, and primary industries.
Immigration minister Kris Faafoi says more than 5,000 health care workers, 9,000 primary industry workers, and 800 teachers will be eligible.
Read more: 01/20/2021 - Immigration: What we’ve all been waiting for
30/09/2021 - Breaking News - Govt smooths residency pathway for most work visa holders, amid backlog
An estimated 165,000 migrants currently in New Zealand may be eligible for a one-off, simplified pathway to residence in the coming months.
It follows mounting criticism of the Government over its backlog for expressions of interest for the Skilled Migrant Category visa. The list has been frozen since April 2020.
As of last month, the backlog stood at about 12,000 EOIs for those who are already in New Zealand. Meanwhile, there are about 1500 applications from people offshore.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi on Thursday announced applications to get the 2021 Resident Visa would open in two phases: on December 1 and on March 1, 2022.
30/09/2021 - ELIGIBILITY CHECKER NEW 2021 RESIDENCE VISA
Check your eligibility for the One Off NEW 2021 Residence Pathway here. Note that the checker is a guide and not a confirmation of eligibility
30/09/2021 - Breaking News - One-off residence pathway provides certainty to migrants and business
- One-off resident visa for up to 165,000 migrants provides certainty for New Zealand businesses so they can plan into the future
- Visa creates residence pathway for over 5,000 health and aged care workers, around 9,000 primary industry workers, and more than 800 teachers
- Streamlined application process requiring health, police and security criteria to be met
- Majority of applications to be granted within a year of the category opening
The Minister of Immigration, Kris Faafoi, has announced the 2021 Resident Visa, a one-off, simplified pathway to residence for around 165,000 migrants currently in New Zealand.
“We are providing a way forward for our migrant families who have been long disrupted by COVID-19, while ensuring businesses have the certainty they need to plan into the future and continue driving the economic recovery,” Kris Faafoi said.
“The changes give migrants certainty about their future here, allowing them to continue putting down roots, and will help reunite many families who were separated by the border restrictions that prevent COVID-19 entering the community.
“We acknowledge the uncertainty and difficulties COVID-19 and our closed borders have caused our migrant community. We have been carefully working through this residence option to offer certainty they need to truly make New Zealand their home.
“The 2021 Resident Visa will also help us attract and retain the skills that our businesses need to help relieve labour pressures caused by COVID-19.
“This is something employers have asked for and we are delivering. Employers will now have the opportunity to retain their settled and skilled migrant workers, reflecting the critical part they play in our economy, essential workforce and communities.
“Immigration New Zealand estimate the eligible visa holders will include over 5,000 health and aged care workers, around 9,000 primary industry workers, and more than 800 teachers. There are also around 15,000 construction and 12,000 manufacturing workers on relevant visa types, some of whom will be eligible for the one-off pathway.
“These people have all played an important role in keeping our country moving over the last 18 months,” Kris Faafoi said.
The 2021 Resident Visa will be available to most work-related visa holders, including Essential Skills, Work to Residence, and Post Study Work visas and their immediate family members.
To be eligible, the principal applicant must have been in New Zealand on 29 September 2021 and must hold or have applied for (and subsequently be granted) one of the eligible work visas. They must also meet one of the following criteria:
- Lived in New Zealand for three or more years, or
- earn above the median wage ($27 per hour or more), or
- work in a role on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, or
- hold occupational registration and work in the health or education sector, or
- work in personal care or other critical health worker roles, or
- work in a specified role in the primary industries.
The visa will also be available for those who enter New Zealand as critical workers, and their families, for roles six months or longer until 31 July 2022.
Visa holders can also include their partners and dependents in their application.
The application process for the 2021 Resident Visa is simplified to deal with applications as quickly as possible. Applicants will still need to meet health requirements and pass police and security checks, as is required under the current residence application process.
The one-off arrangement for the new 2021 Resident Visa would see the majority of applications granted within a year of the category opening.
“The Government is committed to rebalancing the immigration system for those who can come to work, study and live in New Zealand once our borders re-open. The 2021 Resident Visa is part of this,” Kris Faafoi said.
“This initiative addresses that immediate issue while work on the immigration rebalance looks longer term at preparing for the eventual reopening of New Zealand’s borders.
“But our message to industries and employers remains clear; they need to look for ways to build resilient workforces and to attract, train and retain local workers and reduce their reliance on low-skilled migrant labour,” Kris Faafoi said.
Applications for the 2021 Resident Visa will open in two phases; on 1 December 2021 and 1 March 2022.
Immigration New Zealand will contact visa holders who are eligible to apply from 1 December by the end of October with more information about the application process.
Notes:
- The 2021 Resident Visa covers most work-related visas, including Essential Skills, Work to Residence, and Post Study Work visas. People will need to hold, or have already applied for, and are subsequently granted, one of the eligible work visas.
Workers entering New Zealand through the critical worker border exceptions before 31 July 2022 for roles longer than six months will also be eligible for this one-off residence pathway.
- Visa holders must be in New Zealand to apply for the 2021 Resident Visa.
- The pathway does not include visas which are intended for a shorter stay, such as visitors, students, working holiday makers, and Recognised Seasonal Employer workers.
- There is a large number of temporary migrants on relevant visas working across a range of sectors who may be eligible for the 2021 Resident Visa, including around 10,000 in the healthcare and social assistance sector, 9,000 in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 15,000 in construction, 9,000 in professional, scientific and technical services, 17,000 in the accommodation and food sectors, 12,000 in manufacturing, 10,000 in administration and support services, and 10,000 in retail. While not all of these visa holders will be eligible for this one-off pathway to residence, a large number may qualify by meeting the three year or median wage criteria.
- Applications for the 2021 Resident Visa will be accepted from 1 December 2021 to 31 July 2022 in two phases:
- From 1 December 2021, people who have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) or Residence from Work (RfW) application can apply, as well as those with dependent children 17 years or older who currently have an SMC Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted.
- From 1 March 2022, all other eligible applicants, including any others in the SMC Expression of Interest pool, can apply.
- To prioritise processing of the 2021 Resident Visa, selections from the Skilled Migrant Category Expressions of Interest pool will remain closed until the 2021 Resident Visa closes on 31 July 2022, but applicants who meet the criteria in the EOI pool will be able to apply for this visa from 1 December 2021 or from 1 March 2022, depending on which category they fall into.
- An eligibility checker is available on INZ’s website. Note that the checker is a guide and not a confirmation of eligibility.
Beehive, minister of Immigration
29/09/2021 - Breaking News - Immigration Minister set to expedite residence visa applications
A One-Off Covid 19 Residence Visa??? For further details, Immigration Minister set to expedite residence visa applications
28/09/2021 - Breaking News - Decision expected this week on residence visas
The government has backed itself into a corner on immigration and is set to announce long-awaited residence changes this week, according to the National Party.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi is refusing to comment on any policy announcement, following months of speculation about when skilled migrant avenues will reopen.
Read more: 28/09/2021 - Breaking News - Decision expected this week on residence visas
20/09/2021 - Breaking News - Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Queue for 'virtual lobby' MIQ booking system tops 22,000
Kiwis abroad who are desperate to get home found themselves waiting in a queue of around 25,000 others in the new managed isolation (MIQ) booking system, while authorities say those who missed out on a spot will have to wait until next week.
The new "virtual lobby" system launched at 8am for people to book for around 3000 new room releases in MIQ across September, October, November and December.
14/09/2021 - UPDATE - New process
The maximum duration of an Essential Skills Visa for a job paid below the median wage has been increased from 12 to 24 months.
The duration of Essential Skills visas for roles paid the median wage or above will still be up to three years.
Labour market test
For applicants remaining in their full-time employment (and not changing their role, employer or region of work), the employer no longer needs to meet a labour market test.
Those applicants and employers will have to declare that job requirements have been met, but not provide evidence.
Documentation for applicants in NZ
For Essential Skills Visa applicants, and their partners and dependent children, medical and police certificates will not be required if these were previously supplied with a visa application.
Application process
Employers will need to provide the most recent version of the Employer Supplementary form.
You can now apply using the updated online form. Applications made using the original online form will still be eligible.
Fees unchanged
The fee for the new visa will remain 0, plus the Immigration Levy of .
10/09/2021 - France grants citizenship to 12,000 foreign-born Covid frontline workers
It states that "These frontline workers responded to the call of the nation, so it is normal that the nation takes a steps towards them," and continues "The country pulled through thanks to them."
This should be adopted by all countries. In my view it would be very beneficial to New Zealand. It would solve many issues such as;
- the backlog with Immigration New Zealand
- shortage of workers in the various sectiors
- ongoing economic activity
09/09/2021 - Breaking News - Covid-19: Delta outbreak could push NZ's reopening back by months, expert says
Plans to reconnect New Zealand with the rest of the world will be set back, potentially by months, by the current Covid-19 Delta variant outbreak in the country.
University of Otago epidemiologist professor Michael Baker told Morning Report that was partly due to Aotearoa's limited capability to launch new initiatives - but there were multiple reasons reopening would be pushed back.
03/09/2021 - Breaking News - This is just not acceptable ...
Covid 19 Notice
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.
TNC E-books
The Terra Nova e-book page contains publications in e-book and e-news format containing comments and reviews from Terra Nova Consultancy Ltd, and other contributors, that relate to a number of issues from immigration to operating a business.
Some of the Terra Nova e-books e-book and the Terra Nova e-news issues we believe may be quite helpful for prospective immigrants.
Check back regularly to find new editions of our Terra Nova e-book and Terra Nova e-news range.
Quick Links
Translate this site
Contact Details
Terra Nova Consultancy Ltd
14 Glanworth Place, Botany 2106
Manukau, Auckland 2106,
New Zealand
Please arrange visit by appointment.
Mobile: +64 275 706 540
Postal Address:
PO Box 58385, Botany
Manukau, Auckland 2163,
New Zealand
Licensed Immigration Adviser
Johannes Petrus (Peter) Hubertus Cornelis Hendrikx
License number: 200800214
Is your Immigration Adviser
licenced by the NZ Government?
Click here for details www.iaa.govt.nz