The changes to immigration family policies will help New Zealand attract and retain skilled migrants, and ensure that family migrants can settle well and are self-sufficient.

New Zealand faces growing global competition for migrants with the skills we need to grow our economy.  Being able to sponsor your parents to live here is important to help attract and retain skilled migrants.  As a result of these policy changes, many skilled migrants who wish to sponsor their parents for residence here will experience a swifter decision and less bureaucratic criteria.  This will give New Zealand a competitive advantage in the international hunt for these highly skilled workers.

These immigration policy changes will also help ensure we are attracting family migrants who are self-sufficient and can settle well.  The door will still be open to parents of other migrants but their applications will not be prioritised.

Key changes are as follows:

Parent Category

Parents will be prioritised:

• who either have a guaranteed minimum income, or bring funds with them, so are better able to support themselves, or
• whose adult children earn enough to support their parents without any need for taxpayer assistance.

Parents with poor English will continue to be eligible but they must purchase English language tuition to help them to settle well in New Zealand.

Background

Sponsored parents help maintain family and cultural linkages but most (87 percent of parents surveyed after 18 months residence in New Zealand) are not in paid employment.

Around 3,500 – 4,000 parents are approved for residence each year.

Sibling and Adult Children Category

The Sibling and Adult Child Category will close because it does not generate sufficient economic benefit for New Zealand.

Background

Only 66 percent of sponsored siblings and adult children interviewed 18 months after gaining residence had jobs, despite a job offer for ongoing and sustainable work being required to gain residence.

Residence requirements for young adult children

The Dependent Child Category and associated residence requirements will be amended.

The criteria are being relaxed so that young adult children aged 18 to 20 may be eligible for residence – even if they have a job in their home country – provided they are single, have no children and are included, or were declared, in their parents’ residence application.

Previously adult children in that age group were not able to be included in their parents’ residence application if they had a job in their home country.

Those aged 21 to 24 will still only be eligible to migrate if they can show that they are financially dependent.

Changes to the sponsorship period

Sponsorship includes a responsibility on the New Zealand sponsor to ensure the sponsored person has accommodation and maintenance for a specified time while in New Zealand.  Sponsors are also responsible for the costs of outward travel (if repatriation or deportation is required).

The sponsorship term for parents will initially remain at five years, but the Government has decided it will amend the Immigration Act 2009 at some time in the future to extend the sponsorship term for family-sponsored migrants to 10 years.

The timing for this amendment has not been decided.

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INZ is changing the fees because currency exchange rates have changed significantly in recent months, and the fees that we charge outside New Zealand are no longer aligned with the value of the New Zealand dollar.

If you lodge an application on or after 29 August 2011 you must pay the new fee, or INZ will not accept your application.

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What is religious work?

Religious work is work that directly serves the religious objectives of the sponsoring organisation and can include, (for example) conducting public and private prayer, undertaking ordination, and officiating at religious ceremonies.  A definition will be included in the operational policy.

What has changed?

The three existing policies available to religious workers will be revoked.  A new policy will be introduced that comprises both:

• a Temporary visa (maximum stay of four years), and
• a Resident visa.

How do the new policies compare with the existing policies?

The new policies facilitate the entry of short-term to long-term religious workers.  Existing policies do not lead to residence for religious workers, which can hinder continuity in pastoral care for communities.  The new policies will help to resolve this problem.

Will people who are eligible under the existing policies be able to use the new policies?

Many will be able to do so.  Genuine religious workers should not have difficulty obtaining a visa under the new policies, provided religious organisations are registered charities (with the purpose of advancing religion) and the religious workers can demonstrate they meet the criteria.

Will some communities be disadvantaged by the new policies?

No, provided they meet the criteria.  If religious organisations are currently not registered charities they have the option of registering with the Charities Commission.  The requirements for registration can be found on the Charities Commission website.

Why it has taken a long time to get decisions?

The Government has reviewed and amended a number of immigration policies since coming into power.  It takes time ensure a robust and thorough policy process is undertaken.  A significant part of the religious workers review has been the extensive consultation with interested parties and government agencies.  We wanted to ensure the new policy would facilitate the entry of religious workers and at the same time manage risk to the immigration system.

Why is there a shortage of religious workers?

The shortage exists for two reasons.  Firstly, New Zealand is becoming an increasingly diverse country.  Almost one in five New Zealand residents was born overseas.  There has been an increase in the number of people whose religion is non-Christian – such as members of the Hindu, Buddhist, and Islam faiths. Secondly, there are shortages of applicants for Christian vocations (for example, the Catholic priesthood).

The new policies will give migrants the opportunity to practise, maintain and advance their religious beliefs.  The new pathway to residence for religious workers will help religious communities meet their long-term needs.

What are the problems with the existing policies?

Not all existing policies require evidence that applicants have relevant qualifications, skills or work experience.  This means some low-skilled people who would not otherwise be able to work in New Zealand can enter and undertake non-religious work that could be done by New Zealanders.

Genuine religious workers also face barriers to residence because, for example, they are not in a conventional employment relationship and often do not earn a salary.

How does a religious organisation demonstrate a long-term need for religious workers?

This detail is yet to be finalised.  Some possible ways of demonstrating long-term need could include providing information about the religious community (numbers and whether the community is increasing) and evidence that the continuity of pastoral care would be affected.  This would be a case-by-case assessment as we recognise the variety of needs of different religious organisations.

Why is there an English language requirement?

The English language requirement will help ensure a religious worker can integrate into the community and contribute to wider society.  This requirement will not prevent religious workers from conducting services in their native language.  The English language level is not specific to religious workers – almost all immigration residence policies require a certain level of English.  Religious workers are skilled workers and, having been here on a temporary visa for three years, it should not be difficult for them to meet the required level of English, which is not high.

Why is there an age limit for those seeking residence?

The age limit is to ensure migrants can make a substantive contribution to New Zealand and their community before retiring.  It also helps to minimise short-term costs to the Crown (particularly health costs, which tend to rise as people age).  The age limit is consistent with existing policies – in particular, the Skilled Migrant Category.

Religious workers are similar to other applicants for residence under the Skilled/ Business stream, they are skilled as a result of their training, experience and in some cases, qualifications.  The Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification Occupation recognises religious workers as skilled.

Why is there an income requirement before dependent children can enter New Zealand?

The income requirement will help ensure the welfare of dependants.  It is also consistent with the Essential Skills temporary work policy.  Not all religious workers will be able to meet this income requirement, which is why there is the alternative option of the religious organisation sponsoring dependants.  The sponsor would be responsible for accommodation, maintenance and repatriation of the dependant.

Will the number of religious workers coming here change much as a result of these new policies?

Over 500 religious workers have been in New Zealand for more than three years, a significant proportion of whom are likely to apply for residence under the new policies.  Initial estimates of demand for the residence policy after this initial ‘peak’ are at around 100 approvals a year.

Will religious workers who have been here for three years or more be able to apply for residence straight away?

Yes.  Religious workers who have been working in New Zealand while holding a work visa granted under one of the existing categories for ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders and meet the new residence criteria will be eligible for residence.

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Points awarded for recognised qualifications

Points awarded for partner’s qualification

Bonus points awarded for New Zealand qualifications

• English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) qualifications will no longer meet the criteria for qualification points.
• Applicants who are in New Zealand and hold, or have held, Study to Work visas will no longer be eligible for a SMC Job Search Visa.
• Applicants with qualifications in an area of absolute skill shortage will no longer be able to automatically obtain residence without skilled employment.
• Settlement and contribution criteria will be weighted towards skilled employment.
• Partners and/or children of SMC Job Search Visas holders will no longer be automatically eligible for temporary visas related to the holder’s work visa.

Transitional provisions

Transitional provisions have been introduced as part of the changes so that holders of, or students who have already commenced study towards, a New Zealand qualification are not adversely affected.

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Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL)

The ISSL identifies occupations for which there is an immediate shortage of skilled workers either throughout New Zealand or in certain regions. People wishing to work in occupations listed on the ISSL may be granted work visas if they fit the skills criteria.

Several changes to the ISSL have resulted from the recent review, including:

• the addition of nine occupations
• the removal of one occupation, and
• changes to the recommended standards and the regions in which there are shortages for several occupations.

Occupations added

The following nine occupations are being added to the ISSL:

• Pig Farmer (Department/Unit Manager)
• Medical Technician (Clinical Dialysis Technician)
• Electronic Equipment Trades Worker
• Metal Machinist (First Class) (CNC Machinist)
• Metal Casting Trades Worker (Foundry Moulder)
• Motorcycle Mechanic
• Clinical Coder
• Poultry Farmer (Broiler Breeder/Breeder Farm Manager)
• Baker.

Occupation removed

The occupation being removed from the ISSL is:

• Optometrist.

The removal of this occupation is the result of extensive consultation with industry groups, other stakeholders and relevant government agencies. Several other occupations have been removed because they appear on the LTSSL. This means that it is unnecessary to include them on the ISSL.

Changes in regional shortages

Changes are being made to the recommended standards and the regional shortages. Details of these changes will be available on 11 July 2011.

Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)

The LTSSL identifies occupations that have an absolute (sustained and ongoing) shortage of skilled workers both globally and throughout New Zealand. Migrants who gain employment in one of these occupations may be granted a work visa under the LTSSL Work to Residence instructions. Migrants applying for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category may gain bonus points towards their application if they have work experience, qualifications, or an offer of employment for an occupation identified on the LTSSL.

Several changes to the LTSSL have resulted from the recent review, including:

• the addition of one occupation
• the removal of one occupation
• changes in the requirements for several listed occupations, and
• the addition of an explanatory note at the end of the list.

Occupation added

The following occupation is being added to the LTSSL:

• Statistician (Fisheries Modeller).

Occupation removed

The occupation being removed from the LTSSL is:

• Anaesthetics Technician.

The removal of this occupation is the result of extensive consultation with industry groups, other stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

Employers can still recruit migrants in occupations that have been removed from the Essential Skills in Demand lists, but will need to demonstrate genuine attempts to recruit suitable New Zealand citizens or residents. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) may conduct a labour market test. If INZ is satisfied that there are no suitable New Zealand citizens or residents available in that location to do the work offered, work visas may still be granted.

For more information see Amendment Circular 2011-10 PDF [98KB].

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The official lists of the successful registration numbers in both ballots can now be viewed in the reception areas of Immigration New Zealand’s branch offices in Apia, Nuku’alofa, Suva, Manukau and the New Zealand High Commission in Tarawa, Tuvalu High Commission in Suva and the Tuvalu Department of Labour.

The lists of successful registration numbers will also be broadcast on radio and published in major Pacific newspapers. Applicants can also ring the Immigration Call Centre 0508 55 88 55 to check on their application but they must quote their registration numbers.

Immigration New Zealand Regional Manager Pacific/Americas Alan Barry says only successful numbers are listed. Immigration New Zealand will only notify successful applicants. They will be sent information packs along with a letter inviting them to apply for New Zealand residence. There will be no correspondence with unsuccessful registrants.
Those who are successful in the ballot will have at least six months to meet all the necessary New Zealand immigration requirements and submit their residence applications.

“If people do not have a postal address or telephone number listed on their registration application they must pick up their packs from their local immigration branches”.

“We advise people to read the residence application packs carefully, and ensure they start preparing their applications for residence as soon as possible. Employment is an important consideration in terms of residence. Applicants for residence must also have a good command of the English language, successfully pass their medical examination and provide a character reference”, says Mr Barry.

Successful registrants in the SQ and PAC ballots have until Monday 9 January 2012 to complete and lodge their residence applications. Any applications received after this date or not properly completed will be returned.

Immigration New Zealand invites people who were not successful in this year’s ballot to register again next year.

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Following that announcement, sector feedback was received regarding the new requirement for students to study a two-year course before they can qualify for Study to Work visas (the Graduate Job Search and Graduate Work Experience visas).

In order to ensure that this requirement is well targeted, a further round of targeted sector consultation was undertaken. The submissions received have now been considered and final decisions made. These decisions are to:

• delay the implementation of this requirement until 2 April 2012 (students who commence their course before this date will not be affected)
• enable qualifying one academic year courses to include:
  1. all postgraduate qualifications, or
  2. credit-transferred bachelors’ degrees, or
  3. all one year level 7 courses.
• and also enable ‘one year + one year’ course combinations to meet the two-year study requirement, so long as:
  1. both courses qualify for Skilled Migrant Category points, and
  2. the second course is at a higher level than the first course (for example, a level 5 diploma followed by a level 6 diploma), and
  3. both courses are of at least one academic year’s duration (eight months full time study).

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Immigration New Zealand Regional Manager Pacific/Americas, Alan Barry, says 7,132 registration applications received this year under the Samoan and Pacific Access Category quota as compared to 9,584 in last year’s ballot.

Mr Barry says those successful in the ballots are invited to apply for residence in New Zealand if they obtain a satisfactory job offer in New Zealand and meet other immigration requirements.

The result of the draw will be announced and published in local media the first week of July.

The Samoa Quota ballot will be drawn at the New Zealand High Commission Office in Apia and the Pacific Access Category quota will be drawn at the Immigration New Zealand Manukau branch in Westfield Plaza.

The Pacific quota provides an opportunity for citizens of the Samoa and the Pacific Access Category nations to migrate permanently to New Zealand.

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