Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that the general instructions on the order and method of processing visa applications have been updated. This updating indicates that resident visa applications will be prioritised in date order (unless other priority criteria apply), regardless of whether the applicant is onshore or offshore.
In other words, offshore residence applications will now be allocated and processed in the same order as onshore applications unless they fulfil additional prioritising requirements.
Please read the Amendment Circular by INZ reflecting this change here for complete details.
INZ continues to prioritize the processing of the Resident Visa for 2021. Because of the streamlined application and evaluation process, these applications will be processed faster than skilled residence applications, such as Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) or Residence from Work (RFW), because of the streamlined application and evaluation process. As a result, INZ will handle most of these Resident Visa applications for 2021 within a year.
While the majority of the INZ skilled residence staff will be assigned to processing 2021 Resident Visa applications, they will still keep a small team of Immigration Officers on-hand. INZ will process skilled residence applications where the principal applicant is not eligible for the new 2021 Resident Visa or chooses not to apply.
INZ is giving offshore resident visa applicants more information about their possibilities. For detailed information on the 2021 Resident Visa, please read here.
Beginning early January 2022, children aged 17 to 25 (inclusive) who are eligible to be included in their parents’ 2021 Resident Visa application will be considered domestic students for tertiary study until 31st December 2023.
They can apply for a dependent child student visa, which will allow them to attend any tertiary provider as a domestic student if approved.
Successful candidates may be given a visa with the same expiration date as their parents’ temporary visa or until 31st December 2023. (whichever comes first).
If the student wants to work part-time for 20 hours per week, proof of enrolment is required unless the applicant’s parent has previously applied for a 2021 Resident Visa that includes the applicant as a dependent (at the time of filing their student visa application).
If the applicant does not desire work rights, proof of enrolment is not necessary.
In the interim, applications should be submitted on paper using the INZ 1012 – Student Visa Application form. INZ is working on creating an online form for this visa.
By the 7th January 2022, an Amendment Circular including immigration guidelines will be issued.
To understand the definition of domestic student in New Zealand, please read here.
If you have any queries or require assistance regarding the above information, please do not hesitate to contact Immigration Advisers New Zealand Ltd. at [email protected] or call on +64 09 3790219. Our experienced team of Licensed Immigration Advisers will be happy to guide you.
Vandana Rai is a Senior Licensed Immigration Adviser and has built a reputation around her rare set of skills, which could be considered ideal for her legal profession.