The Minister of Immigration Michael Wood has announced the changes to the requirements of temporary work visa holders have been postponed to April 2023. Initially, the changes were scheduled to come into effect in December 2022.
The Government wants to ensure that partners work only in high skilled roles, provide certainty to them of their ability to work in New Zealand and streamline the process for entering high skilled roles.
Based on feedback received from stakeholders, the Government will try to make some changes to the way partner work rights will be implemented. Meanwhile. Partners of work visa holders will continue to have open work rights. Changes will apply to new visas issued after the implementation date.
Immigration Rebalance had promised to build the skills New Zealand needs compared to the old system which focused on large numbers of low wage workers in some sectors. The number of migrant workers and their partners has grown significantly over the years with partners usually concentrating on lower-paying sectors.
The Government aims to recruit for genuine skill shortages for both the principal applicant and their partner.
Further details will be announced in February 2023.
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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.