Evolving Visa Services

Queenstown

15 November 2018

Beijing

Pacific x 3

New Zealand x 6

BangkokSept ‘18

Mumbai

PretoriaApril ‘18

DubaiMarch ‘18

Washington DCNov ‘18

ManilaJune ‘19

Key

RISK & VERIFICATION ONLY

VISA PROCESSING + RISK & VERIFICATION

MoscowJune ‘18

OFFICE CLOSING

ShanghaiOct ‘18

Hong KongMarch ‘18

JakartaJuly ‘18

New DelhiMarch ‘19

LondonFeb ‘19

Auckland CentralJuly ‘18

HendersonJune ‘19

Ho Chi MinhMay ‘18

OFFICE CLOSED

Reduced offshore processing presence

Process simplification – Essential Skills

• The Simplification team has worked with Christchurch and Manukau offices to optimise Essential Skills visa processing.

• The focus is on be greater consistency, less correspondence and speed of decisions (once allocated to a case officer).

• But….

INZ is currently in the midst of significant organisational change to the way its visa services are being delivered, and

Over the past few months the number of Essential Skills applications received has jumped by 23% YoY.

ANZSCO 1 to 3 occupations New remuneration thresholds from 26 November 2018

<$44,200

($21.25 ph)

<85% of median income

Up to 1 year duration Essential Skills work visas

Maximum of 3 years in NZ on ES visas, followed by a 1

year stand down period

Can’t support family visa application (dependent

child, partner)

Not eligible to apply for residence (SMC)

$44,200 to $52,000

85 – 100% of median income

Up to 3 year duration Essential Skills work visas

No maximum time in NZ

Can support family visa application (dependent

child, partner)

Not eligible to apply for residence (SMC)

>$52,000

($25.00 ph)

>100% of median income

Up to 3 year duration Essential Skills work visas

No maximum time in NZ

Can support family visa application (dependent child,

partner)

Eligible to apply for residence (SMC)

ANZSCO 4 and 5 occupationsNew remuneration thresholds from 26 November 2018

<$78,000 ($37.50 ph)<1.5 x median income

1 year duration work visas

Maximum 3 years in NZ, followed by a 1 year stand down period

Can’t support family visa application (dependent child,

partner)

Not eligible to apply for residence (SMC)

>$78,000>1.5 x median income

5 year duration work visas*

No maximum time in NZ

Can support family visa application (dependent child,

partner)

Eligible to apply for residence (SMC)

*This visa duration also applies to

people in ANZSCO 1-3 roles earning

>$78,000

Café or Restaurant Managers

• Café or Restaurant Managers has been selected by INZ for the 2018 “Essential Skills in Demand” review.

• MBIE has sought submissions on this occupation from coordinated groups like employers, trade unions or industry training bodies.

• INZ will announce the changes to the ESID lists in February 2019.

• The changes will be published in April 2019

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/policy-and-law/how-the-immigration-system-operates/skill-shortage-lists/current-skill-shortage-review

Visa processing timeframes

• Now available on INZ website,

• Updated monthly,

• Current timeframes for applications completed in the 3 months to 1 November 2018:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/policy-and-law/how-the-immigration-system-operates/visa-application-process/how-long-it-takes-to-process-your-visa-application

Essential Skills application volumes – 2017 vs. 2018

ANZSCO Skill level – Otago vs. NZ – July to October 2018

Otago New Zealand

4%8%

12%

39%

37% 1

2

3

4

5

16%

15%

27%

25%

17%

1

2

3

4

5

Essential Skills applications , Otago, July to October, “Top 20” occupations

Essential Skills – Wages – September and October - Otago

2017N = 588

2018N = 828

Essential Skills – Wages – September and October – New Zealand

2017N = 3,270

2018N = 4,861

THANK YOU