1. New Zealand immigration department set for upgrade

    January 27, 2012 by oe-admin

    The New Zealand Immigration Deptartment’s IT system is set to receive a major upgrade, with the aim of helping to attract skilled migrants, reduce processing times and increase security.

    Service of the new Immigration Global Management System (IGMS) begins this year.

    The new system will help speed up the processing of visa applications and allow applicants to do more online. Some of the changes will include biometric capability, enhancing identity management and improving security.

    New Zealand visa applicants will be given an individual immigration ‘account’ into which they can enter their personal information and keep track of their visa application progress.

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  2. New Zealand gets top marks for work-life balance

    January 18, 2012 by oe-admin

    An annual quality of life survey for HSBC shows that New Zealand scores highest of 31 assessed countries for expats’ improved work-life balance.

    Expats living in New Zealand said that they had experienced the greatest improvement in their work-life balance and said that they had integrated quickly with their communities.

    New Zealand was also rated as the easiest in which to organise finances, power and other utilities, and it also ranked highly for its education and healthcare.

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  3. 103 year old grandmother emigrates to New Zealand

    by oe-admin

    A great-grandmother from the UK travelled over 11,000 miles to start a new life in Auckland.

    Louise Sydes, 103, from Kent, made the decision after her nursing home was closed due to budget cuts.

    Sydes was orgininally denied a long-term NZ visa and was instead offered a visitor’s visa lasting six months; however, her daughter, based in Auckland, approached New Zealand Immigration Minister Jonathon Coleman directly, who asked for Sydes’s passport to be delivered to him.

    When it was returned, a three year visa was attached. Sydes said that she is looking forward to lots of nature walks and dining on the lamb.

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  4. Job offer an advantage for NZ migrants

    December 5, 2011 by oe-admin

    Having a job offer could play a substantial role in the ability of British migrants to secure a visa and begin a new life in New Zealand.

    In recent months, a number of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) accepted with a job offer have been increasing, and the number without decreasing, highlighting the importance that the New Zealand Immigration Service places on potential migrants having a job ready upon their arrival.

    In October, 379 EOIs were selected with a points score of 140 or above. Of these, 312 had a job offer waiting for them in New Zealand, around 82% of applicants.

    This statistic has continued to increase throughout the year and has put a real emphasis on the importance of obtaining a job offer first.

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  5. New Zealand introduces new residence pathway for religious workers

    November 17, 2011 by oe-admin

    Immigration instructions have been introduced from November 2011 to enable religious workers to provide New Zealand communities the opportunity to practice, maintain and advance their religious beliefs.

    Religious workers may be eligible for a work visa for two consecutive periods of up to two years each, and may apply for a resident visa after holding a Religious Worker work visa for at least three years.

    Religious work includes:

    •teaching or guidance in religious scripture or philosophy
    •leading religious practice, worship or prayer
    •conducting religious initiations, ordination or ritual
    •ministering or pastoral care, or
    •roles of religious leadership in relation to any of the above.

    A religious worker can be sponsored by an organisation that is registered with the New Zealand Charities Commission with a primary purpose of advancing religion.

    A religious worker may qualify for a work visa if they:

    •will be undertaking religious work in New Zealand
    •have a sponsoring organisation who has agreed to support them for the duration of their visa
    •have training and/or experience of at least two years in religious work related to the work they are applying for
    •are of good health and character, and
    •have evidence to support the above.

    Who may qualify for a Religious Worker resident visa?

    A religious worker may qualify for a resident visa if they:

    •have held a Religious Worker work visa (or a Ministers of Religion, missionaries, and members of religious orders work visa, or Specific purpose or event work visa for pastors and lay missionaries) for at least three years
    •will be undertaking ongoing religious work in New Zealand
    •have a sponsoring organisation who has agreed to support them for five years from the day their resident visa is granted
    •have training and/or experience of at least five years in religious work related to the work they are applying for
    •are 55 years or younger on the date they apply for a resident visa
    •meet a minimum standard of English
    •are of good health and character
    •have not applied for or been granted welfare assistance for the duration of their work visas, and
    •have evidence to support the above.

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  6. New Zealand to review pregnant student visa restriction

    November 3, 2011 by oe-admin

    New Zealand is reviewing the policy that prevents pregnant women from getting or renewing an international student visa.

    New Zealand Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman has told Radio New Zealand that the current policy on prospective international students who are pregnant is ‘outdated’ and that the Government will be reviewing its position.

    Under legislation introduced in 2008, pregnant international students are unable to be granted a New Zealand visa – or a visa renewal – for study. At the time, the Government argued that foreign students giving birth in New Zealand is an unnecessary strain on the public health system.

    The news that the Government will review the policy has been praised by the NZ Union of Students’ Associations, who argue that the policy is archaic and puts a lot of pressure on students.

    ‘The policy, while it only affects a very small number of people, really has had the affect of unduly disrupting students’ studies, meaning some people just can’t complete their study in New Zealand’, said organisation spokesperson David Do.

    ‘In the past there have been cases where students have offered to pay all the medical costs associated with giving birth and still being declined (their visa) which seems quite unreasonable.’

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  7. New Zealand introduces biometrics

    by oe-admin

    New Zealand’s immigration authorities have announced the introduction of new biometric technology to bolster border security and assist with visa processing times.

    The waiting time for a New Zealand visa may be shortened by the adoption of such biometric technology, New Zealand Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced.

    ‘Biometrics provides better tools which allow Immigration to confirm an individual’s identity and protect New Zealand’s border’, Dr Coleman said.

    ‘The changes will protect people from identity theft and prevent the misuse of passports or visas by fraudsters and criminals. A further benefit is that the new technology will speed up visa application processing, as we are more readily able to confirm who we’re dealing with.’

    Immigration New Zealand will be using biometric technology to store personal data such as photographs and fingerprints, which in turn will speed up visa processing and provide border protection agencies with ease of access to key security information.

    New Zealand will share biometric data with Australia, Canada, the UK and the US as part of a multinational security framework.

    However, Dr Coleman has stressed that his department will be compliant with New Zealand privacy and security laws in granting access to personal information.

    The Biometric system is now live.

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  8. New Zealand to simplify visa process for entertainment industry migrants

    October 7, 2011 by oe-admin

    New Zealand’s Government has announced changes to the visa entry process for temporary screen, entertainment and music industry workers.

    In a statement released today, New Zealand Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman said the changes will provide ‘a simpler, more streamlined system’.

    Currently all work visa applications are subject to ‘silent approval’ by relevant unions and industry guilds.

    ‘In the past two years there have been 14 applications disputed by unions or guilds out of 4800 applications for screen industry work, and the Government has ultimately granted visas in all those cases’, Dr Coleman said.

    ‘The existing policy is out-dated. It’s been in place for 20 years and the entertainment industry has grown hugely over that time’, he added.

    Under the new system, referrals to these bodies are not required for entertainment workers seeking a New Zealand visa for 14 days or less.

    Furthermore, applicants for temporary work visas of greater than 14 days now have the option of applying directly through their employer, rather than having their case referred to a third party industry group.

    ‘In short, we are removing a redundant, bureaucratic process which only served to make New Zealand a less attractive place for the screen and entertainment industry to do business’, the Minister said.

    The Government has also announced that in the case of enterring the country for ‘significant music, arts or cultural festivals’, performers will now be eligible for entry on visitor visas.

    The changes will take affect in March 2012.

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  9. NZ fees change

    September 30, 2011 by oe-admin

    Immigration New Zealand’s fees for immigration services changed on 29th August. The changes only affect payments made outside New Zealand, not payments made in NZ dollars.

    The changes are due to the fact that currency exchange rates have changed significantly in recent months. All applications lodged after 29th August must now be paid with the new fee.

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  10. NZ looking for ‘soft ‘skills’

    September 6, 2011 by oe-admin

    According to recruitment expert Hays, technical skills are not the only skills in demand in the New Zealand job market. Applicants should also consider selling their ‘soft skills’, defined by Director Jason Walker as interpersonal and communication skills, team management, leadership and organizational abilities.

    According to Jason, soft skills are highly sought after by employers and some will even offer training to a candidate who is otherwise fit for the role but perhaps could benefit from tuition in one of these areas.

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