A roundup of recent immigration announcements

Immigration rules and procedures are always changing. Malcolm Pacific Immigration keeps ahead of these changes.

• Around 500 employers were affected by an IT glitch at Immigration NZ (INZ) that has stopped processing of Accredited Employers Work Visas (AEWV) and job checks.

• Partners may qualify for work rights if their partner is an International student studying Level 7 and 8 qualifications that are on the Green List or is on the list of qualifications eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa. Take advice.

• INZ confirm overseas remote work experience cannot be claimed as NZ work experience under the Skilled Migrant category unless it is reasonably and genuinely required as part of the New Zealand job. Take advice.

• Transit visas will no longer be required for Fijian citizens who want to travel through New Zealand. The implementation date is to be confirmed.

• All supporting documents lodged with a Visitor Visa must be translated into English by a certified translator. Untranslated documents will not be considered when the visa application is assessed.

• Franchise Employer accreditation removed. Franchise businesses can now apply for standard or high-volume accreditation.

• Secondary School teachers now have a straight-to-residence pathway.

• Not all occupation registration is equal when it is required by the Green List. Several occupations on the Green List require registration but the list does not specify what level or type of registration is required. There can be numerous levels of registration (e.g. full, provisional, limited, student, associate etc). Take advice to find out if your registration will qualify for a work visa or residence.  

With constant changes and the rules more complex than most people realise, it pays to get professional advice. At Malcolm Pacific Immigration our advisers regularly upskill through internal and external training.

Our friendly team are on standby to help today.‍