Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has released an update on the processing of Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications since it opened this year. If you are interested to have your business accredited, you may visit this service.
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Significant cost health threshold increasing to $81,000
From 2 September 2022, the threshold for determining conditions that may impose significant health costs for resident visa applicants has increased from $41,000 to $81,000. Most applicants for residence class visas must have an acceptable standard of health. One of the requirements to meet this standard is that they must be unlikely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand's health services. The prior threshold for determining whether health conditions impose significant costs was $41,000, over:
Working group review The Immigration New Zealand and Ministry of Health working group reviewing aspects of immigration health instructions for residence applications will next consider inclusions on the list of high-cost medical conditions. New requirements for New Zealand’s Post Study Work Visa come into effect from today (7 September).
The changes apply to anyone who has applied for a student visa after 11 May 2022. Previously, people holding a Post Study Work Visa were able to work in any role, for any employer, anywhere in New Zealand. Under the new settings, their visa conditions depend on the qualification they have gained in New Zealand. An applicant may be granted only one Post Study Work Visa, and they will need to show they have NZD $5,000 of available funds. The main requirements of the Post Study Work Visa are noted below: VISA LENGTH The Post Study Work Visa will continue to be valid for up to three years. For most people, the length of the Post Study Work Visa will match the time they have spent studying fulltime in New Zealand. To be eligible, degree level 7 and above students must have spent at least 30 weeks studying fulltime here. Non-degree level 7 and below students must have completed their full qualification here. INZ will determine the length of a Post Study Work Visa by the offer of place or a letter from the education provider. Any additional time a student takes to finish a course will not count. Master’s and doctoral degree level Master’s and doctoral degree students will still be eligible for three-year Post Study Work Visas. Doctoral degree students will now be eligible for a Post Study Work Visa once they have submitted their thesis for examination. The applicant will need to provide confirmation from their education provider. Degree level 7 and 8 The length of Post Study Work Visas will match the time spent completing qualifications at degree level 7 and 8. Qualifications can be completed consecutively for a longer work visa. Non-degree level 7 and below The length of Post Study Work Visas will match the time spent completing a qualification at non-degree level 7 and below. No extra time will be gained by completing qualifications at this level consecutively. EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS Degree level 7 and above People with qualifications at degree level 7 and above, who are granted Post Study Work Visas, will be able to work in any occupation, for any employer, in New Zealand. Non-degree level 7 and below Non-degree level 7 or below students granted a Post Study Work Visa must work in a role directly relating to their completed qualification. Their qualification must be on the list of Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa: PARTNERS Partners of students will receive an open work visa if their partner is studying:
Partners of students who started their study before 7 September 2022 remain eligible for open work rights while their partner completes their course. These transitional arrangements will be in place for three years. INZ has announced the opening of its Straight to Residency pathway and its refugees settlement quota.
Minister of Immigration Michael Wood has announced that applications for the Green List Straight to Residence pathway are open on Monday. The Straight to Residence pathway is now open for eligible skilled migrants looking to apply for residence in New Zealand. This pathway provides an opportunity for those with the skills and experience to build a successful future in New Zealand. Those with a job or a job offer in one of the specific roles included on this pathway may be eligible to apply for residence. The pathway will help address the increasing need for workers with highly specialized skills in NZ. “This new pathway offers potential migrants, like health practitioners, engineers, construction and infrastructure workers, and IT professionals more certainty. The streamlined process makes it easier for employers to attract and hire people that will help address shortages in these highly skilled areas. “This is one of three new residence pathways introduced as part of the Government’s immigration rebalance. Skilled migrants on the ‘Work to Residence’ and ‘Highly Paid’ resident pathways will be able to apply from 29 September 2023, once they have obtained 24 months of acceptable work in New Zealand,” Michael Wood said. Minister Wood also confirmed this year’s Refugee quota and key decisions for the next 3 years of the Refugee Quota Programme. The Refugee Quota Programme is a key part of New Zealand's humanitarian response to global refugee crises. It provides a safe and legal pathway for refugees to come to New Zealand, where they can rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. The programme is back at its full capacity and INZ will resettle 1,500 refugees each year. “As part of the 1,500 intake, 200 places will be allocated to resettle Syrian refugees, including Kurdish minorities, located in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, given the huge scale and prolonged nature of the Syrian refugee crisis and the coordinated international resettlement efforts. “We are also pleased to be able to increase the number of emergency and urgent resettlement places for the quota from 35 to 100, as well as bringing forward the 200 places specifically set aside for Afghan refugees as a result of the Taliban takeover in 2021 to 200 places for the 2022/23 period. “In addition to these places, Afghan refugees can be considered for resettlement to New Zealand as part of the Quota’s international allocations. “These changes ensure that the programme remains responsive to the protection needs of refugees coming into New Zealand,” Michael Wood said. The programme is essential to New Zealand's efforts to meet its international humanitarian obligations, and it makes an important contribution to the global refugee resettlement regime. Green List Straight to Residence pathway opening
The Green List Straight to Residence pathway opens at 10 am on 5 September 2022. Migrants employed in a role on the Green List may qualify for a Straight to Residence Visa or a Work to Residence Visa. People who have already applied for a 2021 Resident Visa to are encouraged by INZ to continue with their application rather than applying for a Straight to Residence Visa as well. Green List role requirements Health and medical roles and a trade (electrician) role To assist with the entry of skilled workers to New Zealand, the types of eligible registration have been broadened and references to scopes of practice have been removed. From 5 September 2022, skill requirements for the Green List for health and medical roles administered by the Medical Council of New Zealand will require:
Tier 1 Green List (Straight to Residence pathway) health roles General Practitioner, Anaesthetist, Psychiatrist, Specialist Physicians not elsewhere classified (nec), Surgeon (General), Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Neurosurgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Vascular Surgeon, Urologist, Otorhinolaryngologist, Dermatologist, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Ophthalmologist, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist, Radiation Oncologist, Resident Medical Officer, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Psychologist, Educational Psychologist, Organisational Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Psychologists nec. Tier 2 Green List (Work to Residence pathway) health roles Anaesthetic Technician, Medical Diagnostic (Medical Imaging Technologist), Medical Laboratory Technician, Medical Radiation Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Sonographer, Podiatrist, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health), Registered Nurse (Community Health), Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency), Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability), Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation), Registered Nurse (Medical), Registered Nurse (Medical Practice), Registered Nurse (Mental Health), Registered Nurse (Perioperative), Registered Nurse (Surgical), Registered Nurse (Paediatrics), Registered Nurses nec, Midwife. Trade (Electrician – General) NZ registration as an electrician or a Limited Certificate (excluding a Trainee Limited Certificate) as an electrician from the Electrical Workers Registration Board Job Checks already approved By 10 October 2022, a grandparenting clause will be included in Accredited Employer Work Visa instructions for Green List roles. It will allow migrants to qualify under the more generous settings if a requirement is changed after a Job Check has been approved, but before a migrant visa application is completed. Technology roles added By 10 October 2022, the following digital technology roles will be added to the Green List Straight to Residence pathway:
Fees The application fee and immigration levy will be between NZD $4,020 and NZD $4,890 depending on whether someone is applying from within New Zealand or another part of the world. Band A (NZ): NZD $4290 Band B (Pacific): NZD $4020 Band C (rest of world): NZD $4890. These fees include Goods and Services Tax (GST) and exclude the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Here are the latest updates from INZ:
Primary sector border exceptions As previously announced in July, the final steps of the Reconnecting New Zealanders Strategy have been brought forward, allowing Immigration New Zealand to phase out the border exceptions system. Expressions of interest (EOIs) for most primary sector class exceptions close at 23:59 (NZST) on 1 September 2022. EOIs in draft cannot be submitted after this date. EOIs for deep-sea fishing crew class exceptions will close at 23:59 (NZST) on 30 October 2022, unless the cap is filled sooner. EOIs in draft cannot be submitted after this date. Seafood processing workers The cap for the seafood processing workers border exception has been increased from 200 to 300 workers. Employers can submit an EOI for the seafood processing workers class exception until the cap is filled or sector agreements come into effect, whichever is soonest. The final entry dates for some deep-sea fishing crew have been updated to 31 May 2023.
Application processing As previously announced, during the transition back to standard visa processing there will be parallel entry pathways for workers:
Invitation to Apply timeframe reduced The timeframe for those invited to apply for most border exceptions has been reduced from four months to two. This will support the transition back to usual visa processing. The timeframe to apply for those who submitted an EOI before 8 July remains four months. Details of Sector Agreements for specific AEWV occupations and how these new Visa Settings help employers with workforce shortages
The Government has announced details of the sector agreements for several industries: The care workforce Construction and infrastructure Meat processing Seafood, and Seasonal snow and adventure tourism. These changes will come into effect from October 2022. The sector agreements were signalled in the Government’s Immigration Rebalance announcement. They will allow limited exceptions to the median wage requirements for hiring migrants on an Accredited Employer Work Visa in specific occupations. The settings include pay rates, timeframes and relevant roles. They were developed in consultation with key sector bodies, unions and government agencies. They have been tailored to the specific workforce needs and conditions. See the sector agreements factsheet below for the full details of these settings. Each agreement includes expectations for improvement, including the implementation of Workforce Transition Plans and Industry Transformation Plans for sectors with these. Performance against these will be monitored and feed into reviews and decisions about future access to migrants below the median wage. The Minister of Immigration will write to sector bodies and unions specifying these expectations. Lower thresholds already in place for a number of care and construction roles will continue until the sector agreements come into force from 31 October 2022. Visa settings help employers with workforce shortages These Sector Agreement settings and the previously announced Working Holiday Scheme changes will help employers fill skills gaps. Sector agreements allow limited exceptions to the median wage requirements for hiring skilled migrant workers on an Accredited Employer Work Visa in specific occupations. In addition to the sector agreements, employers can continue to hire migrants with open work visas, such as students, working holiday makers and partners with open work visas. The Government wants to see New Zealand move to a higher-productivity, higher- wage economy, however, there is a clear need for these sectors to be able to recruit migrants below the median wage. These agreements give these sectors time to improve the attraction and retention of domestic workers, put significant effort into retaining, training, and upskilling New Zealanders, and invest in technology and new business models where appropriate. New sector agreement settings, including pay rates, timeframes and roles, were developed following consultation with sector representatives and government agencies. They will be introduced on 31 October 2022. Until 31 October 2022, employers can continue to use existing rules to recruit migrants. Operational details of sector agreements will be released when finalised. The Government has announced changes to help increase access to working holiday makers already in New Zealand, and those looking to travel to New Zealand. The changes are outlined as below:
The Accredited Employer Scheme was introduced by Immigration New Zealand in an effort to attract skilled migrants to work in industries with labour shortages. However, the scheme has been slow to take off, with only 21 work visas issued since applications opened more than five weeks ago. This is partly due to the fact that only two out of five businesses have reached the stage where a migrant can apply. The other reasons for the slow uptake are unclear, but it is possible that businesses are struggling to meet the strict criteria required for accreditation.
Since the first stage of the visa (AEWV) opened in May, the majority of employer accreditations have been approved - 7883 out of 8723 and employers have applied to immigration to fill almost 30,000 vacancies. However, there were issues with the second stage, which is the job check stage. Three out of five applications have not been processed – which is far from the pledge that it will be finished within 10 days when it opened on 20 June. Of 4312 applications, covering 29,348 jobs, 1687 applications (12,403 jobs) have been finalised. Out of those 675 migrants have applied for a visa and three per cent have got one. Employers might have faced hard-to-navigate online process or inefficient online set-up. There’s a lot technical requirements, but the system doesn't seem to be able to cope. Several employers claim their applications were lost and just disappeared. Most employers are surprised because before, they just need to complete their employer supplementary form and do their advertising. Having the need for direct contact with INZ was very rare but they have to face a lot of bureaucracy. Case officers at INZ had asked clients to be patient as they are still learning. For those employers who applied for accreditation back in May, the first two stages have taken more than 11 weeks - only 685 had reached the final hurdle of their migrant worker applying and 21 had visas granted. The next unknown is how long that third stage of the process - the migrant's work visa - will last, given that the job check was only meant to take 10 days. INZ said it had set up a dedicated freephone line for employers navigating the new system. It is also calling them directly for information they need to change or add at the 'job check' stage of the new visa. "The AEWV policy is an employer-led work visa approach, which is new to employers and requires different behaviours," said INZ general manager of border and visa operations, Nicola Hogg. "Not only are employers learning how to navigate the new technology and AEWV policy, our staff are also learning how to process this new visa category while helping to educate employers on what is needed. "As we work our way through assessing job check applications, we have identified some omissions and errors by employers in their applications, which is impacting our ability to process these applications within the 10-day timeframe," said Hogg. "To assist employers as they adjust to the new AEWV policy, and recognising the current unprecedented labour market conditions, we have been reviewing our initial approach to ensure the AEWV application process is quick and easy so that employers are able to get the workers they need." "For applications where further information is needed, we are taking a pragmatic approach, which includes outward calling to employers to help speed up the process and get the information more quickly. This will help ensure Job Check applications are assessed and decided faster, while providing employers with an opportunity to remediate any issues with their employment agreements prior to the migrant applying for a work visa." Whatever the reason, it is clear that the scheme is not yet having the desired effect. With businesses struggling to fill vacant positions, it is hoped that more will take advantage of the scheme in the future. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has been making new visa category changes as part of its “rebalance strategy”, which aims to make the immigration process more flexible and responsive. These changes are good news for immigrants, who now have a wider range of options when it comes to choosing a visa that best suits their needs. However, the changes have faced scrutiny as some have questioned why certain professions – most notably nursing – are not eligible for the “fast track to residency” category.
Only certain occupations are qualified for fast track to residency. These include engineering, construction and science jobs, along with a range of health roles, such as GPs, anaesthetists, psychiatrists, psychologists and surgeons. People with these occupations can work in New Zealand from July and apply for residence as early as September. Nurses belong to the second tier, along with midwives and some specific teachers. They could also start in July, but must wait two years before they can apply for residency. A summary of the newly introduced visas is as below: • A new fast track straight to residency visa, for well-paid, “globally in-demand” professionals who work as engineers, doctors – including surgeons, psychiatrists and GPs – and ICT specialists and developers. • A work-to-residence visa for people from certain professions who work in New Zealand for two years and are from in-demand professions which are typically paid less than those covered by similar roles in the “fast track” category”. These include electricians and plumbers, teachers, nurses, midwives, medical technicians and dairy farm managers. • An Accredited Employer Work Visa will give certain workers, such as most tradies and healthcare assistants, the right to work in New Zealand after two years if they earn above a certain threshold. • An Active Investor Plus Visa targeting wealthy workers and investors willing to invest more than $5 million in New Zealand • Minister of Immigration, Michael Wood announced another option for wealthy workers - a “highly paid - twice the median wage” visa. This would give residency to people younger than 55 years old who have worked for two years in New Zealand earning double the median wage, currently $55.22 per hour. |