Blog
Another Hurdle: Section 49(1) Conditions
All Residence Visas, when first granted, are subject to 2-year travel conditions. This allows the Visa holder to travel in and out of New Zealand for 2 years and to demonstrate to Immigration New Zealand (“INZ”) that they have made a commitment to New Zealand in order...
Work Visas on the Move (Again)
Just before Christmas (possibly strategic timing in light of criticism he faced in the last few months) the Minister of Immigration announced a scheme to overhaul the entire employer assisted Work Visa system. The proposals are set out in a detailed Consultation...
Decreases in skilled migrants, increases in temporary workers
A Radio New Zealand article recently reported that “National blames ‘the dark hand of NZ first’ for sharp drop in skilled immigrants". It states that overall new resident numbers fell from 47684 to 37948 in the last financial year and that almost three quarters of the...
Rowdy Tourists Facing Deportation
I was interviewed yesterday by Newshub about the Irish visitors who are at the centre of a media storm owing to their antics from Auckland to Hamilton. They have been served Deportation Liability Notices ("DLN"s) and are apparently planning to leave. The Irish...
Wrapping up 2018
Everyone thought 2017 was the year of dramatic changes to the immigration field with the introduction of major adjustments to the Essential Skills Work Visa and Skilled Migrant Residence Visa Categories. But looking back at all the changes introduced to date, I would...
Shifting goalposts
In August 2017, Immigration New Zealand (“INZ”) overhauled the Skilled Migrant Residence Visa and Essential Skills Work Visa Categories instituting key changes to policy. One of the most striking changes was the introduction of remuneration thresholds as a means of...