Autumn 2022 is here along with a Covid outbreak, and my special gratitude goes to those who care for the sick and ensure virtual supplies and services are maintained.
Balancing staffing, sickness and shortages can be overwhelming. For visa-related matters let Heartland Immigration figure it out.
Are easing as outlined in an earlier newsletter, and in the case of tourists, this has been accelerated to the first of May whereby visitors from countries, with which New Zealand holds a visa waiver agreement, are able to enter New Zealand. This is positive for the tourist and hospitality industries, and wonderful for reunions of family and friends with many of those folk looking forward to that first cuddle with a grandbaby.
However, many migrants working in New Zealand continue to wait for permission for their immediate family to arrive so that they too may be reunited with their families.
Higher earners and other categories of workers are eligible for critical visas; however, the general prohibition of lodging visa applications offshore remains in force.
Thank goodness that Working Holiday Visa applicants can now apply to work in New Zealand as these young folk have the ability to fill labour and skill shortages and will provide some relief to the staffing challenges many of us face. Eligible nationals are from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the USA.
Watch out for further acceleration of border restrictions and remember the devil is in the details.
Huge numbers of Phase 2 applications have been lodged with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and the folk at Heartland Immigration remain busy lodging more applications.
Don’t be concerned if your 2021 Residence Visa application is yet to be lodged as the opportunity exists until July 2022 and processing at INZ doesn’t begin until April 2022, whereby allocation will be based on the availability of Immigration Officers and the expiry of the applicant’s work visa.
Be prepared to wait.
I am mindful that employers may, at the very least, sigh heavily at my reminder of employer accreditation. Be assured that this has been at the forefront of my mind as INZ remains committed to the implementation of a three-check work visa process. They are however yet to publicize the instructions and provide the application form.
The first check of the three-step process for employers supporting work visa applicants from 4 July 2022 is to hold employer accreditation. While the second check is a new method to determine if New Zealanders are available, while we know about these shortages, INZ won’t be convinced without specific evidence for the various roles in the different locations. The third AEWV step is the migrant check whereby a work visa application is made.
Employers, we will be contacting you in April to start your business-specific journey to become an AEWV Accredited Employer.
Automatic work visas will be provided to those who have lodged 2021 Residence Visa applications. Other categories of work visa holders should consider bringing forward the work visa renewals to avoid being caught in the transition to the AEWV regime.
Check expiry dates of work visas along with those of family members now.
Keep safe
Mary Noonan
Managing Director
Disclaimer: Mary Noonan is Heartland Immigration Ltd’s Managing Director. Her views expressed in this article are not intended to replace the professional service provided to individual migrants by a Licensed or Registered Immigration Adviser or Migration Agent.
From nationals of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and USA.
For personalised service use a Licensed Immigration Adviser or for more details visit:
Update from Heartland Immigration
Welcome to 2022, the year of the tiger, and one in which we learn to live with, rather than against, Covid-19.
The plan to reintegrate New Zealand back into the global community with changes to isolation, border exemptions and visas, in graduated steps has been announced. The need to remain flexible, react swiftly and understand the nuance of border and visa announcements continue; this is however the beginning of the end of New Zealand’s seclusion.
27 February 2022 – Mass MIQ ends
As of 28 February 2022 New Zealanders, Australians and New Zealand permanent residents who normally reside in New Zealand, and other critical workers in Australia holding New Zealand border exemptions, plus approved family members, are able to home isolate when they travel from Australia. Thus avoiding the government supervised stay in a hotel and most significantly the lottery system of attempting to book a MIQ stay in line with travel plans.
The days of mass MIQ are over.
01 March 2022 – Phase two 2021 Residence Visa
The remainder, second phase, of eligible work visa holders for the 2021 Residence Visa opens.
Tempting as it is to be “one of the first” that can’t be a reality for most. On day one of the first phase the Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) Online system crashed; the prepared won’t miss out but not every application will be able to be lodged in the first few days of March 2022. Patience is required and the need to ensure time sensitive documentation necessary for the individual’s unique situation is available.
This is a one off opportunity to get it right and where a Licensed Immigration Adviser dedicated to an individual’s particular situation will reduce stress, provide confidence and ensure the best visa outcome. There are no second chances with this opportunity.
13 March 2022 Border exemptions begin to relax
From 14th March 2022 the home isolation from anywhere in the world extends to the earlier groups and anyone holding a border exemption and visa is able to enter and take advantage of home isolation. The criteria for border exemption relaxes further, income level reduces to $84,240 per annum.
Most excitingly some of the Working Holiday Schemes reopens and while we have yet to obtain full details this will be without MIQ. An enormous step as they are the first mass group of visa required folk, in two years, that won’t require a border exemption. The real beginning of the flow of international arrivals.
I have always been a great fan of the working holiday as these young people fill gaps in horticulture, hospitality and all manner of skill roles while out and about being tourists. A hundred thousand welcomes. Nau mai haere mai.
12 April 2022 International students
13th April 2022 will allow valid visa holders who still meet their visa conditions and are offshore, along with 50,000 student visas the ability to enter New Zealand. Border exemption rules relax further, the $84,240 per annum minimum is eliminated, while the criteria for student visas is yet to come.
09 May 2022 Employer Accreditation applications opens
Employers of migrant workers are able to apply for Employer Accreditation. Promised to be smooth and quick. I doubt it will be, however, help including HR and H&S is available at Heartland Immigration for our valued employers who could be overwhelmed with red tape.
July 2022 Employer Accreditation mandatory & further border rules ease
All travelers from Australia are able to home isolate and visa-waiver travelers can begin traveling to New Zealand. They are nationals from countries New Zealand has entered into a receptacle agreement to grant visitor visas on arrival without the need for a visa prior to travel under specific conditions. INZ do need to process visa applications for this category which clearly has made this a favorable option to introduce. Tough on employers who are desperate for staff and so very difficult for split families.
The Accredited Employer work visa applications for those in and out of New Zealand commences whereby employers of migrant staff must hold accreditation to support a work visa. Thus allowing significant numbers of visa holders to travel to New Zealand however I would caution this is subject to INZ ability to timely process employer accreditation and individual work visas applications.
August 2022 Residence Visas
The Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) of residence is due to reopen and the new work to residence program to be introduced. The criteria change forecasted has much focus on the salary however the devil is always in the detail.
October 2022 Standard border and visa rules returns
Finally
Migrants check if you or your colleagues, friends or family in New Zealand have been assessed for the 2021 Residence Visa. Are you or they skilled, settled or scarce, or lodging an application? Ensure you know exactly what you should be doing.
Employers check that any migrant staff have been assessed for the 2021 Residence Visa, revisit your staffing requirements, anticipate when you will need to support a migrant’s work visa application. Continue to be prepared for delays at the border and at Immigration New Zealand.
If Heartland Immigration can be of service please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
For all of us vaccination certificates, testing requirements, the sudden need to change arrangements along with vaccination passports for our international travel are our normal.
Keep safe
Disclaimer: Mary Noonan is Heartland Immigration Ltd’s Managing Director. Her views expressed in this article are not intended to replace the professional service provided to individual migrants by a Licensed or Registered Immigration Adviser or Migration Agent.
Game changing news for work visa holders who have children in New Zealand aged between 17 to 25 years old.
If these young adults are eligible to be included in their partners 2021 Residence Visa applications they can now be treated as domestic students for higher education and vocational training.
Another barrier removed, as they now don’t need to delay post secondary school education nor will their families need to pay international student fees.
Full details available at INZ or for personalised service use a Licensed Immigration Adviser. Mary @ Heartland Immigration.
❤️️ Greetings All | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Another disruptive year, with various visa rule changes resulting in the need for rapid solutions to ensure our clients are not unnecessarily disadvantaged. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ Opportunity for resilience | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plenty of opportunities for all of us to further develop resilience, and I must admit to being grateful for being able to draw on years of experience at the coal face. Not my first emergency, nor first experience of a once in a decade residence category or difficulties with Immigration New Zealand (INZ) IT systems, from which I have learnt that when simple or easy is used in the context of visas, it rarely is either simple or easy. Complications and visas are a natural combination as each person or business situation is unique and navigating legislation, INZ instructions and operational logistics is challenging. Thankfully, we are at the beginning of the end to New Zealand’s extreme border restriction for both citizens and noncitizens alike. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ Border controls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The extraordinary controls designed to shield New Zealand from the severe consequences of Covid-19 will ease in mid January 2022, when vaccinated New Zealanders from Australia can bypass managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ). What was once a 14 day stay in a hotel room overseen by medical and security personnel will become a seven day stay at home along with standard Covid-19 testing and visa requirements. A month later, vaccinated New Zealanders from other countries, and then from the end of April other travellers will also be able to bypass MIQ. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ Offshore visas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Although visa restrictions are as yet to be relaxed, the change to MIQ is a massive leap in the right direction. Employers in various sectors are in tremendous need of skills and labour, education facilities need international students to fill classrooms, migrant workers seek to reunite with their families while tourism enterprises continue to struggle without international visitors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ 2021 Residence VisaThe introduction of the 2021 Residence Visa for New Zealand’s migrant workers is a real bonus and a reminder that this is a generous, one off, time sensitive opportunity for many migrant families to gain residence. Don’t delay and don’t underestimate the process as evidenced in the complete IT failure at INZ when Phase 1 opened at the beginning of December 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ Work Visas have changedThe liberal grants of work visas to migrants already in New Zealand are quickly phasing out as INZ moves towards the employer-led work visa regime. Applications for Employer Accreditation start on 9 May 2022 while on 4 July 2022 it will be a necessity if a migrant worker requires a new or change of work visa. Again promoted as easier, it isn’t, so don’t get caught out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ Labour Market Testing changesLabour market testing has already returned for those seeking new work visas. For those employed under the medium rate, increased to $27 per hour during the year, this involves employer engagement with W&I at MSD. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ Holiday office hoursOur office closes on Wednesday, 22 December 2021 and reopens on Monday, 17 January 2022. We will monitor incoming communications from INZ. For urgent assistance during the holiday period please send a text message and we will get back to you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
❤️️ My thanksTo our wonderful clients, many who have endured obstacles and difficulties this year, thank you for your custom and may you and yours enjoy a safe and happy holiday season. Remember, we are here to help. Please email or phone:
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Merry Christmas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mary Noonan
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