July 2019 saw the introduction of the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). A $NZ35 contribution to New Zealand’s infrastructure and natural environment preservation expenses.
The IVL is collected when travellers apply for visas through Immigration New Zealand (INZ) or for visa free travellers, arriving post 1st October 2019, when they apply for an Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA).
New Zealand, Australian citizens and residents are exempt along with:
– Resident and Transit visas
– Diplomatic, military, medical, and humanitarian visas
– People travelling to Antarctica under the Antarctic Treaty (including people
travelling on the Antarctic Traveller Transit Visa)
– Recognised Seasonal Employment workers
– Business Visitor Visas (including APEC business travel cards)
– Ship and airline crew
– Most visas for dependents (partners and children) of work and student visa
holders
– Travellers whose visa requirements have been waived by INZ
– United Nations laissez-passer document holders
– People from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall – Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, — Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu & Vanuatu.
Delays with processing visa applications
Recent media reports highlight delays at Immigration New Zealand particularly for work, partnership and student visa applications.
The INZ published timeframes for completion of 95% of visitor applications is 45 days, four months for fee paying overseas students, partners of New Zealanders, partners of students and essential skills work visa applications. A year for skilled migrant applications.
Add on the time to attempt to recruit within New Zealand, time to prepare an application and employers face staff gaps in excess of half a year.
I acknowledge that striking the correct balance between facilitating visa applications and protecting New Zealand is difficult. Determining value is also complex. It is however time to define an acceptable risk based on the fact that INZ can’t get it right 100% of the time. What is important is that when mistakes are made they are readily corrected, people are compensated and compliance action taken against those found in breach of our laws.
Allowing delays to continue will see overseas students abandon New Zealand educational institutes, splitting families is never good and for employers desperate to recruit offshore delays cause uncertainty and loss of production. Anxiety levels for clients, family, employers and INZ staff will increase and that in itself becomes counterproductive and reduces wellbeing.
The American politician, attorney and educator Eliot Laurence Spitzer says it best “Delay is the enemy of progress.”
Disclaimer: Mary Noonan is Heartland Immigration Ltd Managing Director and her views, expressed in this article are not intended to replace the professional service provided to individual migrants by a Licensed Immigration Advisers.
The surge of visits to the Immigration New Zealand website after the Liberal Coalitions win in Australia is yet another reminder of how popular New Zealand is and how fortunate we are to live here.
The recent allegation that New Zealand’s refugee policy discriminates against vulnerable people from Africa and the Middle East is concerning and in my view harsh. Refugees regardless of their source countries are by definition vulnerable and resettlement decisions must be deliberate and well considered to achieve good outcomes. The last thing a refugee needs is further barriers so housing, jobs and wrap around support services are a must along with capacity within the host community.
There is no room for additional disenfranchised folk in New Zealand and our unique geographical location doesn’t allow for displaced people to find temporary placements here. New Zealand’s refugee settlement therefore must focus on new arrivals becoming self-sufficient, socially integrated and independent as soon as practical. Neither can we resettle literally millions of asylum seekers, stateless individuals and various types of displaced people so prioritising occurs and that does come at the cost of excluding many well deserving individuals. The reality of immigration decision making is hard if the wider good is to be maintained. Certainly open discussion, and clear published criteria are essential.
Great to learn that Ashburton is the sixth new refugee settlement location following the Government’s decision to increase the annual refugee quota to 1,500 places next year. Many employers have unfilled vacancies, the community is welcoming and very accustomed to new faces.
I have happy, and at times humbling, memories of working with refugees and the level of joy and anticipated when traveling into New Zealand with new New Zealanders was electric. Many years later I was reminded that one little girl I escorted grew up and became a very capable professional and a respected colleague. World Refugee Day is the 20th June and I encourage us all not to label anyone living in New Zealand as a refugee given They are us now.
New Zealand Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway announced the retirement of the Immediate Skill Shortage List while introducing the Regional Skill Shortage List providing at last more focus on regional employment needs. The 15 newly defined regions are Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawkes’s Bay, Marlborough, Nelson-Tasman, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast, Whanganui–Manawatu.
Shortage lists, which include Long Term Skills Shortage (LTSS), Construction & Infrastructure Skill Shortage List and the new formated Regional Skill Shortage List (RSSL) provides employers and migrant workers alike with the security that the role is one which can be considered for a work visa without the need to proof locals aren’t available and which are particularly desirable for residence eligibility. Roles must be in the defined region and migrants must meet the minimum qualification and work experience criteria.
Early childhood, primary and secondary school teachers have been added to the new Regional Skill Shortage List while aged care registered nurses have been added to the Long Term Skills Shortage List. Plumbers are now listed as being in short supply throughout New Zealand and appear so in the Construction and Infrastructure Shortage List while and other smaller amendments have been included all lists. For roles not found in these lists good visa options exist although at times the process can be more complicated and longer.
The Labour Lead Coalition Budget 2019, released last month, focuses on the “well being” and is just the sentiment which drove early settlers to New Zealand and remains just as relevant today. The messaging to business, community and the world is positive and holistic.
Kind regards
Mary Noonan
Managing Director
Disclaimer: Mary Noonan is Heartland Immigration Ltd Managing Director and her views, expressed in this article, are not intended to replace the professional service provided to individual migrants by a Licensed Immigration Adviser.
As the cost of living for households rise every year it is important to ensure that families coming to New Zealand have sufficient means to live here. This is why INZ have recently announced that their income thresholds that parents must meet in order to support dependents for the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category, Essential Skills and Religious Worker visa have increased. The Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category has increased from $38 199.20 to $38 577.76 and the Essential Skills and Religious Worker income threshold has increased from $42 944.20 to $43 322.76.
This is a responsible move on the part of INZ as it is important that we not only encourage migrants to come and live in New Zealand to strengthen our culture and society but we also have a responsibility to ensure that we give our migrant families the best standard of living. As a father I understand that supporting children is expensive and having this increase to adjust for the standard of living in New Zealand is the right thing to do.
If you would like to discuss options of getting your family to migrate to New Zealand give me a call on 0800 INZ VISA.
Nils Macfarlane
New Zealand Licensed Immigration Adviser
IAA Licence No 201401035
Heartland Immigration
Tel: 0800 469 8472 | Skype: heartland1111
www.heartlandimmigration.co.nz
Net migration continues to rise and while the Labour lead coalition government promised immigration reforms these have yet to eventuate other than the reduction of work rights for students undertaking lower level courses and other minor alterations. Student work rights for those with higher courses of study on the other hand are now more flexible allowing post study work for any employer.
Consultation has taken place on work visa changes and signals to the industry indicate further restrictions on employers. While the need to reduce migrant exploitation and employ New Zealanders first is a must my concern is the reforms with the proposed settings could create unreasonable barriers for employers. The very sector who create our wealth and keep the economy operating.
It is interesting that across the Tasman the Australian Federal Government is paying for TV advertisements in the UK, France and German to encourage backpackers to work in Australia reports Kelsey Wilkie of the Daily Mail Australia on the 21 April 2019.
Young people, often referred to as backpackers, from a number of countries have access to working holiday programs which provide an additional source of labour and talents particularly for seasonal industries and for remote locations. They not only fill vacancies, they are cultural ambassadors and generally spend their earnings in the country. A number work in their professions while others undertake temporary work while exploring and generally enjoying a laid-back lifestyle.
Working Holiday Visas are not linked to a job offer rather they allow employment at will although a few have a limitation of three months for any one employer. Each program is a little different from the other as these are decided on a Government to Government bases reflecting what young New Zealanders are able to do in the recipient country. Participants are mostly aged between 18 to 30 years of age and are able to stay for one year although a couple of programs have the extended age rangeto 35 years old and duration to 23 months.
The New Zealand Ministry of Social Development recently had to extend the seasonal labour shortage in Hawke’s Bay and declared a shortage in Bay of Plenty to supplement the working holiday people as local labour was not available in sufficient numbers.
I hear much about labour shortages with employers unable to recruit workers who are physically fit and able to do a full day. Unemployment numbers are low and after subtracting those who aren’t up to physical work or who don’t live in the area results in a small labour pool.
I welcomed the special visa, Christchurch Response (2019), which was introduced and allow people present at either Christchurch mosques during the 15 March attack, on student and work visas and their family, to apply for residence.
Well measured Immigration Instructions are compassionate, easy to interpret and focus on the results which best service New Zealand.
Disclaimer: Mary Noonan is Heartland Immigration Ltd Managing Director and her views, expressed in this article, are not intended to replace the professional service provided to individual migrants by a Licensed Immigration Adviser.
I have been uplifted by the solidity displayed by, and for, the people of Christchurch during March 2019 and heartened at the recent increase of Expressions of Interest, New Zealand Immigration (INZ) have received, by those seeking to make New Zealand their home.
Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA)
Security is very much at the forefront of our minds, the way of the world, and for those who travel internationally the next development waive are Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA). Advancements in technology enables border authorities to instigate a pre-screening process, of visa waiver travellers, at the time traveller plans their travel rather when they board the craft or arrive in the country.
The ETA is not a visa although it is electronically linked to your passport. ETA’s work alongside visa waiver arrangements to provide better scrutiny, reducing time spent in Customs queues and providing a mechanism for a tourist levy. Visa waiver arrangements, usually negotiated between Governments, allows for an easier flow of visitors so necessary for tourism, connecting families and enhancing business opportunities. People who want to undertake full study, work and settle along with those who have health or character issues still need to apply for a visa in the usual manner prior to travel.
Visitors to Canada, Australia and Europe
The Canadians already operate an ETA to facilitate the entry for their visa waiver countries for stays of up to six months. Australia operates both an Tourist ETA and Business ETA and as the name suggests the former is those wanting to holiday and visit family and friends while the latter is for business discussions, conferences and negotiations.
In Europe the member states in the Schengen area which encompasses of 22 European Union states, 4 non-EU states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland along with the 3 micro states of Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City State have the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The two EU countries not part of this European ETA system being the United Kingdom and Ireland, and given the delicate negotiations on Brexit at time of writing, the future flow of people into and out of the UK is among the many mysteries yet to be revealed.
New Zealand Visitor changes
New Zealand, as of the 1st October 2019, is making a ETA mandatory for our all visa waiver arrivals. Applications are able to be made from the beginning of July 2019 via an official mobile application or via a browser. At the same time, an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is being introduced at a cost of NZ$35 per visitor. The levy is being collected to invest in infrastructure and conservation projects within New Zealand due to New Zealand’s popularity. Higher numbers of tourists need more facilities and the environment needs protection. Exemptions for this levy include Australian citizens and for Pacific Island Forum countries due to our close relationships with these countries from the 1st October 2019 are as follows:
New Zealand visa waiver countries who must obtain an ETA for entry from the 1st October 2019 are as follows:
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Austria
- Bahrain
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia (citizens only)
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea (South)
- Kuwait
- Latvia (citizens only)
- Liechtenstein
- Macau (Macau Special Administrative Region passports only)
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal (with the right to live permanently in Portugal)
- Lithuania (Citizens only)
- Luxembourg
- Hong Kong (Residents with HKSAR or British National (Overseas) passports only)
- Qatar
- Romania
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (permanent residents only)
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom (must have the right to reside permanently in the United Kingdom)
- United States of America (includes USA nationals)
- Uruguay
Actual travel maybe quicker these days however the formalities are getting more complex so if you need assistance for entry to New Zealand for yourself or employees remember we are here to help.
Kind regards,
Disclaimer: Mary is Heartland Immigration Ltd Managing Director and her views, expressed in this article, are not intended to replace the professional service provided to individual migrants by a Licensed Immigration Adviser.
Opening the post-study work privileges to eliminate the need for foreign students to work for a named employer in a specified region will allow students, keen to advance their careers, the ease to readily change employment. For motivated students seeking to gain work experience in their area of study, this is excellent. Some will go on to gain residence in New Zealand and hold responsible jobs adding to the human capital and enriching the cultural diversity of New Zealand. Others will seek their future offshore with positive memories and ready-made business and friendship tires.
For many foreign students, this won’t be the reality, as a number have been taken in by dishonest agents or unscrupulous employers while others simply accept untenable work conditions out of sheer necessity. Huge family expectations, even higher loans and the life-changing prize of residence are huge drivers and the elimination of employer-related long term work visas for foreign students further weakens the most vulnerable. The intention of the change is commendable however it gives away the opportunity a Government agency had to view the employment conditions of a number of guest workers further exposing these vulnerable workers. Yes, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is currently struggling to competently decided work visas in a timely manner but that is another matter. Nevertheless, INZ is able with the expertise of their colleagues in the Labour Inspectorate support, in a very practical sense, employment legislation compliance.
Furthermore, I don’t support the theory that locking in a migrant worker to one company is enforcing bonded labour as it does not work that is performed involuntarily and under the menace of any penalty. Most employees in the New Zealand labour market have signed employment contracts which commit to a particular employer. I appreciate the immediate comeback is that New Zealanders are able to exit that employment readily. They don’t have to give up their right to remain in New Zealand when they leave employment and that is an enormous disincentive for a migrant worker to terminate when their employment conditions are in violated.
The difficulty of terminating employment relates to the ease of being able to secure alternative employment and financial independence with some of our most vulnerable workers in the labour market being long term foreign students given their visa relies on the continuation of that employment. Those who view time spent in an undesirable employment situation as part of the cost to obtain the bigger prize of living in New Zealand permanently are sadly also actively undermining the fair workplace practices that make New Zealand an attractive place to live.
The introduction of a bridging visa giving migrants time to secure alternative employment in exploitation situations would help to address the power balance and would be of greater assistance and hopefully uncover more readily unacceptable employment practices.
The education sector must take some responsibility in that many of these students have been encouraged to study courses in New Zealand that are incompatible with their educational background, previous qualifications, career aspirations or general suitability for the course or industry. Decided, in the hope for the cheapest and quickest option to gain residence with little consideration to the practicalities of securing meaningful employment post qualification.
Post-secondary education for long term foreign students should focus on improving capability and capacity for paid employment or as preparation for the self-employed. A match to employers needs and ultimately the labour market is necessary. Non-alignment of vocational education and the labour market is not restricted to foreign students and is more complex today than ever given the speed of technology and the rapidly changing labour market.
The introduction of open work visas to students who complete qualifications in New Zealand has the additional consequence of increasing the labour pool for the horticulture and hospitality in particular. It won’t greatly reduce migrant exploitation, it will, however, increase the number of temporary workers in New Zealand in lower skilled occupations with limited opportunity to ever gain residence. Holding out for a policy change or seeking a compliant New Zealand partner, all while competing with New Zealanders in certain sectors and regions, disrupts social cohesion.
Eliminating exploitation is inspirational however the tool of long term work visa without restriction to employer, occupation or location is not. We can do better.
