Auckland bar and restaurant owner arrested in Auckland

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On Friday 17 November 2023, an Auckland individual was arrested by New Zealand Police as a result of a 4-month long investigation conducted by Immigration’s investigations unit. A search warrant was executed at an address linked to possible migrant exploitation involving 3 migrants.

The 53-year-old business owner linked to the case was arrested at the address and subsequently charged with one count of Exploitation under section 351 of the Immigration Act 2009, which carries a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine. More charges are likely.

Following the arrest, Stephanie Greathead, Immigration National Manager Investigations said:

“Immigration New Zealand takes the protection of migrant workers seriously and we will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in migrant exploitation.

“No form of exploitation is acceptable in New Zealand and we encourage anyone who thinks they, or someone else, is being exploited in the workplace to contact us.”

To report a case of migrant exploitation, contact the MBIE exploitation reporting line on 0800 200 088. To report an issue anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Note to editors: Enforcement options for Immigration New Zealand include informing and education, warnings, and prosecution. A prosecution will be considered where there is sufficient evidence, and it is considered to be in the public interest to prosecute.

For further information, email our media team at media@mbie.govt.nz

The immigration system workforce

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Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is the operational delivery function of an integrated immigration system. As part of the system we:

  • grant visas to people New Zealand needs to work, visit, study, or settle here
  • make sure that people crossing the border and staying in New Zealand are entitled to do so
  • help migrants and refugees make New Zealand their home
  • play our part in the global immigration system, together with our border partners, to keep Aotearoa New Zealand safe.

The integrated immigration system includes teams in branches across the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) who:

  • look after calls to the Immigration Contact Centre
  • carry out onshore investigations and compliance activity, and
  • provide policy advice to the Minister of Immigration.

Our people

We have around 900 immigration officers working on visa applications. In the 2022/23 financial year our immigration officers made decisions on more than 930,000 visa applications across all visa categories, (on average more than 77,000 each month).

In the 2022/23 financial year there were:

  • 14,223 working holiday extensions approved
  • 58,820 working holiday applications received, 92% of which were approved
  • over 548,725 visitor visa applications received, 80% of which were approved
  • more than 1.7 million NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority) requests received, 99% of which were approved
  • over 102,300 student applications received, 91,765 decided, with 80% approved
  • over 54,000 Job Check applications received, and more than 47,800 approved, which is equal to more than 229,900 positions
  • more than 6.4 million arrivals into New Zealand
  • over 12.5 million movements at the New Zealand border
  • more than 12,300 Recognised Seasonal Employer Limited Visas approved
  • over 27,000 accredited employer applications approved
  • more than 100,500 Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applications received and around 92,000 AEWV applications approved.

For more AEWV statistics:

Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

Commonly requested AEWV statisticsXLS 851KB

In addition to immigration officers, there are other staff in roles that provide vital direct support to the visa application process. These include:

  • support officers
  • verification officers
  • identity resolution analysts
  • medical assessors
  • technical advisors, and
  • immigration managers who provide administrative, technical and verification support and line management to our immigration officers.

Frontline operations staff

Our frontline operations staff:

  • manage risk at the New Zealand border
  • assist travellers and manage risk at major transition airports
  • assess offshore threats to the immigration system in their bases overseas
  • support the arrival and settlement of quota refugees
  • work in the Pacific to help travel within the region
  • assess asylum and refugee status claims made by people already in New Zealand
  • engage regularly with relevant industry sectors and partners.

Staff numbers

Over the past 5 years, staff numbers at INZ have increased for a number of reasons including:

  • closing offshore offices in 2021 and rebuilding the workforce in New Zealand (these roles were not included in the headcount until the roles were moved onshore)
  • managing an increased number of visa applications and workload with the re-opening of the New Zealand border post-pandemic
  • the introduction Accredited Employer Work Visa in July 2022
  • the introduction of the 2021 Resident Visa. This saw INZ needing to process 5 years’ worth of residence visas in 19 months.

To support the reopening of the border, INZ needed a plan to grow its visa processing workforce with the goal of rebuilding its pre-pandemic workforce and responding to post-pandemic demands in New Zealand. This led to the recruitment of more than 800 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees between July 2021 and April 2023, resulting in a net growth of 320 FTE employees.

INZ’s Immigration Online platform

INZ’s business plans have focused on workforce growth, simplifying processes and developing the new Immigration Online platform to increase the efficiency and improve its services.

With the launch of the new Immigration Online platform in January 2022 it allowed:

  • for more automation of the visa processing administrative steps, and
  • immigration officers to use their time more efficiently.

However, until all services move to this platform, support is still required for the maintenance of INZ’s legacy systems.  

Recent Immigration phone scams

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Immigration New Zealand is aware of recent targeted phone scams coming from various New Zealand mobile numbers.

One example of these scams states the call is coming from ‘The Immigration Bureau’ saying there is a ‘serious problem with your visa’. The call then prompts recipients to press different numbers for English or Chinese services.

Please be aware that these are not genuine calls from Immigration New Zealand.

If you or someone you know receives this call or a similar one, report it to CERT NZ and do not engage further.

Reporting form for businesses and individuals — CERT NZ

If you are a visa holder and you receive a scam call, and you would like reassurance on your current visa situation, please call our Service Centre and they can discuss any visa matters with you directly.

Contact us

These sorts of calls are intended to identify people for further scams. In the future they may attempt to manipulate or trick people into giving away their personal details, financial details, or money.

You can learn more about scams and fraud on the Own Your Online website.

Scams and fraud — Own Your Online

Parent Resident Visa overview and application numbers

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The visa is a 2-stage process. People first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). If the EOI is selected and it meets the requirements, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will issue an Invitation To Apply (ITA). Only people who have received an ITA are able to make a residence application and this application must be made within 4 months of the ITA being issued.

INZ can approve a maximum of 2000 visas per year to people who submitted EOIs before the restart of selections was announced on 10 October 2022. These EOIs are in a queue and selected in date order, with the oldest selected first.

A maximum of 500 visas a year can be granted to people who submitted EOIs on or after 10 October 2022. These EOIs are placed in a ballot and are selected randomly. EOIs in the ballot expire 2 years after they are submitted.

Once all the EOIs in the queue submitted before 10 October 2022 have been selected, the full amount of 2,500 visas will be available to people with EOIs in the ballot.

More information on the application process and criteria can be found on the Parent Resident Visa details page.

Parent Resident Visa: Visa details

Australian Immigration News: Expanding pathways to PR for temporary skilled sponsored workers

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​​​​​From 25 November 2023* (subject to the approval of regulation changes), the Australian Government will be making changes to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) (subclass 482) and Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) visas to provide a simpler and clearer pathway to permanent residence for TSS visa holders.

The changes will provide employers and holders of TSS visas with more certainty and ensure Australia attracts and retains the skilled workers it needs.​

Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482)

From 25 November 2023* the Government plans to remove the limit on the number of Short-term stream TSS visa applications that visa holders can make in Australia.

This change is intended to apply to new TSS visa applications made on or after 25 November 2023. Short term-stream TSS holders with visas expiring before 25 November 2023 will need to travel outside Australia to lodge a third short term-stream TSS application.

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition Stream

Changes planned for TRT stream nomination requirements include:

allowing employers to nominate holders of all streams of TSS visas (including Short-term and Labour Agreement streams).
removing the requirement for nominated occupations for the TRT stream to be assessed against a skilled migration occupation list. The nominated occupation will need to be listed in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and the nominated worker will need to continue to work in the occupation nominated for their TSS visa(s).
reducing the period of time a TSS visa holder must hold their visa and work in their nominated position or occupation to be eligible to be nominated by their employer for the TRT stream to two out of the three years before nomination.

Changes to the TRT stream nomination requirements are intended to apply to new ENS and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme nomination applications and applications that are yet to be finally determined as at 25 November 2023*.

Changes planned for TRT stream visa application requirements include:

updating age exemptions for regional medical practitioner applicants and high income earning applicants aged 45 years and over to allow for a two-year pathway.
ending COVID-19 related age exemptions that will become redundant as a result of the two-year pathway.

These changes are the first step in providing more equitable access to PR for all TSS visa holders whilst the government continues work on reforms to the skilled visa programs following the development of the Outline of the Government’s Migration Strategy and in response to the findings of the Review of the Migration System 2023.

The Department’s website will be updated closer to implementation.

 

 

 

Australian Immigration News: Addendum to The Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs paper released

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The Addendum to the 11th edition of The Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs paper is now available.

The addendum provides an explanation of the composition and management of Australia’s immigration program in a changing international environment.

The following highlights provide an overview of the information included in the addendum, which is available in full at ​​​Addendum to the 11th edition of the Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs.

Immigration Programs

In August 2023 the Australian Government announced the closure of the Pandemic Event visa. This visa will be closed from February 2024.

In May 2023 The Australian Government announced the establishment of the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement. As of 31 August, eight agreements are in effect, providing for more than 6,000 direct care workers over five years. The first visa applications under this agreement have been received and processed by the Department of Home Affairs.

Immigration Policy

In January 2023 the Minister for Home Affairs appointed Ms Christine Nixon, AO, APM to undertake a Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia’s Visa System (the Nixon Review).

The declassified Nixon Review report, as well as the government response to its 34 recommendations, were released on 4 October 2023.

The Nixon Review identified gaps and areas of weakness in the migration system, with both systemic reforms and discrete measures recommended.

The Government has carefully considered the Nixon Review’s findings to inform its response – agreeing, agreeing-in-part or agreeing-in-principle to 24 of the 34 recommendations, noting eight recommendations and disagreeing with two recommendations.

The government response to the Nixon Review will work to address the identified gaps and rebuild the integrity of the visa system.

Citizenship

More than 22,500 NZ New Zealanders residing in Australia applied for Australian citizenship by conferral between 1 July and 31 August 2023, via the new

direct pathway. This represents 45% of all citizenship by conferral applications during this period. Of these, 766 had been approved as of 31 August 2023.

Great progress has been made on the citizenship backlog and processing times. On-hand conferral applications stood at 88,310 as of 31 August 2023, a 24 per cent decrease since 31 August 2022. The average processing time from lodgement to decision has decreased by 53 per cent from the same period last year, from 353 to 168 days in average.

Humanitarian program

Australia’s 2022-23 Humanitarian program was delivered in full. This included 15,875 granted in the Offshore program (including 4,125 additional places allocated to Afghan nationals) and 2,000 visas granted as part of the Onshore (Protection visa) program.

On 31 August the Australian Government announced an increase in the Humanitarian program for 2023-2024, from 17,875 to 20,000 places.

Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)

The AMEP celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. It is Australia’s longest running settlement program, and has helped more than 2 million migrants and humanitarian entrants with free English language lessons.

The free English language-learning website AMEPOnline, was relaunched on 1 July 2023. This resource is available to anyone, anywhere and anytime, and has been accessed by more than 100,000 users.

 

 

 

Australian Immigration News: Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia’s Visa System

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​​​​​The Australian Government’s response to the Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia’s Visa System (the Nixon Review) was released today, providing measures to address exploitation of Australia’s migration system.

The Government recognises the valuable contribution that migrants bring to Australia and is committed to addressing abuse of the migration system and ensuring​ visa holders and vulnerable community members are protected from exploitation.

The Government has introduced a range of measures in response to the Nixon Review recommendations, which include:

the reprioritisation of an immigration compliance function
strengthening the integrity of the migration advice​ industry​​​.​

More information about the Nixon Review can be found on the Department’s website.

Australian Immigration News: Recommencement of the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme

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The Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme has started.

The ADS scheme is a travel visa arrangement between the Australian and Chinese governments. The ADS scheme allows Chinese tourists to travel to Australia as part of an approved tour group. The first ADS tourists arrived in Australia in August 1999.

On 10 August 2023,​ the Chinese Government announced that Australia has been included on the list of countries for China’s ADS scheme.

From 25 September 2023, Visitor (subclass 600) (ADS stream) visa applications can be lodged. You must contact a registered ADS scheme travel agent to apply for this visa.

For more information, see Visitor visa (subclass 600) Approved Destination Status stream

The Vietnam Working Holiday Scheme reopening

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Aotearoa New Zealand has agreements with 45 countries, including Vietnam, that allow young people aged between 18 and 30 (or up to 35 in some cases) the opportunity to travel around New Zealand and work temporarily while they are here.

The scheme will reopen to Vietnam nationals capped at 100 places.

In February, it was announced that Vietnam would receive a cap increase to 200 this year, however, this increase will now come into effect later than expected to enable time for the necessary processes between both our countries to be completed.

New Zealand officials are working to finalise details for raising the cap for New Zealanders looking to travel to Vietnam as part of a Working Holiday Scheme.

Further information will be made available once the agreements between New Zealand and Vietnam have been updated.

You can check this link to know more abou the visa application: Vietnam Working Holiday Visa

Accredited Employer Work Visa Announcement

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From 29 October 2023, accredited employers cannot use 90-day trial periods in employment agreements when hiring people on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

This includes Job Checks submitted before 29 October 2023 but assessed on and after this date.

For on-going Job Check application

If an employer has a Job Check application underway and the Immigration have not yet made a decision about it, employers need to:

  • Review the Job Check application and make sure the employment agreement does not include a trial period.
  • If the employment agreement includes a trial period, please upload an updated employment agreement that does not include a trial period as soon as possible.

Immigration requires employers to do this before 1 November to avoid issues regarding the application.

The Job Check application can be declined or will take longer to process if the employment agreement does not reflect the said change.

To upload an updated employment agreement

To upload an updated employment agreement or inform the Immigration they are working on it and need more time, they should log in to their Immigration Online and do the following steps:

  1. On the Employ migrants page, go to the Manage job checks section.
  2. Select Manage existing job checks, then go to the Submitted job check applications section.
  3. Find the relevant application.
  4. In the Options drop-down list, select View application.
  5. Go to the Correspondence section, then select Add/Update information.
  6. The Add or update information page displays.
  7. Select Change of circumstances in the Reason drop-down list.
  8. Enter the Description of the document. For example, ‘an updated employment agreement’. Employers can write anything here to help the Immigration Officer. This free text box can be used to request more time if necessary.
  9. Upload the updated employment agreement or other correspondence and submit.

Note: If the Job Check is approved, the Add/Update information option will not appear.