Licensed Immigration Adviser’s Webinar with INZ

Our licensed Immigration Advisers attended a webinar with Immigration New Zealand this morning to discuss the new 2021 Resident Visa. Unfortunately there was not much more information provided, they did clarify a few points though that are worth mentioning:

• Most importantly, INZ will not be reconsidering or adding additional visas types to the eligible visas. This includes student, partner, seasonal or other short term visas not originally included. According to INZ they had to draw a line in the sand and the current policy around eligibility and qualifying criteria will not be changing.
• There will also be no leeway or exceptions to instructions. So if for example you received a pay increase on the 30th September or you only submitted a eligible visa application on the 30th September you do not qualify. INZ say there will not be any consideration or leeway on this.
• You MUST maintain your eligibility, by that they mean that you must be eligible on the 29th September and maintain that eligibility until you apply. A good example here would be if you work visa is going to expire in the next month or to. You can’t then go on to a study visa, you must continue on an eligible work visa. To state the obvious, you must also be LEGALLY in New Zealand at the time of applying.
• INZ have confirmed that there is no age limitation under this visa category. Furthermore, they are also taking advice on age restrictions of dependent children. They understand that due to the EOI selections currently being suspended that there are dependent children that would have aged out so they are a looking at ways to include them. However, these children will still have to be substantially dependent on the principal applicant to qualify.
• INZ have again confirmed that applicants can include their offshore partners and dependents. There will still be requirements to prove having lived together previously for 12 months or more, along with proof of maintaining that relationship since being separated as a result of border closures etc.
• Last but not least, INZ have confirmed that they are still processing SMC applications and this is still a pathway for those that do not meet the qualifying criteria for the 2021 once-off residence visas.

There is still a lot of information around instructions that we are waiting on but that is only expected to be released towards the end of October.

If you have any questions or would like to have a chat about getting into our application queue for the 2021 Once-off residency I urge you to get in touch with us as availability is filling up fast.