07/07/2021 - Breaking News - INZ will issue refunds for 50,000 visa applications

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On July 7th Immigration New Zealand announces that it will be refunding over 50,000 visa applicants for visas that have not been able to be processed because of Covid restrictions.

INZ will refund application fees and levies for applications being lapsed. INZ will also refund and return temporary visa applications received from people outside New Zealand after 10 August 2020, when offshore applications were suspended.

Read more: 07/07/2021 - Breaking News - INZ will issue refunds for 50,000 visa applications

22/06/2021 ‘On the edge’: Are New Zealand’s tough immigration rules harming the economy?

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Critics say failing to allow family members to join skilled workers will undermine post-pandemic recovery

In February 2020, Craig Hurn, 53, temporarily left his wife and daughter in Cape Town to scope out the job market in New Zealand. After beating six other candidates for one job, he secured an essential skills visa and began preparing to move his family over.

“We saw Craig’s CV and we thought, ‘Oh my God, he can walk into the job,’” says his employer, who struggled to find any workers with the highly specialised qualifications to fill the position.

Read more: 22/06/2021 ‘On the edge’: Are New Zealand’s tough immigration rules harming the economy?

07/07/2021 - Government lets just 15 family members of highly skilled migrants enter New Zealand, despite exemption to reunite them

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Watch: The Government promised to reunite some broken families.

The Government has blocked the overwhelming majority of highly skilled migrant workers from bringing their families to New Zealand.

Despite creating a special exemption designed to reunite them, just 15 family members have been approved.

Read more: 07/07/2021 - Government lets just 15 family members of highly skilled migrants enter New Zealand,...

05/07/2021 - NZ border exemptions: Visas approved for 14 wealthy investors

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Immigration New Zealand has so far approved visas for 14 wealthy investors under two new border exemptions opened in May.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment expects 220 wealthy individuals will arrive over the next year, bringing hundreds of millions in direct investment, job creation and skills.

Immigration New Zealand said only one investor had so far arrived in the country but this was expected because the exemptions were relatively new.

Read more: 05/07/2021 - NZ border exemptions: Visas approved for 14 wealthy investors

24/06/2021 - Singapore preparing road map for living with Covid-19

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SINGAPORE - Singapore will prepare its population to deal with Covid-19 as part of their daily lives and people will be able to work, travel and shop without quarantines and lockdowns, even with the coronavirus in their midst.

With enough people vaccinated, Covid-19 will be managed like other endemic diseases such as the common flu and hand, foot and mouth disease, said the three co-chairmen of the Government's multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 as they outlined plans for Singapore to transition to a new normal.

Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung said in an article published in The Straits Times on Thursday (June 24) that the priority in the next few months will be to prepare Singapore for life with Covid-19 as a recurring, controllable disease.

Read more: 24/06/2021 - Singapore preparing road map for living with Covid-19

28/06/2021 - The pool is overflowing: The skilled migrant residence programme is badly broken

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OPINION: The skilled migrant residence programme is badly broken and Government seems powerless to fix it.

Tens of thousands of people, working in New Zealand in highly skilled jobs, await processing of their residence visas, having filed their applications before March 2020.
Many thousands more await selection from the skilled migrant “pool”.

Selection and invitations ceased temporarily in March 2020. The pool continues to attract expressions of interest (EIO) as Government never stopped allowing them to be filed

Read more: 28/06/2021 - The pool is overflowing: The skilled migrant residence programme is badly broken

25/06/2021- Breaking News - Suspension visa processing extended

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Immigration New Zealand has suspended visa processing for most individuals who are outside New Zealand, unless they meet the strict border exception criteria or are currently in a COVID-19 quarantine-free travel zone.

The Government has extended the suspension to 6 February 2022. The suspension can be lifted if the border restrictions change.

Immigration New Zealand will continue to process visas for those who are not subject to the COVID-19 border restrictions, and for those who have been granted a border exception.

Source: INZ

10/06/2021 - Breaking News - Visa extensions provide certainty to employers and 10,000 visa holders

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Changes to onshore visas will provide employers and visa holders with more certainty, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced.

Around 10,000 Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) work visas due to expire between 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 will be extended for another six months to help manage ongoing labour shortages while New Zealand’s COVID-19 border restrictions remain in place.

SSE visa holders will also be given open work rights, allowing them to work in any sector.

Read more: 10/06/2021 - Breaking News - Visa extensions provide certainty to employers and 10,000 visa holders

09/06/2021 - No, Prime Minister, we do not accept your future apology

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OPINION: I think of home often. I read the news, speak to friends who live in Auckland and Wellington, touch base with my sister in Christchurch and reach out to the small number of charities I donate to monthly.

I am just another Canada-based Kiwi with roots that cross multiple oceans in an attempt to remain grounded in New Zealand. I still dream of Wanaka and beg for photos from any friend or foe that travels outside of our big cities.

I am like the tree that stretches for heaven, never quite reaching it, and having to accept that the earth and air is enough to sustain me.

You are my air and earth, New Zealand. I miss you.

Read more: 09/06/2021 - No, Prime Minister, we do not accept your future apology

22/05/2021 - A 'once in a generation opportunity' to throw migrant workers under the bus

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OPINION: When the Government uses the phrase “reset” in relation to migration, migrant workers hear something very different.

The public hears: population policy, productivity, higher wages and an infrastructure catch-up.

Migrants just remember what happened more than a year ago when a “once in a generation” lockdown and global pandemic changed their lives forever.

During lockdown Government ministers were able to provide few details on what would happen to these migrants, but told them to be patient. Other politicians started mumbling about double-digit unemployment and calling for migrants to “go home”.

Read more: 22/05/2021 - A 'once in a generation opportunity' to throw migrant workers under the bus