After sustained effort by numerous migrant organisations and some excellent mahi done by opposition MP Erica Stanford, the Labour government has finally woken up from its slumber.
Almost very similar to National’s call for a Covid Contribution Visa, the immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has announced The 2021 Resident Visa,
This new visa category would be available to most work-related visa holders, including Essential Skills, Work to Residence, and Post Study Work visas and their immediate family members.
The applicant must have been in New Zealand on September 29 2021 and must hold or have applied for (and subsequently be granted) a work visa.
They must also meet one of the following criteria:
lived in New Zealand for three or more years, or
earn above the median wage ($27 per hour or more), or
work in a role on the Long Term Skill Shortage List, or
hold occupational registration and work in the health or education sector, or
work in personal care or other critical health worker roles, or
work in a specified role in the primary industries.
The visa will also be available for those who entered New Zealand as critical workers for roles six months or longer until July 31 2022.
Partners and children could be included in the application and Faafoi said the majority of applications would be granted within a year of applications opening.
"This initiative addresses that immediate issue while work on the immigration rebalance looks longer term at preparing for the eventual reopening of New Zealand's borders.
Applications for the 2021 Resident Visa would be rolled out in two phases.
From 1 December 2021, people who have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) or Residence from Work application can apply, as well as those with dependent children 17 years or older who currently have an SMC expression of interest submitted.
From 1 March 2022, all other eligible applicants, including any others in the SMC expression of interest pool, can apply.
This latest announcement is a welcome change and it is sincerely hoped that the government or the immigration department does not falter in its execution.
In a recent article, the Indian Weekender had quantified the problem, whereby an estimated 60000 Kiwi Indians were living under the fear of uncertainty and despair, due to lack of pathway to residency. Read more here 60000 KIWI INDIANS LIVE IN UNCERTAINTY AS GOVT THROTTLES PATHWAY TO RESIDENCY