Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi on 30 September announced a one-off resident visa pathway, which could see about 110,000 migrants submitting their applications by July 31' 2022. A further 55,000 applications are estimated to be processed for partners and dependent children. So in all, 1,65,000 migrants are on a fast track to residency.
Applications will phase out with preference given to those already in the queue. From December 1, 2021, those who have applied for residency under the Skilled Migrant and Residence from Work categories before 29 September 2021 as well as submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest and have included a dependent child in the Expression of Interest aged 17 years or older will be considered for processing.
There are expected to be around 13,000 to 14,000 applications during this phase.
At a media press conference, Minister Faafoi said no priorities were set in terms of industries or critical workers in this phase. He said, “The prioritisation decision in the first tranche of applications is for those who are already in the application queue, and those who have got an expression of interest application with dependent children who are 17 years and over.”
The second phase which starts from March 1, 2021, will be open to all other eligible applicants, including those who have submitted a Skilled Migrant Category Expression of Interest.
Pathway provides certainty to businesses
Minister Faafoi said government recognises the contribution that migrants have made to New Zealand during the COVID pandemic as well as the need to provide certainty to many employers and businesses.
Indian Weekender was at the ministerial online media conference. “This announcement recognises the uncertainty faced by migrants due to border restrictions and changes to the immigration settings. It also reflects the need to continue to make the most of the onshore workforce while the border remains closed,” Minister Faafoi said.
“When we look at numbers, we're essentially putting three or four years' worth of residence through in a 12-month window. So, to a large degree, this will help those businesses and give certainty to those temporary visa holders who are eligible,” he added.
Who can apply for this visa?
Those present in New Zealand, on an eligible visa and able to satisfy one of the three set criteria, can submit their applications for a resident visa.
The 2021 Resident Visa would be available to most work-related visa holders, including Essential Skills, Work to Residence, and Post Study Work visas. Partners and dependents can be included as part of these residence applications.
It is expected most applications will be processed within 12 months.
The news has been welcomed by one and all. The politicians, business associations, immigration experts as well as migrants, seem to be happy with the announcement calling it 'long due'.
National Party Immigration spokesperson and Member of Parliament Erica Stanford, who has been vocal about the government urgent need to have a residence plan for migrants, said, “Today’s announcement is a retreat from the earlier position to drastically limit immigration to now adopting National’s Covid contribution policy. After wasting four years Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has finally realised that with the tightest labour market in more than 40 years, low unemployment and a global bidding war for talented workers kiwis businesses desperately need our valuable skilled migrants to stay.”
She further added, “While this is a good move, why did it take Mr Faafoi so long to solve the problem? We know of some highly skilled migrants, such as Otaki doctor Harding Richards, who simply gave up and left the country, but how many more examples are there? It is unacceptable that delays in processing residence visas have been left to explode out of control for three years, to the point where the only option the minister now has is to fast-track residence to 165,000 people.
“Granting residence to 165,000 people is a panicked reaction from a government that had no other choice because it broke our immigration system.”
Stanford also feels that the Immigration staff has to be increased. “The minister must now increase the number of staff in the residency processing team, otherwise migrants will simply move from one long queue of misery to another. This team processes around 33,000 visas annually, even with a fast-tracked process, a 230 per cent increase in productivity to 110,000 applications in a year is an impossible task.
“National is also calling for all split migrant families who are eligible for the 2021 residence visa to apply in the first phase on 1 December to expedite their family reunification. We must prioritise split migrant families. Apart from that, those migrants unfairly disadvantaged by processing delays who passed the age requirements for residence should also be granted an age waiver so that they remain eligible for this new visa category,” she said.
Vanushi Walters, Labour MP for Upper Harbour called this announcement “a big investment by government”. Giving her reaction to the announcement, she said, “Many families woke up this morning to the news that brings certainty to their future in New Zealand”. Minister Faafoi’s announcement of the 2021 Resident Visa signifies a huge investment by the government to provide safe, fair and workable options to migrants and their families. Immigration issues have been front of mind for our ethnic caucus and we are delighted to see the one-off, simplified pathway to residence for approximately 165,000 migrants currently in New Zealand announced today. Our thanks to the Minister for his leadership in responding to issues raised by community leaders and introducing this robust policy, providing certainty and stability for migrant workers and employers.”
Reacting to the development, ACT’s Immigration spokesperson Dr James McDowall said, “ACT is congratulating Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi for giving up on his so-called Immigration reset – but we need to be sure he’s not culling a years-long queue to simply create another one. The ‘One-off Residency Visa’ has Immigration NZ estimating 110,000 principal applicants, and if you include their dependents, a total estimate of 165,000 people will be the biggest test of the department’s capabilities yet. This will be welcomed by migrants and employers, but questions remain about whether the Minister is shifting his policy failures from one corner of the room to another.
“While the clearing of the decks is welcome – we call on the Government to sort out EOI selection and its new residency settings as soon as possible. Future migrants, businesses and those that will miss out need certainty. ACT has been calling the Minister out for his poor policies and piling on the pressure. We welcome this as a victory for migrants, families, employers, and the New Zealand economy as a whole.”
Business and employers happy
Apart from the political parties, the Business associations are also welcoming this announcement openheartedly. Greg Harford, Retail NZ’s Chief Executive was quoted as saying, “New Zealand has a shortage of workers across the economy, and many on temporary workers have jobs in the retail sector. Many of those on temporary visas have been living in a state of limbo during COVID-19, creating uncertainty for both the employees and their employers.
“Many temporary workers have been in New Zealand for several years and play an important role in helping businesses function, and it is good news that the Government is moving to create a pathway for many of these workers to gain residency in New Zealand. Businesses don’t want to see temporary visa holders forced to leave the country, as it would create a significant hole in New Zealand’s pool of available talent. Many retailers will be pleased that there is now a pathway for some workers to be allowed to stay. The requirement for workers to have been here already for three years may still mean that there is a group without the ability to stay on, and it would be good to see some flexibility around this.”
Sharing a similar sentiment, BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope was quoted as saying, “Residency pathways for critical workers and their families recognise the significant contribution international workers have made to New Zealand during the pandemic. The critical services that have kept the country going are reliant on international skills and talent.
“Many of these people have been in challenging circumstances given the uncertainty about whether they would be able to stay in New Zealand, and separation from family overseas. In an environment of major skill shortages across several industries and regions, and ongoing pressure at the border, New Zealand cannot afford to lose any more skilled people from the workforce if we want to maintain economic momentum and bounce back from the latest Auckland lockdown. This will be a welcome relief for employers across the country who have been trying to retain international workers and support them through this challenging environment.
“New Zealand needs to signal that we welcome and value those who choose to contribute to this country if we are to remain globally competitive and continue to attract the best international skills and talent, and this is a positive step in that direction.”
Immigration consultants delighted
Immigration experts are also mostly pleased with the government's announcement.
Alastair McClymont of McClymont & Associates said, “The new policy announcement has taken a long time for the government to announce. I began working on a proposal to the government for a Work to residence pathway in 2018, and again in early 2020, together with the Migrant Workers Association, Unite Union and One Union. In 2021 the three main opposition parties, National, The Greens and ACT also adopted variations of this proposal, in particular the Greens push for a broad pathway to residency and National’s Covid Contribution Visa.
“The only thing surprising about this announcement is that it has taken the government so long to announce it and that the Minister of Immigration didn't tell the migrant community that something was coming this year, as so many valuable skilled migrants have already left the country solely because the Minister failed to communicate with the public about what they are planning. Everyone has been insisting that the government adopt such a policy for at least a year or more, on most other western countries have adopted such a proposal months ago. It has been so self-evidently necessary for so long and is the obvious solution to the labour market shortages since the first COVID lockdown early last year. The infamous “Immigration reset” announced by the government earlier this year can now be discarded into the rubbish bin of history where it deserves to stay forever.”
Former immigration minister Tuariki Delamere does have a word of caution as he said many questions still need answers by the government. He said, “I believe it is great news for the migrants but there are many questions that still need to be answered. The announcement has brought cheers to all but I do believe that there are many issues on which need some clarity including what happens to the families of those eligible people who are stuck overseas. Also, a question that does need answering concerns the skilled migrant applications currently being processed - do they get priority over this 2021 Resident Visa? I just hope it is not just another lollypop.”
Immigration expert and Director, NZAMI (New Zealand Association of Migration & Investment) Arunima Dhingra called it the happiest immigration news for New Zealand migrants. “This has got to be the best news for most migrant workers in NZ's immigration history.
But it did come as a surprise and one begins to wonder if this was brewing in the background all these 18 months or is this a reactive reaction to the increased turmoil that had been created in this space. Or is it because the residence became so big to manage that this was the only way to cope.
Or is it a political move entirely due to the pressure the government came under.
Whatever the reason, we will have thousands and thousands of very happy migrants, many of which were preparing to leave NZ to goto countries like Canada. So this definitely helps with retention of talent for NZ employers.
However the thousands that missed out by days, a few cents in their pay or because they were proactively trying to pursue skilled shortage courses as returning students, will find this unfair and lustre lacking.
Whilst we know that a policy change can't make everyone happy, it would be good if the government ever gives their reasoning and logic behind such a drastic measure. However for now, very excited and pleased for many many happy migrants and their families that will now be able to call NZ their home.”
Migrants too seem to be overwhelmed by this news and can’t contain their excitement.
An emotional Sandeep Kaur, who has been in New Zealand for eight years said, “I had lost all my hope to get residence in New Zealand. But today everything has changed. I am so happy and relieved that I now I can think of a permanent future in New Zealand.”
Another migrant Akshay Sharma, who has been in the country for five years and working in the healthcare sector says, “Today is the happiest day of my life. After thinking years and months about my future here, I had honestly lost hope of getting residence here. I was even thinking of migrating to Canada but today’s announcement has changed it all. I am thankful to the government for finally taking such positive steps for migrants.”