Last Wednesday (October 12), Immigration minister Michael Wood made the much-awaited announcement to confirm the reopening of the parent and skilled migrant residence visas from next month.
According to the announcement, the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) visa would reopen under current settings, and the first selection will take place on November 9 for migrants with 160 points. However, the points requirement will rise to 180 when a new system for the skills category commences starting next year.
As regards the parents’ residence visa category, Wood confirmed that the visas would reopen from November 14 for people who already have expressions of interest in the queue. And a ballot for new expressions of interest would begin from October 12, with the first selection in August 2023.
Another significant change is that the number of these visas granted yearly would increase from 1000 to 2500, with a lower income threshold of 1.5x the median wage for one sponsor supporting one parent and 2x the median salary for joint sponsors.
Another important change is that siblings would also be able to co-sponsor applications, and joint applications would be able to apply for up to six parents, with the income threshold increasing by 0.5x the median wage per parent.
These changes have left many unanswered questions for the migrants waiting for the categories to reopen.
Indian Weekender spoke to immigration experts Saif Shaikh (Director, Immigration Advice NZ); Jagjeet Singh Sidhu (Director, Immigration Matters) and Shaneel Kavit Kumar (Director, SNK Consultancy Limited) to answer some of those questions.
Do I have to hold an NZ resident visa for three years to sponsor my parents?
Saif Sheikh (SS): Yes, you need to, and if applicable, the joint sponsor also needs to be an NZ resident for a minimum of 3 years and must be ordinarily resident in NZ, i.e. must have spent 184 days or more in each of the 12 months within the last three years immediately preceding the parent's application.
Can I sponsor my mom if my solo annual income is 75,000 and my wife's income is $55000 annually?
Saif Sheikh (SS): If you are a solo sponsor to your mom alone, then you need to meet the income requirements for at least two 12-month income periods within the three years - $86611.20 (2022), $84,240 (2021) and $79,560 (2020).
If you and your partner are sponsoring a single parent, then as a couple, you need to meet the income requirements for at least two 12-month income periods within the three-year period - $115481.60 (2022), $112320 (2021) and $106040 (2020).
Please note these incomes has to be taxed as income that IRD was paid to.
Do parents need to give IELTS or meet English requirements?
Jag Sidhu (JS): There is a requirement for the parent to have acceptable English Language test results (no more than two years old at the time of application is lodged) as follows:
IELTS (General or Academic) – 4.0 or more in at least two of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) Or an overall score of 5 or more
PTE Academic – 29 or more in at least two of the four skills or an overall score of 36 or more
TOEFL (internet-based test) – overall score of 35 or more or t least two of the following skill scores: Listening: 2 or more; Reading: 2 or more; Writing: 11 or more and Speaking: 11 or more
B2 First or B2 First for Schools – overall score of 154 or more or 142 or more in at least two of the four skills
OET – Grade D or higher in at least two of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) Or Grade C or higher in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)
Another option is that the applicant may pre-purchase English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition. The amount of ESOL tuition to be paid is NZ$1,735 per applicant.
If we are two brothers, both NZ Citizens living in NZ, and want to sponsor our parents, what is the annual income we have to show? Can this amount be divided among both of us?
Jag Sidhu (JS): If the siblings are sponsoring a single parent, then they have to meet the income requirements for at least two 12-month income periods within the three-year period - $115481.60 (2022), $112320 (2021) and $106040 (2020).
If the siblings are sponsoring parents, then they need to meet the following income requirements for at least two 12-month income periods within the three-year period - $144352 (2022), $140400 (2021) and $132600 (2020).
If I don't have a valid IELTS, can I apply for the SMC pool next month, as I meet all the other criteria? How can I get an English test booked at the earliest
Shaneel Kumar (SK): You do not need to provide test results if one of the following applies to you.
You are a citizen of Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States, and you have spent at least five years working or studying in those countries or in Australia or New Zealand.
You have a qualification similar to a New Zealand level 7 bachelor's degree gained in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States, and you studied for at least two years in any of those countries to get that qualification.
You have a qualification gained in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States, which is comparable to a postgraduate New Zealand qualification. You must have studied for at least one year in any of those countries to get that qualification.
Otherwise, you must provide an acceptable English language test result (no more than two years old) at the time of lodging EOI. INZ is being pressured about the English test, so it is a wait-and-watch situation.