The new system of ‘Interim Visas’ will help foreigners maintain their legal status while their applications for various types of visas are under consideration by Immigration New Zealand.
The new facility will come into force on November 29, 2010, as a part of the new Immigration Act 2009.
Immigration New Zealand would grant Interim Visas to people who satisfy the norms that would qualify them for an appropriate legal status. This would include foreigners who have applied for Student, Business and Resident Visas.
Visiting foreigners keen on Permanent Resident Visas under the Family Reunion Category may also qualify for the facility.
“The 2009 Act will introduce a new ‘Interim Visa,’ which may be granted if a foreign national has applied for a further temporary visa. This will maintain the individual’s lawful status in New Zealand while his or her application is being considered.
“This provision will come into effect in early 2011,” an Immigration New Zealand official said.
An Immigration Adviser told Indian Newslink that The Interim Visa facility would be truly useful if Immigration New Zealand accelerates the process of granting Permanent Residence status to those on Visitor Visas.
“The existing system is cumbersome, requiring people on Visit Visas to leave the country following the expiry of the visa, reapply for another Visit Visa from their home country. I have at least 50 clients on such a ‘come and go’ status and all of them have applied for Permanent Residence Visas, processing of which seems to take years. We hope the new Act will speed up the process,” he said.
Returning Residents’ Visas
The new Act will also make qualitative changes to successful residence applicants.
They would be granted a Residence Visa with ‘Travel Conditions.’
Such applicants will invariably be granted indefinite stay in New Zealand and multiple entry within the validity of the Resident Visa Travel Conditions. Consequently, the term ‘Returning Resident Visa’ (RRV) will not be used.
Officials said ‘Permanent Resident Visas’ will replace Indefinite RRVs and will allow foreign national on this status, indefinite right to enter New Zealand.
“The requirements to progress from a ‘Resident Visa’ to a ‘Permanent Resident Visa’ will be similar to the current requirements to progress from a ‘Non-indefinite RRV’ to an ‘Indefinite RRV’.
People who hold ‘Residence Visas’, ‘Residence Permits’ and ‘Non-indefinite RRVs’ as at November 29, 2010 will automatically be deemed to hold ‘Resident Visas’ with the appropriate travel conditions,” officials said.
Those with ‘Indefinite RRVs’ as at November 29, 2010 will automatically be deemed to hold ‘Permanent Resident Visas’ with indefinite rights to enter New Zealand.
Sponsorship System
The new Act will also change sponsorship procedures in some cases. Effective November 29, Government agencies, companies, charitable trusts and societies will be eligible to sponsor individuals, subject to ‘certain circumstances,’ the nature of which has not yet been announced.
Indian Newslink understands that Immigration New Zealand would expand the categories and criteria early next year.
There could be stricter conditions for sponsors and their obligations towards the persons sponsored would include their accommodation, travel, upkeep, repatriation (or deportation in some cases) and other expenses. Foreigners who are not Permanent Residents are not entitled to free medical attention in New Zealand and sponsors may henceforth be held responsible for payment of hospital and other charges incurred by visitors under their sponsorship.
Individuals and institutions will be responsible for foreigners on entry visas throughout their stay in New Zealand, while their responsibility in the case of foreigners arriving here on Resident Visas will cease after a specified period.
We will bring further analysis by experts in an ensuing edition. Readers may send their queries to editor@indiannewslink.co.nz
