Hamilton (New Zealand), 27 Feb., 2020:
By Gurbir Singh:
New Zealand's Minister of Immigration, Iain Lees-Galloway says the aim for residence policy is to be more focused on skilled immigrants, so emphasis would continue to clear the priority queue ‘more quickly’.
Priority visa applicants for residency are those professionals earning NZ$106,800 (twice the median wage of NZ) or more a year, and work in an occupation where registration is required.
This was revealed by the Immigration Minister to this journalist in an exclusive interview at Hamilton on 25 February.
“We are in urgent need of registered professionals – nurses, health specialists, teachers, they are the main occupations that are going to be prioritised to see they move quickly.," Lees-Galloway said.
“Obviously, we want people to apply who will be prioritised, and what we are doing right now is we’re looking at our residency policy…I anticipate we will have some changes before elections (scheduled to be held in September this year).”
As per some media reports, there are currently over 35,000 applicants waiting for a decision and/or awaiting confirmation of appointment of a case officer to review their application. The Minister,however, disputes this figure, and says the pending applications are only about 13,000.
Some of the applicants are reportedly waiting from a year to 15 months also.
He acknowledged delays in processing times and resultant backlog.
Lees-Galloway, NZ Immigration Minister(Photo: NewsViews)
The Minister expressed his desire to see people get their decisions a lot sooner, “It is not acceptable and I’m not satisfied with the status quo..."
Long application processing times are causing outrage and distress. Frustrated applicants are venting their anger and anxiety on social media.
Some of these “victims of Immigration NZ have decided that enough is enough" and are taking to streets early next month in Auckland.
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Read the full interview and coverage of the immigration issues discussed here: