Industry Leader Criticizes Family Visa Closures

The New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) has expressed concern at the Government’s sudden shutdown of the Parent and Sibling/Adult Child categories of Residence.

NZAMI Chairman Simon Laurent said the Government only announced on Thursday 10 May that the deadline for submitting applications under these categories would close on Tuesday 15 May – giving people just four working days to complete applications.

“The public only became aware of plans to terminate these Family policies back in February through the leak of a Ministerial briefing paper,” Simon said.

“Although the document made clear that changes would be implemented by July, it did not specify when and how the policy changes would actually take place.”

Simon said while the tight timeframe had caught out potential offshore migrants it had also impacted on New Zealand families who wanted to sponsor them.

“A lot of time, money and effort go into preparing a Residence application, including comprehensive medical certificates and translation of documents.

“Applicants and their relatives have acted in good faith in preparing their papers, because, up to last week, Immigration represented that they could apply.  New Zealand citizens and residents – and taxpayers – deserve better than to be treated in such a cavalier fashion.”

Simon said he had set out NZAMI’s concerns in writing to the Minister of Immigration and suggested that the deadline be extended by a few weeks so that those people who had started the process were not disadvantaged.

“So far there has been no response.”

NZAMI is the key representative body for the New Zealand immigration advice profession.