20 September 2004

Samoan Quota Ballot Drawn Today

The New Zealand government’s Samoan Quota was drawn today by the Immigration Service Apia manager James Dalmer.

More than 560 registrations forms (out of a possible 8650) were drawn by the electronic ballot, at the service’s office in Beach Road, Apia. This year over 1,500 places are available under the quota.

The forms selected will now be checked to ensure applicants are eligible to apply.

A confirmed list of successful registration numbers will be published in the Samoa Observer, Samoa Newsline and Le Samoa newspapers, and displayed at the Immigration Service Office on Beach Road, in ANZ, Westpac and National Bank of Samoa branches throughout Upolu and Savai’i, and also through SamoaTel outlets.

According Mr Dalmer, the Immigration Service is working closely with the media, local banks, SamoaTel and other organisations to ensure the list receives wider coverage than in the past.

“Many applicants live in remote locations and it’s important we reach all of the people on list,” Mr Dalmer said.

Those people whose registration numbers are on the list will be contacted by the Immigration Service to collect their letters of confirmation. Having been selected, applicants have six months to obtain a genuine job offer.

There have been problems in previous with fake job offers in the past, resulting in many applications being declined.

Mr Dalmer added: “It is important that people understand that any false or misleading information given by an applicant is unacceptable. We check job offers very closely so we encourage people to provide only genuine information.”

Successful applicants will be invited to attend one of a series of seminars being held by the Immigration Service next month. Invitations to the seminars will be included with confirmation letters. The applicant plus one other person will be able to attend.

“The information proved at the seminar will help people gather the documents we need to check job offers in order to speed up the residency process,” Mr Dalmer said. “It will also help people to ensure that any job offer they have is a genuine one.”

A separate seminar will be held for travel agents and immigration consultants, who sometimes assist applicants, about the recent changes to quota policy and procedures.

On hand to witness the ballot were representatives from the New Zealand High Commission, Auseugaefa Va’asatia Poloma Komiti, CEO of the Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Lautafi Selafi Purcell, Principal Policy Adviser from New Zealand’s Department of Corrections.

Notes

The New Zealand government recently made changes to its Samoan Quota policy to ensure that it is filled each year.

These changes include:

Six months to get a job offer instead of three

Applications are now accepted from Samoan citizens lawfully in New Zealand – and will be processed in New Zealand

The minimum income level has been lowered from NZ$31,566 to NZ$25,585

Job offers for both the main applicant and their partner can count towards meeting the minimum income requirement

More information on job offers can be sent in with the residence application to enable quicker verification

Development of private and public sector partnerships to assist suitable migrants into employment

Establishment of a new relationship manager position to assist Samoan applicants to ]find jobs in New Zealand

The remaining places from the unfilled 2002 and 2003 quotas will be retained and made available over the next three years, starting this year

Settlement information targeted to ensure Samoan migrants’ needs will be developed

ENDS

© Scoop Media