NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION FOR MIGRATION & INVESTMENT

For release: 4.30 pm, 3rd April 2004

Migration Agents’ Restrained Welcome To Work-To-Residence Changes

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The New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) has described as “ steps in the right direction” government moves to extend the time allowed for some skilled migrants to find jobs.

But the immigration industry’s national organisation says the extension from six months to nine does not go far enough and that additional moves are needed to ensure the policy works in New Zealand’s interest.

Immigration Minister, David Cunliffe today announced the extension to nine months for Work to Residence permits issued under the Skilled Migrant Category He also said that skilled migrants who can find a job will no longer need to work for three months prior to achieving residence.

The moves follow sharp criticism of the six month visas in January this year, when it was revealed that only 19 people, or three percent of those applying, gained residence through that means in the six months to June 2006.

“New Zealand has an undoubted, long term need for highly-motivated, skilled immigrants and we have to remove needless impediments to them coming here. In this context, we certainly welcome the Minister’s latest moves as steps in the right direction,” says the NZAMI’s Chairman, Bernard Walsh.

“We are, however, disappointed that government has not adopted our own proposal for an extension of work to residence visas to one year’s duration. We believe that a twelve month visa would provide new arrivals with a more realistic opportunity for exploring the market for their specific skills, and would also make prospective migrants more attractive to employers.

“Many New Zealanders know from their own experience that it can take time and persistence to find appropriate work, even in a buoyant job market. The task is obviously far more taxing and time-consuming for newcomers, who might well experience initial difficulties finding their feet in their new environment. Our immigration policies need to take these realities into account,” he says.

Mr Walsh adds that there would be no substantial risk associated with an extended time-span for work visas, as migrants on the work-to-residence scheme have all been cleared for residence, subject only to the requirement of securing and retaining employment in their field.

“We also believe that we should relax or even jettison the requirement that employment gained through the work-to-residence scheme under Skilled Migrant policy must include a considerable level of managerial, specialist or technical expertise. We believe that this requirement places the benchmark too high and is helping to frustrate the policy’s purpose.

“It’s hard to imagine many employers offering senior positions, particularly with a managerial component, to people with short term work permits and no guarantee of residence. Furthermore, a rigidly formalistic concept of skilled employment will probably fail to reflect market realities at any given time,” he says.

“We have had no indication thus far that the Minister is thinking of changing this requirement. However, we would certainly urge him to do so,” Mr Walsh adds.

The New Zealand Association for Migration & Investment represents approximately 170 members throughout New Zealand, including immigration and investment consultants, accountants, lawyers, banks, business specialists and financial advisers.

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