Today Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway has announced changes to the way in which employers support migrant workers for temporary work visas. These changes are the first wave of a set of changes that will be introduced by the government regarding temporary work visas and will be followed by more changes set to be completed by 2021.

​These initial changes will be implemented on the 7th October 2019 and will apply to any relevant application submitted on or after this date.

Today's announcement details changes relating to the Talent (Accredited Employer) Work Visa Category. The change to policy includes:

• increasing the annual salary limit from NZD $55,000 to NZD $79,560
• removing the option to get a Permanent Resident Visa if you apply for a Talent (Accredited Employer) Resident Visa, and
• ​limiting the amount of time employers can be accredited to 24 months.

If you have any questions relating to these new announcements, or regarding any New Zealand Immigration issue please contact us to arrange an appointment with our licensed adviser at www.EasyVisa.co.nz

source: www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-talent-accredited-employer-work-visa 

 The beginning of April sees New Zealand's minimum wage rise to $17.70, up $1.20 from $16.50. This is the second scheduled minimum wage increase after the government announced in 2017 that it would be looking to increase the minimum wage to $20 by 2021. The next increase is scheduled for April 2020.

From 1 October 2019, all air travellers from 60 visa waiver countries, and all cruise travellers, will need to hold an ETA before travelling to New Zealand.
​
An ETA is an Electronic Travel Authority that will allow Immigration New Zealand to pre-screen travellers prior to arriving at the border. The purpose of the introduction of ETA’s is to speed up immigration clearance and reduce the number of passengers being refused entry at the border. Applying for an ETA is very simple and can be processed online or through a mobile phone app. Applications made through the mobile app will cost NZD$9, or NZD$12 if processed through a web browser. Once granted, an ETA will be valid for 2 years.

In addition to the new ETA, an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will also be introduced, also valid for 2 years. The NZD$35 levy is intended to collect revenue to support tourism infrastructure and conservation activity.

For further information and details on exceptions to the above information please visit:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/government-confirms-electronic-travel-authority-details

If you are unsure as to how these changes may impact your situation get in contact today with Easy Visa to arrange a consultation and plan for your future: www.easyvisa.co.nz   ​

Quality of life, Healthcare, Work/life balance, Safety......

These are just some of the factors that expats rated highly whilst living in New Zealand according to the 2018 HSBC global expat explorer study.

For the second year running, New Zealand has placed 2nd overall as the country expats most enjoy living in.  22,000 expats took part in the survey, ranking a range of criteria based on experience, economics and family.

​"With its breath-taking scenery and inviting outdoor lifestyle, welcoming atmosphere and personal benefits that can last a lifetime, the expats who have moved to New Zealand from every corner of the world are convinced they made a great choice."

Which factors are important to you when choosing where to live and raise your family?

View the complete report at www.expatexplorer.hsbc.com/global-report

Following a public consultation, Government has come up with changes to immigration settings that impact post-study work rights for international students.
The changes are -

• to remove the employer-assisted post-study work visas at all levels;
• to provide a one-year post-study open work visa for students studying Level 4 - 6 and non-degree Level 7 qualifications, with an additional year for Graduate Diploma graduates who are working towards registration with a professional or trade body;
• to provide a two-year post-study open work visa for students studying Level 4 - 6 and non-degree Level 7 qualifications outside Auckland, provided study is completed by December 2021, at which point the entitlement for post-study work rights reverts to a one-year post-study open work visa for students studying Level 4 - 6 and non-degree Level 7 qualifications with an additional year for Graduate Diploma graduates who are working towards registration with a professional or trade body;
• to provide a three-year post-study open work visa for degree Level 7 or above qualifications; and
• to require international students studying Level 8 qualifications to be in an area specified on the Long Term Skills Shortage list, in order for their partner to be eligible for an open work visa, and in turn the partners’ dependent children to be eligible for fee-free domestic schooling.

These changes come into effect on 26 November 2018.

Source: www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications/changes-to-post-study-work-rights-for-international-students

Wow, what a year 2017 has been! This year we have seen big changes to immigration policy being introduced and with the change of government we are expecting further changes in 2018.

​As always, to keep abreast of any changes as they happen make sure to like our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/easyvisawanaka/ or visit our news blog on our website - www.easyvisa.co.nz

Easy Visa would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of our clients and the businesses who have supported us over the last year.

With the holiday season approaching we will be taking a well deserved break, closing down from the 23rd December and then reopening on January 3rd 2018. 

We wish you all an enjoyable holiday season and we will see you in the New Year!

Remuneration thresholds in Skilled Migrant and Essential Skills policies will be increasing on 15 January 2018.

In August 2017, changes to the Skilled Migrant and Essential Skills policies were implemented, aimed at:

• ensuring we are attracting migrants who bring the most economic benefits to New Zealand and to improve the skill composition of people gaining residence under the Skilled Migrant Category
• striking the right balance between ensuring New Zealanders are at the front of the queue for jobs while preserving access to the temporary migrant skills necessary for New Zealand’s continued economic growth.

The changes included introducing remuneration thresholds to both categories, with the aim of improving the assessment of skill and value to New Zealand.

​From 15 January 2018, the following changes will occur in the Skilled Migrant Category:

Threshold for skilled employment in an occupation at ANZSCO 1-3

• Prior to 15 January - $23.49 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)
• From 15 January - $24.29 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)

Threshold for skilled employment in an occupation at ANZSCO 4-5, or which is not included in AZNSCO

• Prior to 15 January - $35.24 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)
• From 15 January - $36.44 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)

Threshold to earn bonus points

• Prior to 15 January - $46.98 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)
• From 15 January - $48.58 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)

From 15 January 2018, the following changes will occur in Essential Skills work visa category:

Threshold for mid-skilled employment in an occupation at ANZSCO 1-3

• Prior to 15 January - $19.97 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)
• From 15 January - $20.65 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)

Threshold for higher skilled employment in any occupation (including those at ANZSCO 4-5)

• Prior to 15 January - $35.24 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)
• From 15 January - $36.44 per hour or above (or the equivalent annual salary)

Why are these changes occurring now?

The thresholds are indexed against the New Zealand median income. As previously announced, remuneration requirements are to be updated at the end of each calendar year based on New Zealand income data (which is released in September). This year the changes have been delayed until January to give employers and migrants enough time to adjust to the new thresholds.

What if I am a current Essential Skills work visa holder and my job does not meet the new threshold? What if I’m an employer and one of my staff hold a current visa but their wage does not meet the new threshold?

Visas that people already hold will not be affected. Changes to the income thresholds will not affect the duration or conditions of visas that have already been granted.
A new application made on or after 15 January will be assessed against the new threshold. This may mean the conditions or visa duration of the next visa could be different.  For example a chef paid $20 an hour would currently be considered mid-skilled, as the occupation is ANZSCO level 2 and the pay is above the existing threshold of $19.97. However if he applied for a further visa after 15 January he would be considered low skilled, unless his pay increased to above the new threshold of $20.65.

What if I apply or applied for a work visa under Essential Skills before 15 January 2018, but my application is not decided by then?  Will Immigration New Zealand assess my skill level based on the old thresholds or the new ones?

If your application was received by INZ before 15 January 2018, the old thresholds will be used to assess your application and determine your visa application.

If I am an employer who has already advertised and prepared to support an Essential Skills work visa, but the person cannot get his application in before 15 January 2018, what happens then?

If an application is received and accepted after 15 January 2018, the new thresholds will apply, even if (for example) the employment agreement has been signed prior to 15 January 2018.

What happens if I was invited to apply for the Skilled Migrant Category under the old thresholds?

The remuneration thresholds against which you will be assessed are the thresholds in place on the date your expression of interest (EOI) was selected from the Pool, if that selection results in an invitation to apply.  For example, if your EOI was selected on 10 January 2018 and you were invited to apply on 20 January 2018, the old remuneration thresholds will apply, even though you weren’t invited to apply until after the new thresholds were introduced.

If you are looking for professional immigration and visa advice please visit www.easyvisa.co.nz 

Source: www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/news-notifications

In total, these changes are estimated to reduce net migration by 20,000-30,000.

We are currently awaiting exact policy as to how these changes are to be implemented and once these are announced we will be updating our news blog. There is no time frame as to when this will happen however changes can come into effect quickly so if you are in a situation where you have the potential to apply for residency or work visas you may wish to get your application in sooner than later just in case you are affected by any future changes. People on valid visas when the changes come in will not be impacted however future visa applications will fall under the new policy once announced.

A detailed outline of the Labour Immigration Policy can be found here: http://www.labour.org.nz/immigration

If you need us to take the stress out of your visa application and ensure you get in before the changes be sure to visit us at www.easyvisa.co.nz ​