Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

I am writing pursuant to Sections 12 and 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, to request specific information concerning the parent category of immigration applications. The below queries apply only to applicaitons that have been submitted to INZ following an ITA being issued.

1. Could you please confirm the yearly period (dd/mm - dd/mm) to which the yearly cap on approvals to immigration applications for the parent category applies?
2. Please provide the total number of parent visa applications approved from the ballot for the current year as of 10/05/2024, relative to the cap. I require only the yearly total, not a monthly breakdown.
3. Please provide the total number of parent visa applications approved from the queue for each yearly cap period as of 10/05/2024, relative to the cap. I require only the yearly total, not a monthly breakdown.
4. Should the cap be reached in any given year, what procedures are followed for applications that are fully assessed but cannot be approved due to the cap?
5. Are such applications then placed in a queue awaiting the rollover date into the next yearly period? i.e. do these automatically get released on the first day of the new year?

As per Section 15(A) of the Act, I request that this information, which I understand is readily available and held by Immigration New Zealand, be provided urgently.

I appreciate your cooperation and look forward to receiving this information sooner than the statutory timeframe, given the nature of the data already held by INZ.

Yours faithfully,

Ethan Harwood

Dear Ministerial Services,

I am writing to urgently request expedited processing of my Official Information Act (OIA) request submitted on 10 May 2024, regarding the parent category of immigration applications.

Given that the information requested pertains to data already held and readily available within Immigration New Zealand, I believe it is feasible to respond sooner than the statutory timeframe. The urgent nature of this request is underscored by its relevance and the necessity for timely access to this information.

While the Official Information Act 1982 generally allows for a 20-working-day response time, I am requesting that this information be provided as soon as possible due to its urgency and significance it has for New Zealanders.

Your prompt attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Ethan Harwood