Ref: 2021-0170

 

Dear Sunny,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 14 July 2020 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

I would like to know the answers to the following questions regarding
partnership visas being processed at the Hamilton INZ branch:

- How many partnership visa applications were pending in Aug'2019 (i.e.
yet to be allocated to a case manager)?

- The last application to be allocated to a case manager was submitted to
INZ on what date?

- How many applications were assigned to case managers in the month of
January 2020?

- How many applications were assigned to case managers in the month of
February 2020?

- What was the normal timeframe for partnership visa approvals from June
2019 to April 2020?

 

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

 

Please note, due to ongoing COVID-19 response work, requests are currently
being triaged and those relating to Covid-19 processed as a priority.
Remaining requests are being assessed as per the Ombudsman’s guidance
(which can be found here:
[1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/chief-ombudsmans-statement-official-information-response-times-during-covid-19-emergency)
and processed accordingly.

 

If you have any enquiries regarding your request, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [2][MBIE request email].

 

Nâku noa, nâ

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

 

Corporate, Governance and Information

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/news/...
2. mailto:[MBIE request email]
3. http://www.govt.nz/

Dear Sunny Kumar,

 

On 14 July 2020, you asked the Ministry of Business Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) for information under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). Your request was made via the FYI website.

 

Section 12 of the Act provides that any person may make a request where
they are:

 

• a New Zealand citizen; or

• a permanent resident of New Zealand; or

• a person who is in New Zealand; or

• a body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

• a body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand but which has
a place of business in New Zealand.

 

MBIE requires more information to establish your compliance with section
12. An original of any one of the following items is acceptable as a
demonstration of your eligibility:

 

• A recent bill from the company who supplies your power, gas, water,
phone or internet services

• Council rates notice

• A letter from the Electoral Office

• Travel itinerary

• Anything from a government agency that includes your name and address

• Unexpired Rental or Tenancy Agreement.

 

A scanned copy of one of the above can be sent to
[1][email address]

 

Once MBIE receives this additional information from you, and is satisfied
that the requirements of section 12 have been met, we will acknowledge the
request and begin to consider it under the Act. If you do not meet the
eligibility criteria of section 12, MBIE will still consider your request.

 

The 20 working days for making a decision on your request will begin from
the day MBIE receives confirmation of your eligibility or otherwise.

 

Kind regards,

Margaret Huang

BUSINESS ADVISOR

 

Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

[2][email address]

Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6011

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.govt.nz/

Dear Sunny Kumar,

 

MBIE is following up on the below email as we have not received a response
to date.

 

-Margaret

 

From: Margaret Huang
Sent: Friday, 24 July 2020 2:52 PM
To: '[FOI #13311 email]'
<[FOI #13311 email]>
Subject: DOIA 2021-0170 - Sunny Kumar - Section 12 [IN-CONFIDENCE:RELEASE
EXTERNAL]

 

Dear Sunny Kumar,

 

On 14 July 2020, you asked the Ministry of Business Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) for information under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act). Your request was made via the FYI website.

 

Section 12 of the Act provides that any person may make a request where
they are:

 

• a New Zealand citizen; or

• a permanent resident of New Zealand; or

• a person who is in New Zealand; or

• a body corporate which is incorporated in New Zealand; or

• a body corporate which is incorporated outside New Zealand but which has
a place of business in New Zealand.

 

MBIE requires more information to establish your compliance with section
12. An original of any one of the following items is acceptable as a
demonstration of your eligibility:

 

• A recent bill from the company who supplies your power, gas, water,
phone or internet services

• Council rates notice

• A letter from the Electoral Office

• Travel itinerary

• Anything from a government agency that includes your name and address

• Unexpired Rental or Tenancy Agreement.

 

A scanned copy of one of the above can be sent to
[1][email address]

 

Once MBIE receives this additional information from you, and is satisfied
that the requirements of section 12 have been met, we will acknowledge the
request and begin to consider it under the Act. If you do not meet the
eligibility criteria of section 12, MBIE will still consider your request.

 

The 20 working days for making a decision on your request will begin from
the day MBIE receives confirmation of your eligibility or otherwise.

 

Kind regards,

Margaret Huang

BUSINESS ADVISOR

 

Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

[2][email address]

Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6011

 

[3]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.govt.nz/

Dear Sunny,

 

I refer to your Official Information Act request dated 14 July 2020 for
the following information:

 

I would like to know the answers to the following questions regarding
partnership visas being processed at the Hamilton INZ branch: - How many
partnership visa applications were pending in Aug'2019 (i.e. yet to be
allocated to a case manager)? - The last application to be allocated to a
case manager was submitted to INZ on what date? - How many applications
were assigned to case managers in the month of January 2020? - How many
applications were assigned to case managers in the month of February 2020?
- What was the normal timeframe for partnership visa approvals from June
2019 to April 2020?

 

Please note that there are many visa products which allow partners to live
in New Zealand. You have not specified which visa product you are seeking
information on.

 

If you do not respond by 5 August 2020 we will provide you with the
information for “Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa.”

 

Kind regards,

Margaret Huang

BUSINESS ADVISOR

 

Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

[1][email address]

Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6011

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.govt.nz/

Dear Sunny,

Thank you for your response.

Please note that INZ 1146 does not relate to a visa product.

Please specify which of the following visa products you are requesting information on:

- Partner of New Zealander Resident Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Visitor Visa
- Partner of a New Zealander Work Visa
- Partner of a Student Visitor Visa
- Partner of a Student Work Visa
- Partner of a Worker Visitor Visa
- Partner of a Worker Work Visa
- Partner of a New Zealand Scholarship Student Work Visa
- Partner of Military Visitor Visa
- Partner of Military Work Visa
- Culturally Arranged Marriage Visitor Visa

Again, if you do not respond by 5 August 2020 we will provide you with the information for “Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa.”

Kind regards,

Margaret Huang
BUSINESS ADVISOR

Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6011

show quoted sections

Dear Sunny,

 

Please find an extension to your OIA request attached.

 

Kind regards,

Margaret Huang

BUSINESS ADVISOR

 

Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

[1][email address]

Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6011

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.govt.nz/

Dear Sunny Kumar,

 

Please find our response to your OIA request attached.

 

Kind regards,

Margaret Huang

BUSINESS ADVISOR

 

Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

[1][email address]

Level 1, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6011

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.govt.nz/