Nirav Shastri
[FYI request #14130 email]
File No: DOIA 2021 – 1000
Dear Nirav Shastri
Thank you for your email on 15 November 2020, requesting the fol owing information under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
1) Going through previous FYI responses, I see that you keep posting us with weekly statistics
on the allocation numbers for priority and non-priority queues. The latest data we have was
for the week commencing 1 May 2020. Therefore, could I please ask you to provide CO
(thereafter CO – Case Officer) allocation figures for the following weeks (separately for priority
and non-priority queues):
a) Week commencing 02 Nov 2020 – Number of priority applications got CO / Number of non-
priority applications got CO
b) Week commencing 09 Nov 2020 – Number of priority applications got CO / Number of non-
priority applications got CO
c) Week commencing 16 Nov 2020 – Number of priority applications got CO / Number of non-
priority applications got CO
d) Week commencing 23 Nov 2020 – Number of priority applications got CO / Number of non-
priority applications got CO
2) What is the lodgement date for the oldest non-priority SMC/RFW application?
3) What is the total number of non-priority applications in SMC/RFW non-priority queue
currently awaiting for CO al ocation? Also, please provide number of applicants behind these
applications.
4) Could you please provide breakdown on the number of offshore and onshore applications
(applicants) awaiting for allocation in the SMC/RFW non-priority queue.
5) What is the number of priority SMC/RFW applications currently awaiting for officer
allocation?
6) Do you process offshore priority SMC applications? Are these applications being prioritized
over non-priority SMC/RFW onshore applications?
7) Could you please provide monthly breakdown numbers on how many non-priority SMC/RFW
applications/applicants who lodged their applications last year (2019) are waiting for CO
allocation:
a) May 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants
waiting for CO allocation
b) June 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants
waiting for CO allocation
c) July 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants waiting
for CO al ocation
d) August 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants
waiting for CO allocation
e) September 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants
waiting for CO allocation
f) October 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants
waiting for CO allocation
g) November 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants
waiting for CO allocation
h) December 2019 - Number of applications waiting for CO allocation / Number of applicants
waiting for CO allocation
8) When did Immigration New Zealand adopt the policy of application prioritisation and when
it was first shared with broad public?
9) What is the definition of "reasonable timeframe" for the SMC/RFW applications?
10) How many Immigration Officers Working on SMC?
11) How many application allocating to CO each week?
12) for how long Immigration was closed in Christmas Period?
I am writing to advise you that the Ministry wil provide a response but needs to extend the time
available to answer your request. The Ministry’s response will be with you no later than 18 January
2021. This includes the period from 25 December 2020 to 15 January 2021 which are not considered
as working days under the OIA. The reason for the extension relies on s15A(1)(b) of the OIA -
consultations necessary to make a decision on the request are such that a proper response to the
request cannot be made within the original time limit.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of our decision to extend the time limit by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to do so is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
I will respond to you sooner if I am able to.
Yours sincerely
Michael Carley
Manager Operations Support – Border & Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Document Outline
