20 May 2021
Petrus
[FYI request #15231 email]
File No: DOIA 2021 – 2119
Dear Petrus
Thank you for your email on 21 April 2021, requesting the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
•
When wil EOI selections resume as the suspension has now expired?
•
If no date is provided on when selections wil be taking place then when wil the
announcement be made on when selections wil be taking place as the suspension has
expired?.
•
Why can’t selections for onshore immigrants that is in the EOI pool and currently meet the
criteria for SMC and have the funds not take place? Surely this money can help the economy
recover.
•
How many current submissions are there in the EOI pool waiting to be selected that meets
the 160 point requirement and please state whether they are onshore or offshore?
•
How many of the submissions wil fall under the priority list when selections start?
Our response
When wil EOI selections resume as the suspension has now expired?
There is currently no timeframe as to when the Expressions of Interest (EOI) selections for the Skil ed
Migrant Category (SMC) will resume.
If no date is provided on when selections wil be taking place then when wil the announcement be
made on when selections wil be taking place as the suspension has expired?
There is currently no timeframe as to when an announcement will be made.
Why can’t selections for onshore immigrants that is in the EOI pool and currently meet the criteria
for SMC and have the funds not take place? Surely this money can help the economy recover.
Under current immigration settings, the selection of SMC EOIs is not prioritised based on whether
the potential applicant is inside or outside of New Zealand. INZ understands that people who
submitted EOIs from outside of New Zealand did so with an expectation of these being treated the
same as EOIs submitted from within New Zealand.
The continued deferral of SMC EOIs allows INZ to focus on processing applications from people who
are in New Zealand (this includes SMC residence applications from individuals who are currently in
New Zealand); those offshore and exempt from the border restrictions; and those offshore applying
for a visa as an exception to the border restrictions.
How many current submissions are there in the EOI pool waiting to be selected that meets the 160
point requirement and please state whether they are onshore or offshore?
As of 11 May 2021 there are total 9,115 EOIs in the pool claiming to meet the 160 point
requirement.
Of these 8,209 claim to be onshore with 906 claiming to be offshore.
How many of the submissions wil fal under the priority list when selections start?
Priority processing for skilled residence applications applies to those who earn above $106,080 per
annum or hold employment which requires occupational registration as required in immigration
instruction A16.1.
It is only possible for INZ to determine which applications meet the priority criteria when an
application for a residence visa has been lodged and accepted.
As of 11 May 2021 there are 2,880 persons who in their EOI have claimed one of the priority criteria.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact Adam Jones,
Business Advisor, Operations Support, Immigration New Zealand at [email address].
Yours sincerely
Jock Gilray
Acting General Manager – Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
