Citizenship processing status

Nick Sampson made this Official Information request to Department of Internal Affairs

The request was successful.

From: Nick Sampson

Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

I am requesting answers to the following questions regarding citizenship applications:

1) How many applications were received in October 2020 for the following three categories?
In-person applications received (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Online applications received:
Postal applications received:

2) How many applications received in October 2020 have been processed? Please provide a breakdown as per the three above-mentioned categories.
In-person applications processed (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Online applications processed:
Postal applications processed:

3) Statistics on the processing times of applications received in October 2020 by the three above-mentioned categories:
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of In-person applications processed (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of Online applications processed:
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of Postal applications processed:

4) Do you maintain a single queue for processing all citizenship applications regardless of which method is used for submission? If you prioritized one application category over another, then how do you plan to redress the discrepancy? Given that all applicants pay the same application fee, it is unfair that the application method should dictate how quickly the application is processed.

5) When will you start processing online applications received in October 2020?

6) Why does the Citizenship website not provide statistics on applications that have been received to date, the average processing time by category, and the median processing time by category? This is a simple update to the website. The counter can be updated daily providing greater accountability, transparency, and clarity on how applications are being processed.
The statement - It takes 9 to 14 months to find out if your application to become a New Zealand citizen has been approved - does not provide much detail.

Yours faithfully,
Nick Sampson

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From: OIA
Department of Internal Affairs

Tçnâ koe Nick,

Thank you for your OIA request to the Department of Internal Affairs (included with this email)

The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and within twenty working days.  The 20th working day is 24 August 2021

Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides information that is identified to be of general public interest, the response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs website.  If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Nâku nâ,

Michelle Reed (she/her)  
Kaitohutohu Ârahi, te Ture Pârongo Ôkawa | Lead Advisor Official Correspondence 
Te Urûngi | Organisational Strategy & Performance
Level 6, 45 Pipitea St | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand |  www.dia.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Sampson <[FOI #16223 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 27 July 2021 8:48 PM
To: OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Citizenship processing status

Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

I am requesting answers to the following questions regarding citizenship applications:

1) How many applications were received in October 2020 for the following three categories?
In-person applications received (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Online applications received:
Postal applications received:

2) How many applications received in October 2020 have been processed? Please provide a breakdown as per the three above-mentioned categories.
In-person applications processed (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Online applications processed:
Postal applications processed:

3) Statistics on the processing times of applications received in October 2020 by the three above-mentioned categories:
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of In-person applications processed (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of Online applications processed:
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of Postal applications processed:

4) Do you maintain a single queue for processing all citizenship applications regardless of which method is used for submission? If you prioritized one application category over another, then how do you plan to redress the discrepancy? Given that all applicants pay the same application fee, it is unfair that the application method should dictate how quickly the application is processed.

5) When will you start processing online applications received in October 2020?

6) Why does the Citizenship website not provide statistics on applications that have been received to date, the average processing time by category, and the median processing time by category? This is a simple update to the website. The counter can be updated daily providing greater accountability, transparency, and clarity on how applications are being processed.
The statement - It takes 9 to 14 months to find out if your application to become a New Zealand citizen has been approved - does not provide much detail.

Yours faithfully,
Nick Sampson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #16223 email]

Is [DIA request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Department of Internal Affairs? If so, please contact us using this form:
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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From: OIA
Department of Internal Affairs

Tçnâ koe Nick,

Thank you for your OIA request to the Department of Internal Affairs (included with this email)

The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as practicable and within twenty working days.  The 20th working day is 24 August 2021

Please note that in cases where the Department’s response provides information that is identified to be of general public interest, the response may also be published on the Department of Internal Affairs website.  If the Department publishes its response to your OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact details, will be removed.

Nâku noa, nâ

Michelle Reed (she/her)  
Kaitohutohu Ârahi, te Ture Pârongo Ôkawa | Lead Advisor Official Correspondence 
Te Urûngi | Organisational Strategy & Performance
Level 6, 45 Pipitea St | PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand |  www.dia.govt.nz

-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Sampson <[FYI request #16223 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 27 July 2021 8:48 PM
To: OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Citizenship processing status

Dear Department of Internal Affairs,

I am requesting answers to the following questions regarding citizenship applications:

1) How many applications were received in October 2020 for the following three categories?
In-person applications received (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Online applications received:
Postal applications received:

2) How many applications received in October 2020 have been processed? Please provide a breakdown as per the three above-mentioned categories.
In-person applications processed (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Online applications processed:
Postal applications processed:

3) Statistics on the processing times of applications received in October 2020 by the three above-mentioned categories:
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of In-person applications processed (Please provide a breakdown by the city of application):
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of Online applications processed:
Mean, median, maximum, and minimum processing time of Postal applications processed:

4) Do you maintain a single queue for processing all citizenship applications regardless of which method is used for submission? If you prioritized one application category over another, then how do you plan to redress the discrepancy? Given that all applicants pay the same application fee, it is unfair that the application method should dictate how quickly the application is processed.

5) When will you start processing online applications received in October 2020?

6) Why does the Citizenship website not provide statistics on applications that have been received to date, the average processing time by category, and the median processing time by category? This is a simple update to the website. The counter can be updated daily providing greater accountability, transparency, and clarity on how applications are being processed.
The statement - It takes 9 to 14 months to find out if your application to become a New Zealand citizen has been approved - does not provide much detail.

Yours faithfully,
Nick Sampson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #16223 email]

Is [DIA request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Department of Internal Affairs? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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From: SDO Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs


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Attachment OIA 2122 0081 Nick Sampson response.pdf
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Attachment OIA 2122 0081 Appendix A.pdf
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Tēnā koe Nick,

 

Please see attached for the response to your Official Information Act 1982
request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Louise Walton [1](she/her)

Advisor Official Correspondence

Te Pāhekoheko, Kāwai ki te Iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua | The Department of Internal Affairs

[2]www.dia.govt.nz

[3]Logo-test

 

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2. http://www.dia.govt.nz/

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From: Nick Sampson

Dear The Department of Internal Affairs,

Your processing time calculation is deceptive. It does not include the crucial wait time of the application. From the perspective of the applicant including the wait time is important and in general, should be always included in the processing time. This is the reason why the average values for online and paper applications are similar. You have not disclosed when the applications mentioned in the table were allocated to LISO.

For transparency and accountability purposes, please revise the table and show the processing times based on when the applicant made payment for the application and when a decision was made for that applicant.

Yours sincerely,

Nick Sampson

Link to this

From: SDO Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs


Attachment image003.png
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Attachment OIA 2122 0173 Nick Sampson response.pdf
178K Download View as HTML

Attachment OIA 2122 0173 Appendix A.pdf
666K Download View as HTML


Tēnā koe Nick,

 

Please see attached for the response to your Official Information Act 1982
request.

 

Ngā mihi,

 

Louise Walton [1](she/her)

Advisor Official Correspondence

Te Pāhekoheko, Kāwai ki te Iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua | The Department of Internal Affairs

[2]www.dia.govt.nz

[3]Logo-test

 

References

Visible links
1. https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-wo...
2. http://www.dia.govt.nz/

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