29 March 2022
A KS
[FYI request #17478 email]
Ref: DOIA 2122-1722/1723
Dear A KS
Thank you for your email of 1 March 2022 requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act),
the following information:
1:- I want to refer to your response to one old EOI
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2F
17478%2Fresponse%2F68040%2Fattach%2F6%2FDOIA%25202122%25201067%2520Appendix%
2520one.pdf&data=04%7C01%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C0ff453cfefa94d7
6c01808d9fb5daf98%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C63781720265740
5329%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haW
wiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=11tJmBtgN2RB1mgSJCMkIT%2BLo95lt3xS6xpoLi1MX
d0%3D&reserved=0
If we check the list of documents from 26th March till 14 July 2021, there are 11 documents
related to Parents residency visa. If possible, can you provide all these 11 documents ( except the
one you provided in the latest OIA)
2:- In the same response, there is a document on 20 Oct 2021 regarding long term visitor visas
for parents. Can you provide that document too?
The documentation requested here remains under active consideration at this time. Therefore, MBIE is
continuing to withhold these documents in full under section 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act to maintain the
confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials. We do not consider that the
withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest considerations in making the
information available.
Thank you, also, for your email of 1 March 2022 requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), the following information:
1:- Will the NZ border opening and visa processing effective Oct 2022 , going to consider
restarting the selection of Parent Residency EOIs too?
2: If no, what is the plan of INZ to reopen this category or even starting a review in 2022 ?
3:- Can you tell how many Parent and grandparent visitor visas ( and count of persons) are
active at the moment, Secondly, how many visas out of them will expire after Oct 1st,2022?
Response:
Parent Resident Visa category expression of interest selections have been suspended since 2016.
Immigration New Zealand was due to make the first selections under the current criteria in May 2020,
but selections were further suspended due to the impacts of COVID-19 on visa processing. It is now
expected that selections of expressions of interest will resume once a review of this category has been
undertaken.
The planned review of the Parent Resident Visa category will look at barriers to access, including the
income thresholds and ways to manage the backlog of expressions of interest. Some preliminary work on
reviewing the Parent Resident Visa category commenced in March 2021, however substantive work on
this review is not expected until the second half of 2022.
The data associated with part 3 can be found below in the tables attached as Annex One.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Craig
Manager Immigration (Skills and Residence) Policy
Annex One
Total number of applicants currently waiting for a Grandparent and Parent Visitor Visa
There are 206 principal applicants waiting for the decision of a Grandparent or Parent Visitor Visa.
In addition, there are 91 secondary applicants waiting for the decision of a Grandparent and Parent
Visitor Visa.
Total number of people who currently hold a Grandparent and Parent Visitor Visa
There are 2145 principal applicants who hold a Grandparent and Parent Visitor Visa. Fewer than five of
these people have visas that expire after 1 October 2022.
In addition, 953 secondary applicants currently hold a Grandparent and Parent Visitor Visa. Fewer than
five of these people have visas that expire after 1 October 2022.
