4 May 2022
N.I.Alali
[FYI request #19023 email]
DOIA 2122-1906
Dear N.I.Alali
Thank you for your email of 31 March 2022 requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act),
the following information:
Could you please provide me with the following information:
- A weekly breakdown of the number of skilled migrant applications that have been allocated
to a case officer since August 2021 to date (non-priority and priority applications) (excluding
2021 off resident visa);
- A weekly breakdown of the number of skilled residence applications completed since August
2021 to date (excluding 2021 off resident visa)
- A monthly breakdown of the number of applications that are still awaiting allocation to an
Immigration Officer since August 2021 to date by the date of lodgement (excluding 2021 off
resident visa)
- Number of case officers working on skilled migrant visa applications (priority and non-
priority)- (excluding 2021 off resident visa);
- Are there any plans to change any of the criteria for prioritising skilled migrant applications
(i.e. applicants who have an hourly rate equivalent to or higher than twice the median wage
currently $51.00 per hour or an annual salary of $106,080 or more will have their application
moved to the priority queue), if yes, could you provide the proposed changes and the date
they will be in effect.
Our Response
Part one: A weekly breakdown of the number of skilled migrant applications that have been allocated
to a case officer since August 2021 to date (non-priority and priority applications) (excluding 2021 off
resident visa);
Please refer to appendix one, table one.
1
Part two: A weekly breakdown of the number of skilled residence applications completed since August
2021 to date (excluding 2021 off resident visa)
Please refer to appendix one, table two.
Part three: A monthly breakdown of the number of applications that are still awaiting allocation to
an Immigration Officer since August 2021 to date by the date of lodgement (excluding 2021 off
resident visa)
The number of unallocated skilled residence applications, broken down by the month the application
was accepted for processing by Immigration New Zealand (INZ), can be found on the INZ website:
www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/other-resources/skilled-residence-applications-onshore-
general-queue.pdf
Part four: Number of case officers working on skilled migrant visa applications (priority and non-
priority)- (excluding 2021 off resident visa);
The 2021 Resident Visa is a key priority for INZ. INZ continues to have a small team of immigration
officers (IOs) processing skilled residence applications where the principal applicant is not eligible or
does not apply for the new 2021 Resident Visa. There has been on average 10 IOs since December 2021,
but lately as capacity allows, we have been able to increase the staff numbers temporarily.
Part five: Are there any plans to change any of the criteria for prioritising skilled migrant applications
(i.e. applicants who have an hourly rate equivalent to or higher than twice the median wage currently
$51.00 per hour or an annual salary of $106,080 or more will have their application moved to the
priority queue), if yes, could you provide the proposed changes and the date they will be in effect.
As per CAB-21-MIN-0279 available online here:
Long-term direction for the immigration portfolio: a
rebalance – Minute of Decision (mbie.govt.nz)
Cabinet has agreed to undertake a review of skilled residence pathways to ensure that policy settings
are consistent with the principles of the Immigration Rebalance. However, as officials are currently
developing advice on this, we are unable to provide further information at this time and decline this
section of the request under 9(2)(f)(iv) of the Act to maintain the constitutional conventions for the time
being which protect the confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers of the Crown and officials.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further
assistance, please contact
[email address]
2
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 at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
Yours sincerely,
Nicola Hogg
General Manager Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
3
Appendix one
Table one: A weekly breakdown of the number of skilled migrant applications that have been allocated
to a case officer since August 2021 to date.
Please note that due to the national lockdown in response to COVID 19 the Auckland offices were closed
from 18 August 2021 therefore no allocations took place until 21 September 2021. Between October to
December 2021 Auckland remained at Alert Level 3, only a small number of staff were able to return to
the office therefore no allocation took place.
Week beginning
Total
Priority
Non-Priority
2 August 2021
100
79
17
9 August 2021
115
83
30
16 August 2021
122
91
28
23 August 2021
0
0
0
30 August 2021
0
0
0
6 September 2021
0
0
0
13 September 2021
0
0
0
20 September 2021
0
0
0
27 September 2021
33
33
0
4 October 2021
0
0
0
11 October 2021
0
0
0
18 October 2021
0
0
0
25 October 2021
0
0
0
1 November 2021
0
0
0
8 November 2021
0
0
0
15 November 2021
0
0
0
22 November 2021
0
0
0
29 November 2021
0
0
0
6 December 2021
0
0
0
13 December 2021
0
0
0
20 December 2021
0
0
0
27 December 2021
0
0
0
3 January 2022
0
0
0
10 January 2022
0
0
0
17 January 2022
0
0
0
24 January 2022
0
0
0
4
The number of skilled residence applications allocated from 1 February 2022 can be found on the INZ
website on the following page:
www.immigration.govt.nz/documents/other-resources/skilled-
residence-applications-onshore-general-queue.pdf
5
Table two: Number of Skilled residence applications decided since August 2021, broken down by weeks.
Number of Applications decided
Week beginning
Approved
Declines
2 August 2021
111
<=5
9 August 2021
113
<=5
16 August 2021
46
0
23 August 2021
<=5
0
30 August 2021
0
0
6 September 2021
0
0
13 September 2021
0
0
20 September 2021
<=5
0
27 September 2021
94
7
4 October 2021
44
0
11 October 2021
59
0
18 October 2021
35
<=5
25 October 2021
60
<=5
1 November 2021
38
<=5
8 November 2021
48
<=5
15 November 2021
49
0
22 November 2021
60
<=5
29 November 2021
25
<=5
6 December 2021
<=5
<=5
13 December 2021
9
<=5
20 December 2021
18
<=5
27 December 2021
<=5
<=5
3 January 2022
<=5
0
10 January 2022
<=5
<=5
17 January 2022
<=5
<=5
24 January 2022
<=5
6
31 January 2022
13
<=5
7 February 2022
27
<=5
14 February 2022
48
<=5
21 February 2022
46
7
28 February 2022
38
<=5
7 March 2022
30
<=5
14 March 2022
29
<=5
21 March 2022
45
11
28 March 2022
57
7
4 April 2022
85
18
11 April 2022
90
<=5
18 April 2022
38
<=5
Total
1499
Please note: Numbers equal or smaller than five are considered information that could identify a visa applicant
therefore these numbers have been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA because it is necessary to protect
the privacy of natural persons.
6
