22 September 2022
Aulia Sastra Hidayat
[FYI request #20553 email]
DOIA 2223-0533
Dear Aulia
Thank you for your email of 14 September 2022 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE), requesting under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
“I would like to request information regarding what the rationality that Immigration NZ uses to
determine who they would like to assess for One-Off Resident Visa 2021 and who they want to still
wait for the queue?
Previously, Immigration NZ announced that they would prioritise applicants who applied during
first month of opening of phase 2. However, it seems now that they don't. Several applicants who
don't apply during the first month reportedly already got their decision. Meanwhile many first-
month applicants are still waiting to get assessed.”
Our response
The processing of the 2021 Resident Visa applications is in accordance with the Immigration New Zealand
(INZ) instructions A16.1 and A16.3 which can be found in the following links:
www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/#44854.htm
www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/#76822.htm Phase 2 applications are released for processing in order of the principal applicant’s current visa expiry date
as at the time of their 2021 Resident Visa application. It does not determine when an application will be
decided. The time and order of processing applications that are released will depend on a number of
factors, including how long it takes to complete each processing task; if there are manual assessment
activities required; and/or if we are waiting on information from an applicant, before a final assessment
and decision can be made.
The allocation of an application to an immigration officer does not occur in the enhanced Immigration
Online system. Therefore, the release of an application within the system is not an indicator that the
application is under assessment. A number of processing activities now occur on an application before the
application goes to an immigration officer to complete a final assessment and make a decision on the
application.
Immigration New Zealand are committed to processing 2021 Resident Visa applications as quickly as
possible. It is expected the majority of applications will be processed within 18 months, with most being
processed much faster.
The Immigration New Zealand website contains regular updates on the processing of the 2021 Resident
Visa and this information can be found at the below link:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/waiting-for-a-visa/how-long-it-takes-to-process-
your-visa-application/2021-resident-visa-processing-times
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the Ministy’s response to
your request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Official Information Act 1982. Information about how
to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please conta
ct [email address] Yours sincerely
Dan Smidt
Head of 2021 Resident Visa
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
