Ref: 2223-0591

 

Dear Grant Johnson,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 22^nd September 2022 requesting under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

‘request information regarding the new Straight to Residence (STR) Visa.

 

1. How many case officers (COs) are currently processing STR applications
or are available to process STR applications?

 

2. INZ Operational Manual sections SR1.1.b states that STR is part of the
general skilled migrant residency stream. Does that mean that
operationally, the INZ COs who are tasked with processing STR applications
are also processing the tail end of the Skilled Migrant Category and
Residence from Work (RFW) queue, the last of which was allocated recently
to COs? If so, how many applications total in the Skilled Migrant Category
(both the new STR and old SMC/RFW) are currently allocated to a CO but
have not yet been decided upon (i.e. are under assessment)?

 

3. INZ Operational Manual sections SR1.1.c states that STR applications
are prioritised above "other skilled residence applications". Can you
confirm that "other skilled residence applications" in this context refers
specifically to SMC and RFW applications? If so, can you explain
operationally what form this prioritisation takes? Is the prioritisation
done at the level of allocation of applications to COs, or within the work
of the COs (i.e. the CO is expected to process all STR applications they
have been allocated before working on SMC/RFW applications)?

 

4. STR was opened for applications on 5 September. Can you provide the
number of applications lodged for STR, as well as the number of total
people represented by these applications (i.e. including
partners/dependent children), by week of lodgement, since the opening of
this category? And for each of those weeks of applications lodged, can you
break the number of applications down by the current status of those
applications using whatever categories INZ attaches to applications (such
as: awaiting allocation, allocated/under assessment, approved, or
rejected)?

 

If any of this information is being pro-actively released on INZ's
website, please include a link to the relevant page.’

 

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

 

If you have any enquiries regarding your request, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [1][MBIE request email].

 

Nâku noa, nâ

 

Ministerial Services

Corporate, Governance and Information  |   Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

 

 

References

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1. mailto:[MBIE request email]
mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora Grant,

Thank you for your below request under the Official Information Act (the Act).

I am writing to advise you that MBIE has decided to extend the time available to respond to your request under s15A(1)(a) and s15A(1)(b) of the Act as the request necessitates a search through a large quantity of information, and to carry out consultations. As such a proper response to the request cannot be made within the original time limit.

MBIE’s response will be sent to you no later than 9 November 2022. However, we will respond to you sooner if we are able to.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Ngâ Mihi,
Babitha

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TEAM
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140
NZBN 9429000106078

-----Original Message-----
From: Grant Johnson <[FOI #20634 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 22 September 2022 8:42 am
To: *OIA <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Information about the new Straight to Residency applications and processing capacity

Dear Immigration New Zealand (INZ),

I am writing to request information regarding the new Straight to Residence (STR) Visa.

1. How many case officers (COs) are currently processing STR applications or are available to process STR applications?

2. INZ Operational Manual sections SR1.1.b states that STR is part of the general skilled migrant residency stream. Does that mean that operationally, the INZ COs who are tasked with processing STR applications are also processing the tail end of the Skilled Migrant Category and Residence from Work (RFW) queue, the last of which was allocated recently to COs? If so, how many applications total in the Skilled Migrant Category (both the new STR and old SMC/RFW) are currently allocated to a CO but have not yet been decided upon (i.e. are under assessment)?

3. INZ Operational Manual sections SR1.1.c states that STR applications are prioritised above "other skilled residence applications". Can you confirm that "other skilled residence applications" in this context refers specifically to SMC and RFW applications? If so, can you explain operationally what form this prioritisation takes? Is the prioritisation done at the level of allocation of applications to COs, or within the work of the COs (i.e. the CO is expected to process all STR applications they have been allocated before working on SMC/RFW applications)?

4. STR was opened for applications on 5 September. Can you provide the number of applications lodged for STR, as well as the number of total people represented by these applications (i.e. including partners/dependent children), by week of lodgement, since the opening of this category? And for each of those weeks of applications lodged, can you break the number of applications down by the current status of those applications using whatever categories INZ attaches to applications (such as: awaiting allocation, allocated/under assessment, approved, or rejected)?

If any of this information is being pro-actively released on INZ's website, please include a link to the relevant page.

Thank you for your time and assistance in assembling this information.

Yours faithfully,

Grant Johnson

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Kia ora Grant,

 

Please find attached the response to your Official Information Act
request.

 

Ngā Mihi,

Babitha

 

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TEAM

Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

[1]457667B6

 

 

References

Visible links