Ref: 2223-1270

 

Dear Grant Johnson,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 11^th December 2022 requesting under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“In an 21 October 2022 article on RNZ by Gill Bonnett
([1]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...),
NZSIS supplied information regarding the average response times for a
National Security Check (NSC) for applicants for residency visas.

 

The article includes the following quote:

"[NZSIS's] data showed its average response time for a NSC check was 23
days. Citizenship requests were responded to on average after two days,
while 'priority' residence visas took 38. Residence 2021 category took 46,
while 'routine residence visas including Residence 2021' took 66."

 

In a separate OIA request to NZSIS
([2]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...),
NZSIS said that the determination of "priority" requests was set by
Immigration NZ, not by NZSIS.

 

With that in mind, can you please clarify which NSC requests obtain
"priority" status from Immigration NZ? Is there a set of criteria used in
determining which residence visa applications qualify as "priority" for
the purposes of a NSC check? If so, what are those criteria? Or are there
certain residency visa categories that receive a blanket designation as
"priority", and if so, what are those categories?”

 

Please note that days between 25 December 2022 to 15 January 2023
(inclusive) are defined as non- working days in the Act and are not
counted in the calculation for the response due date. This will affect the
time period for responding to your request.

 

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 feel free to contact us
via email [3][MBIE request email] or using the contact details below.

 

Nâku noa, nâ

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

 

Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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

 

 

References

Visible links
1. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
2. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
3. mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora Grant

 

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

 

 

 

Ngā mihi,

Business Management Team

Enablement, Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

 

NZBN 9429000106078