11 January 2023
Grant Johnson
[FYI request #21388 email]
File No: DOIA 2223-1270
Dear Grant,
Thank you for your email of 11 December 2022 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
‘In an 21 October 2022 article on RNZ by Gill Bonnett
(https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rnz.co.nz%2Fnews%
2Fnational%2F477098%2Fresidence-visas-national-security-check-waits-loom-large-for-chinese-
applicants&data=05%7C01%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C66331f85f013425d9
39808dadae2538e%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C6380629628694583
36%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiL
CJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Bqo%2BNA3jJNWG%2Fl1kJtdEqjHeF687upXY
Fx0ns9ibq6c%3D&reserved=0), 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
(https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2F2
1056-criteria-for-priority-residence-nsc-
checks&data=05%7C01%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C66331f85f013425d9398
08dadae2538e%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C638062962869458336%
7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXV
CI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LKPAveuNDbMJKfMtrB%2FHvt%2BUX74D4RrhJO
QzKW4dM8Q%3D&reserved=0), 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?’
Our response
The time it takes to complete an NSC varies depending on the applicant and their circumstances. However,
there are exceptional situations where INZ identifies the need to process cases with some urgency.
Prioritisation is requested on a case-by-case basis and not according to set criteria.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of the Ministry’s response to
your request, in accordance with section 28(3) of the Act. Information about how to make a complaint is
available a
t 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
Sarah Clifford
General Manager, Border and Visa Operations (Acting)
Immigration New Zealand
