Long wait times for NZ Parent grandparent visitor visa and 3 hour wait times for phone general enquries

Chandrasekhar Ammanamanchi made this Official Information request to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

The request was successful.

From: Chandrasekhar Ammanamanchi

Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

Dear Sir / Madam

I am writing regarding My Father’s Parent / Grand Parent Visitor Visa. I am appalled by the delays caused. I am the nominated person in his application. I had launched his application on the 28th of October 2022 following the death of my Mother. My father is 80 Years old and while I appreciate everything your department does in protecting our borders, I’m also upset and hurt in the way you are treating your applicants. I’m sure your department knew they will be dealing with senior citizens and their emotions when handling their applications in this category. Of all the categories this must be the one that is acted upon quickly owing to their age and vulnerability. I am very upset about the following:

I am upset about the delays in Medical Reports handling,
About the ambiguity in your medical processing when your team asks for additional reports without providing an explanation why. Do you know it costs a lot to complete these tests and it did in my father’s case.
About keeping the application status field vague & not updating the status in time & not providing an appropriate status
About not answering your phones in time (3 hours wait time) and no apologies. Imagine callers from overseas.
About your frequent changes to the processing time and conditions without letting the individual applicants know of the changes.
I view your department’s handling of applicant’s as rude, lacking respect for the people in this category, lack of due consideration of their age and financial capacity.

When complaining, you ask for us to treat you with courtesy and respect, but I do not see this displayed by your team in their actions. No response and no timely communication to your applicants is an uncourteous act and sheer disrespect.

When I (Citizen of NZ) am going to support my Father financially on all matters when here. I have a right to question this ‘lack lustre service’.

Please put your act together. Raise your concerns if you’re not being heard. I can understand when the department’s needs are ignored but please speak out, say things as it is and communicate. New Zealand is near perfect in all it does, this small thing should not let us be viewed in poor light. Please take this complaint objectively and improve by reversing the trend if possible.

Senior Citizens are not like small children with perfect health. Give them that respect and consideration and show them the warm courtesy we are known for.

***I have my full call recording with commentary showing a 3 hour wait and no regret or apologies expressed for any inconveniences

May God Bless

CS

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From: INZComplaintsandFeedback
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Dear Chandrasekhar,

Thank you for submitting feedback to Immigration New Zealand (INZ)
on 25/01/2023. Your feedback has been forwarded from the Ministerial
Services Team, who manage Official Information Act requests, as you have
raised your concerns through the website 'FYI'. Please note the Central
Feedback Team is responsible for managing all incoming complaints and
feedback relating to INZ. 

We are unable to accept your feedback for investigation because you have
provided insufficient identifying information for us to locate you or your
father in INZ's system.

If you wish to pursue this matter as a complaint, please submit your
feedback again providing further details such as the relevant INZ
application number, INZ client number, passport number and/or date of
birth to help us identify the person. Please also submit evidence of your
authority to act on behalf of your father. 

If you wish to pursue this matter, please resubmit your feedback in full,
ensuring to attach an *Authority to Act. You are able to resubmit your
feedback through INZ's Online Feedback Page:
[1]https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/ or by email
to: [2][email address].

Alternatively you may wish to contact INZ's Immigration Contact Centre if
you have a general query: [3]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact

Please note that this case has been closed.

Please note further information regarding the complaints process for INZ
can be found at the following
link: [4]https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact/...

If you have any further enquiries please do not hesitate to contact
the Central Feedback Team at [5][email address].

Kind regards

Nicole 
Central Feedback Team
Immigration New Zealand

 

References

Visible links
1. https://feedback.immigration.govt.nz/
2. https://uat-inzcfs.crm6.dynamics.com/too...
3. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact
4. https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact/...
5. https://uat-inzcfs.crm6.dynamics.com/too...

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From: Chandrasekhar Ammanamanchi

Dear INZComplaintsandFeedback,

Dear Sir / Madam
Regarding:
INZ Application Number: VV00228604
INZ Application Type: Visitor Visa - Parent and grandparent
INZ Principal Applicant Name: Ammanamanchi Gopala Krishnamurthi
INZ Principal Applicant Date of Birth: 29th December, 1943
Authority to Act has been already submitted by the principal applicant under the visa application.
Authorised Person: Chandrasekhar Ammanamanchi

I am writing regarding My Father’s Parent / Grand Parent Visitor Visa. I am appalled by the delays caused. I am the nominated person in his application. I had launched his application on the 28th of October 2022 following the death of my Mother. My father is 80 Years old and while I appreciate everything your department does in protecting our borders, I’m also upset and hurt in the way you are treating your applicants. I’m sure your department knew they will be dealing with senior citizens and their emotions when handling their applications in this category. Of all the categories this must be the one that is acted upon quickly owing to their age and vulnerability. I am very upset about the following:

I am upset about the delays in Medical Reports handling,
About the ambiguity in your medical processing when your team asks for additional reports without providing an explanation why. Do you know it costs a lot to complete these tests and it did in my father’s case.
About keeping the application status field vague & not updating the status in time & not providing an appropriate status
About not answering your phones in time (3 hours wait time) and no apologies. Imagine callers from overseas.
About your frequent changes to the processing time and conditions without letting the individual applicants know of the changes.
I view your department’s handling of applicant’s as rude, lacking respect for the people in this category, lack of due consideration of their age and financial capacity.

When complaining, you ask for us to treat you with courtesy and respect, but I do not see this displayed by your team in their actions. No response and no timely communication to your applicants is an uncourteous act and sheer disrespect.

When I (Citizen of NZ) am going to support my Father financially on all matters when here. I have a right to question this ‘lack lustre service’.

Please put your act together. Raise your concerns if you’re not being heard. I can understand when the department’s needs are ignored but please speak out, say things as it is and communicate. New Zealand is near perfect in all it does, this small thing should not let us be viewed in poor light. Please take this complaint objectively and improve by reversing the trend if possible.

Senior Citizens are not like small children with perfect health. Give them that respect and consideration and show them the warm courtesy we are known for.

***I have my full call recording with commentary showing a 3 hour wait and no regret or apologies expressed for any inconveniences

May God Bless

CS

Yours sincerely,

Chandrasekhar Ammanamanchi

Link to this

From: INZComplaintsandFeedback
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Kia ora,

This is an automated message. Please do not reply. Immigration New Zealand
(INZ) has received your email. We will contact you as soon as possible to
acknowledge your correspondence.

If you would like to read more information about INZ's Complaint and
Feedback Policy and Process you may do so here:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact/...

For any urgent enquiries, please refer to the ‘Contact us’ page on the INZ
website: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/contact

Kind regards,

Central Feedback Team
Immigration New Zealand

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