17 April 2023
Arun
[FYI request #22118 email]
File No: DOIA 2223-2075
Tēnā koe Arun,
Thank you for your email of 16 March 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
1. How many student visa applications lodged before 13th January 2023 are yet to be allocated to a case
officer as of today ( 16th March 2023 )?
2. How many student visa applications lodged after 13th January 2023 has been approved as of today (
16th March 2023 )?
3. What is the order in which a student visa application is allocated to a case officer?
4. How does the allocation of a student visa application differ from the allocation of a partner of a
student- work visa application?
Our response
1. The number of student visa applications which were lodged before 13 January 2023 and yet to be
allocated to a case officer as at 16 March 2023 is 753.
2. The number of student visa applications which were lodged after 13 January 2023 and approved
as at 16 March 2023 is 13,536.
3. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) generally allocates applications in the order of the date received,
from oldest to newest, as outlined in Immigration Instructions A16.1. Immigration officers are
also able to accord urgency to the processing of any particular visa application when the
individual circumstances so warrant it.
More information on the order of processing and how applications are processed can be found on
the INZ website:
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/#44854.htm https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/policy-and-law/how-the-immigration-system-
operates/visa-application-process/visa-application-groups
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/policy-and-law/how-the-immigration-system-
operates/visa-application-process/how-we-process-applications
4. If the partner of a student has applied for their work visa at the same time as the student, then
the application will be grouped together to assist them being allocated at the same time. If the
partner of a student work visa application is submitted at a different time to the student visa
application and the principal applicant’s application is still in progress, then the partner’s
application will be allocated to the case officer processing it. If the principal applicant’s
application has been decided, then the partner’s application will be allocated within the relevant
processing office.
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] Ngā mihi
Richard Owen
General Manager (Acting), Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand
