Tēnā koe,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 20 working days after the day that your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [NZSIS request email].

Ngā mihi,
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Muhammad <[FOI #22670 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May 2023 1:08 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Disclose General Information

Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,

I would like to ask the following questions under OIA:
1- Why NZSIS recently refused to disclose the average processing time of NSC checks on several occasions? While NZSIS did disclose the average processing time in the past. If the disclosure of processing time may prejudice the New Zealand Security and Defense then did NZSIS compromise the New Zealand by disclosing this information in earlier requests? Did NZSIS find any evidence that disclosing processing time may risk New Zealand Security (the answer can be yes or no, I don’t need more details).
2- Are the NSC checks processed in the date order? Or is there any other criteria in place? I understand that processing time may vary and depends on individual circumstances. However, I just want to know the general process to initiate/start NSC checks? Like do they process on first come first serve basis or other factors.
3- If NSC checks took 3 months in 2020 to process for some applicants for a visa category, then why it is taking more than 10 months to process the NSC checks for same applicants and for the same visa category? Does it mean the resource utilisation is at its peak at NZSIS and it is hard to process NSC checks in reasonable time.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Yours faithfully,
Muhammad

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #22670 email]

Is [NZSIS request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe,

We are writing regarding your OIA request for information about NZSIS's NSC process.

The Official Information Act 1982 requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no later than 20 working days after the day we received your request. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit. We are, therefore, writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our decision, for another 15 working days (22 June 2023). This extension is required because the consultations necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.

Kind regards
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May 2023 1:16 PM
To: Muhammad <[FOI #22670 email]>
Subject: Your OIA request

Tēnā koe,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 20 working days after the day that your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact [NZSIS request email].

Ngā mihi,
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Muhammad <[FOI #22670 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May 2023 1:08 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Disclose General Information

Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,

I would like to ask the following questions under OIA:
1- Why NZSIS recently refused to disclose the average processing time of NSC checks on several occasions? While NZSIS did disclose the average processing time in the past. If the disclosure of processing time may prejudice the New Zealand Security and Defense then did NZSIS compromise the New Zealand by disclosing this information in earlier requests? Did NZSIS find any evidence that disclosing processing time may risk New Zealand Security (the answer can be yes or no, I don’t need more details).
2- Are the NSC checks processed in the date order? Or is there any other criteria in place? I understand that processing time may vary and depends on individual circumstances. However, I just want to know the general process to initiate/start NSC checks? Like do they process on first come first serve basis or other factors.
3- If NSC checks took 3 months in 2020 to process for some applicants for a visa category, then why it is taking more than 10 months to process the NSC checks for same applicants and for the same visa category? Does it mean the resource utilisation is at its peak at NZSIS and it is hard to process NSC checks in reasonable time.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Yours faithfully,
Muhammad

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #22670 email]

Is [NZSIS request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Muhammad

Please find attached a response to your OIA request.

Ngā mihi
NZSIS

-----Original Message-----
From: Muhammad <[FOI #22670 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 3 May 2023 1:08 PM
To: OIA Privacy <[NZSIS request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Disclose General Information

Dear New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,

I would like to ask the following questions under OIA:
1- Why NZSIS recently refused to disclose the average processing time of NSC checks on several occasions? While NZSIS did disclose the average processing time in the past. If the disclosure of processing time may prejudice the New Zealand Security and Defense then did NZSIS compromise the New Zealand by disclosing this information in earlier requests? Did NZSIS find any evidence that disclosing processing time may risk New Zealand Security (the answer can be yes or no, I don’t need more details).
2- Are the NSC checks processed in the date order? Or is there any other criteria in place? I understand that processing time may vary and depends on individual circumstances. However, I just want to know the general process to initiate/start NSC checks? Like do they process on first come first serve basis or other factors.
3- If NSC checks took 3 months in 2020 to process for some applicants for a visa category, then why it is taking more than 10 months to process the NSC checks for same applicants and for the same visa category? Does it mean the resource utilisation is at its peak at NZSIS and it is hard to process NSC checks in reasonable time.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Yours faithfully,
Muhammad

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #22670 email]

Is [NZSIS request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Security Intelligence Service? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This electronic message, together with any attachments, contains information that is provided in confidence and may be subject to legal privilege.
Any classification markings must be adhered to. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not peruse, disclose, disseminate, copy or use the message in
any way. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by return email and then destroy the original message.
The New Zealand Intelligence Community (NZIC) and the departments comprising the NZIC accepts no responsibility for changes to this e-mail, or to any attachments, after its transmission
from NZIC. This communication may be accessed or retained for information assurance purposes. Thank you.

hide quoted sections