Ref: 2223-3051

 

Dear N.I.Alali

 

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

 

‘In a recent New Zealand Herald article (see link below), NZ general
manager Richard Owen said that during the assessment phase of visa
applications, some may be sent off for third-party checks, which included
the NZ Police and NZ Security Intelligence Service.

 

Could you please provide the following information:

 

- What is the criteria that INZ use to decide which SMC applications are
sent to the third party check phase? please include any recent advice
(dating back to 2020) received from the Minister Office or Senior
Management at INZ.

 

- How many of the SMC applications lodged in 2019, 2020, 2021 were
referred to third party check phase? how many were not?

 

- Of those SMC applications referred to NSC, could you provide a breakdown
for applications lodged in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 based on country of
origin?

 

-Of those SMC applications not referred to NSC, could you provide a
breakdown for applications lodged in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 based on
country of origin?

 

-How many applicants to the SMC (excluding the 2021 visas) who have
applications still pending due to third party checks are from European
countries?

 

-How many applicants to the SMC (excluding the 2021 visas) who have
applications still pending due to third party checks are from the Middle
East?

 

-How many applicants to the SMC (excluding the 2021 visas) who have
applications still pending due to third party checks are from East Asia or
Latin America?

 

[1]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

 

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, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [2][MBIE request email].

 

Nâku noa, nâ

 

Ministerial Services

Corporate, Governance and Information  |   Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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

 

References

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1. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/never-seen...
2. mailto:[MBIE request email]
mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora N.I.Alali

 

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

 

Ngā mihi

Alex

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

[1]http://thelink/how/PublishingImages/MBIE...

 

References

Visible links