3 October 2023
Simon Laurent
[FYI request #23999 email]
DOIA 2324-0467
Tēnā koe Simon
Thank you for your email of 30 August 2023 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
Please provide all Standard Operating Procedures, calculation templates and other staff
guidance as to how to calculate whether a Sponsor or Sponsors earn sufficient income to meet
the thresholds for Parent Resident Visa sponsorship per Immigration Instructions F4.35.
This should include calculation formulae and/or algorithms for:
* Salaried employment
* Self-employment
* Other income
* A mix of salaried employment, self-employment and other income.
It should also traverse how time periods are dealt with and income apportioned owing to the
different income thresholds during the periods set out at F4.35.5.1(b), and the need to determine
eligibility in 2 out of the last 3 years before a Parent Expression of Interest is selected from the
Pool.
On 21 September 2023, we sent you a letter advising that MBIE had extended the period of time to
respond to your request under section 15A(1)(a) of the Act as it necessitated a search through a large
quantity of information. We noted that we would notify you of a decision on your request no later than
4 October 2023.
Our Response
Please refer to appendices A, B and C for the information in scope of your request. Please note that
some information has been marked as being out of scope or has been withheld under the fol owing
sections of the Act:
- section 6(c) as making the information available would likely prejudice the maintenance of the
law, including the prevention, investigation and detection of offences and the right to a fair trial
and
- section 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons.
We have considered whether withholding private information is outweighed by other considerations
which render it desirable, in the public interest, to make that information available, in accordance with
section 9(1) of the Act, however, it is our opinion that such grounds do not exist.
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.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact
[email address].
Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Clifford
Director Visa
Chief Operating Officer Immigration Branch
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment