30 April 2024
A KS
[FYI request #26270 email]
DOIA 2324-2142
Tēnā koe A KS
Thank you for your correspondence of 30 March 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment (MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:
1. Please provide all updated Standard Operating Procedures SOPs (Family Category Parent),
templates and other staff guidance which have the steps of how a parent resident visa
application is processed, assessed/decided by INZ. These can be from Global Processing Manual
or any other documents too. The fol owing was shared in Jan 2024
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2
F25022%2Fresponse%2F95430%2Fattach%2F5%2F2324%25201232%2520A%2520KS%2520Ap
pendix.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad7dd09446d097
1608dc509fd261%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C6384738957782620
94%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haW
wiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=D4dfSH770tAjNV9DlYejgdSVOfn9JpkMy%2BH%
2Fn%2FrdnR8%3D&reserved=0
2. Please provide SOP/assessment template that explains the process of assessment of English
requirement for the Parent Category visa applicants. Page 9 of the fol owing guidelines does
not seem to be complete
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2
F25022%2Fresponse%2F95430%2Fattach%2F5%2F2324%25201232%2520A%2520KS%2520Ap
pendix.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad7dd09446d097
1608dc509fd261%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C6384738957782702
27%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haW
wiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FAHGEvYeRat641P6ItxY6BYPUCaKRVPFzG%2
BIvRFXVmM%3D&reserved=0
The guidelines in the above document Page 9 are only considering the English test results or
ESOL pre-purchase as the criteria for meeting English language ability for parent category.
However as per instruction F4.25.1(b)(i i) there are other criteria that can be considered as the
evidence of meeting English requirement like 'completion of a course of at least 3 years
duration leading to the award of a tertiary qualification at institutions using English as the
language of instruction or completion of at least 5 years of secondary education (that is, the
equivalent of New Zealand Forms 3 to 7 or years 9 to 13) at schools using English as the
language of instruction;
Please advice why the criteria of F4.25.1(b)(i i) is missing from the assessment guidelines of
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2
F25022%2Fresponse%2F95430%2Fattach%2F5%2F2324%25201232%2520A%2520KS%2520Ap
pendix.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad7dd09446d097
1608dc509fd261%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C6384738957782760
35%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haW
wiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jc1ZfBLCm3mKswxEXqTtF1j94xOpHFDFGpM4tL
POHPY%3D&reserved=0
Can or by When the assessment guidelines be updated to incorporate F4.25.1(b)(i i)
instructions?
3. Could you advice if in absence of an English language test , can INZ consider the evidence as
mentioned in the instruction F4.25.1(b)(i i) for the assessment of parent category application?
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.immigration.govt.
nz%2Fopsmanual%2F%2373242.htm&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz
%7C553aad7dd09446d0971608dc509fd261%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7
C0%7C638473895778280803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIj
oiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GLusKYf83ucSGbPPm
Cc5m4xIefWiU7%2F27kv1enxuUkQ%3D&reserved=0
4. Do you have the updated version of the fol owing document that was shared in the fol owing
old OIA?
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2
F21085%2Fresponse%2F80471%2Fattach%2F4%2FAppendix%2520One%2520Bundle%2520fina
l%2520Redacted%2520Part1.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C5
53aad7dd09446d0971608dc509fd261%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7
C638473895778285202%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2lu
MzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2F4oPHPPsUXvLzh9rLSs4
QMtPbdMrchSRZvNkbbQgjKw%3D&reserved=0
It can be an updated version of the same document or any other training materials/guide of INZ
for the officers to assess parent category application.
MBIE has assessed and decided to grant your request, and wil provide you the requested information.
However, it wil take us some time to process. We wil send you the information as soon as it is ready and
without undue delay.
We have also decided that some of the information requested may be withheld under the following
sections of the Act:
• 6(c) as making the information available would likely prejudice the maintenance of the law,
including the prevention, investigation, and detection;
• 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons.
I do not consider that the withholding of this information is outweighed by public interest considerations
in making the information available.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, or if you require any further assistance,
please contact
[email address].
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of our decision to extend the
time limit. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Jack Price
Manager, Ministerial Services
Associate Deputy Secretary Immigration Branch
Immigration New Zealand
