Assess General Eligibility for a PRV, VOTC or
SSRV in ADEPT
Date Published: 2 February 2024
Classification: Unclassified
When to use
When assessing an application for a Permanent Resident Visa (PRV), Variation of Travel Conditions
(VOTC) or Second Subsequent Resident Visa (SSRV) in ADEPT after 28 January 2024.
Context
Phase 1 migration of PRV, SSRV, and VOTC of a resident visa to the ADEPT system primarily involves
customer facing integration of the product to ADEPT, including forms and dashboards. For
immigration officers, it involves a hybrid form of decision making with the use of a visa assessment
template (VAT) for manual assessment and a decision record within ADEPT.
Guidelines
The order of the ADEPT system steps must be strictly adhered to, and no outcomes should be set until
the application is ready to be finalised. Setting outcomes early may cause an application to become
stuck, and it may not correctly progress through to a decision.
If the applicant does not meet requirements under one of the application types (PRV/VOTC/SSRV),
they may be eligible for one of the others (PRV/VOTC/SSRV).
The principal applicant (“the PA”) means the principal applicant of the original visa application. A non-
principal applicant means a non-principal applicant included in the original resident visa application.
Role
• Immigration Officer (IO)
Visa Assessment Template
PRV Visa Assessment Templates folder
SSRV Visa Assessment Templates folder
VOTC Visa Assessment Templates folder
Steps
1. Pull application in ADEPT
• To navigate ADEPT see SOP
Pull an application in ADEPT.
• Pull the application to the
My activities section of the
Immigration Officer Dashboard.
• Add the Immigration Officers name as the
Assessor in the Eligibility Assessment Activity.
2. Select and open the appropriate VAT
• Open the applicable VAT from the PRV, SSRV, or VOTC Assessment Template folders and
save a version as a Word document.
• Complete the VAT while fol owing this SOP.
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SOP - Assess General Eligibility for a PRV, VOTC or SSRV in ADEPT
3. Complete initial check of PA’s application Check the visa application for supporting documents uploaded by the applicant:
• Open the Visa Application.
• On the
Documents tab, go to the
Documents section.
• Select the check box of any documents you want to open.
• Select
Open Document(s).
4. Assess the applicant’s eligibility for a PRV, VOTC, or SSRV as applied for
If
Then
The application is for a P RV
Go to SOP
Assess PRV Eligibility
The application is for a V OTC
Go to SOP
Assess VOTC Eligibility
The application is for a SSRV
Go to SOP
Assess SSRV Eligibility
5. Assess risk and consider active alerts or active warnings
• Check for active alerts and warnings through the ADEPT Power BI reports.
• Assess risk through the
Risk tab of the Eligibility Assessment activity.
To navigate ADEPT see SOP
Assess risk and consider active alerts or active warnings
6. Identify if there are character issues or determine if a deportation referral process is required
Note: There are no character requirements for:
• A VOTC application.
• An application from a resident visa holder who has renounced their New Zealand citizenship.
This step does not need to be completed for the above.
Note: Speeding charges are commonly declared by applicants in this section. A speeding charge is an
infringement and
not a conviction. A declared infringement can be rationalised in the assessment, if
satisfied that the offence did not eventuate to a conviction. Discuss with a TA if unsure.
See SOP
Assess character or determine if a deportation referral process is required
7. Send an RFI/PPI letter to the applicant and consider response (if applicable)
Go to SOP
Request, and receive a response to, further information or a PPI letter.
Note: DO NOT set the
Final Outcome or
Confirm Outcome field yet. Setting any outcomes
for PRV phase 1 must be done after
all required processing, including QC and any required
rework, has been completed, and outcomes must be set in a specific order.
If
Then
Declining application
• See SOP
Upload VAT to ADEPT and then go
to SOP
Create and upload a decline letter
• Return to this SOP and go to
Step 8 once
both have been completed
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SOP - Assess General Eligibility for a PRV, VOTC or SSRV in ADEPT
Approving application
• See SOP
Upload VAT to ADEPT and then go
to SOP
Create Proposed Visa
• Return to this SOP and go to
Step 8 once
both have been completed
The PA has accepted the grant of an
• Keep the ADEPT application open
alternative visa type*
• Follow the process outlined in SOP
Raise and
assess a PRV/SSRV/VOTC application in AMS
*
If the applicant does not agree to a visa of a
different type, and is not eligible for a PRV, the
END OF THIS SOP
PRV application must be declined. Ensure that
they have been sent a PPI letter before doing so
The PA has agreed to rem
ove an applicant
• Go to SOP
Remove a secondary applicant
from the application (to enable the
from the application
application to be decided)
• If required, raise the appropriate visa type in
AMS/contact the applicant to apply for the
appropriate visa type
• Return to this SOP once the issue has been
resolved
• See SOP
Upload VAT to ADEPT
• Go to
Step 8
8. Check if Quality Control (QC) is required for this application
If
Then
Application is being declined
• Application must go to QC
• Go to SOP
Transfer application to Technical
OR
Advisor for QC
• Ensure any rework is completed and sent
Application is for VOTC or SSRV (regardless of
back to the TA for QC
whether it is being approved or declined)
• Return to
Step 9 to finalise application upon
QC completion
Application is being approved on the basis of
• Application does not require QC
time spent in New Zealand
• Go to
Step 9 to finalise application
AND
There are no character concerns in the
application
AND
The applicant has no section 49(1) or 50
conditions
AND
The applicant has no active alerts or warnings
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SOP - Assess General Eligibility for a PRV, VOTC or SSRV in ADEPT
AND
There are no risks on the
Risk tab of the
Eligibility Assessment activity
Application is being approved on the basis of
• The application must go to QC
criteria other than time spent in New Zealand • Go to SOP
Transfer application to Technical
Advisor for QC
OR
• Ensure any rework is completed and sent
back to the TA for QC
There are character conc erns in the
• Go to
Step 9 to finalise application upon
application
completion of QC
OR
The applicant has section 49(1) or 50
conditions
OR
The applicant has active alerts or warnings
OR
There are one or more risks on the
Risk tab of
the Eligibility Assessment activity
9. Finalise application
Note: Setting any outcomes for PRV phase 1 must be done after
all required processing,
including QC and any required rework, has been completed, and outcomes must be set in
a specific order. If this order is not followed, an error will occur, and the application will
become stuck. It wil not correctly progress through to a decision.
Before any outcomes are set on the application, the fol owing steps must have been completed:
• completed an assessment of the application
• completed any outstanding risk activities
• uploaded the VAT to the
Documents tab of the application
• requested further information from the applicant (if required)
• created and uploaded a decline letter (if applicable)
• created a proposed visa (if applicable)
• submitted your application for QC and completed any rework (if required)
• checked whether an Additional Document Assessment activity has been created for the
application
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SOP - Assess General Eligibility for a PRV, VOTC or SSRV in ADEPT
• checked whether the application has any outstanding Risk Activities
The order in which outcomes must be set for PRV Phase 1:
If
Then
Approving the application
Go to SOP
Approve PRV/VOTC/SSRV application
in ADEPT
Declining the application
Go to SOP
Decline PRV/VOTC/SSRV application
in ADEPT
END
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SOP - Assess General Eligibility for a PRV, VOTC or SSRV in ADEPT
Assess PRV Eligibility in ADEPT
Date Published: 2 February 2024
Classification: Unclassified
When to use
When assessing an application for a permanent resident visa (PRV) in ADEPT (after 28 January 2024).
See Immigration Instructions RV2 Resident visa holders applying for a permanent resident visa.
Context
Phase 1 migration of PRV, second or subsequent resident visa (SSRV), and variation of travel conditions
(VOTC) of a resident visa t o the ADEPT system involves customer facing integration of the product to
ADEPT, including forms and dashboards. For immigration officers, it involves a hybrid form of decision
making with the use of a visa assessment template (VAT) for manual assessment.
If the applicant does not meet requirements for the grant of a PRV, they may be eligible for an SSRV
or VOTC of their resident visa to allow them to travel to and from New Zealand.
Note: The principal applicant (“the PA”) means the principal applicant of the original visa application.
A non-principal applicant means a non-principal applicant included in the original resident visa
application.
Guidelines
It is important that the order of the ADEPT system steps is strictly adhered to. No outcomes should be
set until the application is ready to be finalised.
• Immigration instructions RV2 Resident visa holders applying for a permanent resident visa
• Immigration Act Section 49(1) (Visas may be subject to conditions)
• Immigration Act Section 50 (Conditions on resident visas)
Role
• Immigration Officer (IO)
Visa Assessment Template
PRV Visa Assessment Templates folder
Steps
1. Check details of PA’s resident visa
• Use AMS to check which category the PA was granted residence under and to view their resident
visa label.
• Click on the Applications tab to bring up their residence application. Note which category the PA
was granted residence under.
2. (If required) Ensure that any section 49(1) conditions have been removed before continuing with
assessment
• While within the AMS application, check the PA’s resident visa label to see if it has conditions
imposed upon it under sections 49(1) or 50 of the Immigration Act 2009 (“the Act”).
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SOP – Assess PRV Eligibility in ADEPT
• As at RV2.5(d), to be granted a PRV, the PA must have met any section 49(1) or 50 conditions
imposed on their resident visa. These conditions must be removed before PRV can be granted.
• Common section 49(1) conditions can include
sponsorship conditions (as in under the Family
Parent, Family Sibling, or Refugee Family Support categories),
or work conditions imposed on
some Skilled Migrant Category, South Island Contribution, or Religious Worker resident visas.
If…
Then…
The PA has section 49(1) or 50 conditions
• Confirm the PA submitted a request to the
imposed on their resident visa
Business Migration branch and had their
section 49(1) conditions removed, by
AND
checking the ‘Applications’ tab in AMS.
• Ensure that ‘Removal of s49 conditions’
was granted residence u nder one of the
application has been decided in AMS
following categories:
before continuing with assessment
• If the PA has submitted a request to the
• the Migrant Investment Categories; or
Business Migration team to have the
• the Parent Retirement Category; or
conditions removed, and this request is still
• the Active Investor Plus visa category
in progress, contact the case officer for the
request directly
• If the PA does not appear to have
submitted this request, they wil need to be
advised to do so. Discuss with a TA if
unsure
• Ensure assessment notes are completed on
the VAT
• Continue to next step
The PA has section 49(1) or 50 conditions
• If Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has not
imposed on their resident visa
received any adverse information that
suggests otherwise, it can be taken at face
AND
value that the conditions have been met
• Ensure assessment notes are completed on
was granted residence under one of the
the VAT
following categories:
• Continue to next step
• Family Parent; or
• Family Sibling; or
• Refugee Family Support
The PA has section 49(1) or 50 conditions
• A formal removal of conditions assessment
imposed on their resident visa
wil need to be completed before
continuing on with this SOP
AND
• Refer to and complete SOP
Consider and
remove section 49(1) conditions imposed
was granted residence under one of the
on a resident visa
following categories:
• Ensure that ‘Removal of s49 conditions’
application has been decided in AMS
• Skilled Migrant Category; or
before continuing with assessment.
• Religious Worker; or
• South Island Contribution
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SOP – Assess PRV Eligibility in ADEPT
Yes
Return to SOP
Assess General Eligibility for a PRV,
VOTC or SSRV in ADEPT
Not yet. They may be able to meet PRV • Consider if the applicant may be able to meet
instructions if they can provide further
instructions if they provide further information.
information
Consult a TA if unsure
• Go to SOP
Request, & receive a response to, further
information or PPI letter to create and send a
request for further information (RFI) or PPI letter
No, they do not appear eligible for a PRV Go to
Step 7 to check if the PA is eligible for a different
visa type
7. Consider if the applicant meets requirements for the grant of an SSRV or VOTC
• If the PA is not eligible for the grant of a PRV, check whether they are eligible for an SSRV or VOTC.
• Consider the criteria outlined in SOP
Assess SSRV Eligibility in ADEPT or SOP
Assess a VOTC
application in ADEPT.
• If it appears that the PA may meet requirements for an alternative visa type, they must be
assessed against the instructions for that category using the applicable VAT found in the PRV Visa
Assessment Templates folder
• Ensure any secondary applicants are eligible to be included in the application.
• Complete the new VAT and consider:
If it appears that the applicant
Then
Meets requirements for grant of SSRV • Applicant must be advised that although they do not
or VOTC
meet requirements for grant of a PRV, they appear
to meet requirements for the grant of an SSRV/VOTC
• Go to SOP
Request, and receive a response to,
further information or a PPI letter to manually create
an RFI/PPI letter
• If the applicant confirms that they are happy with
the product switch, go to SOP
Raise and assess a
PRV, VOTC, or SSRV application in AMS
Does not meet requirements for SSRV • Applicant must be advised that they do not meet the
or VOTC
requirements for grant of a PRV/SSRV/VOTC in a PPI
letter
• Go to SOP
Request, and receive a response to,
further information or a PPI letter to create and send
the PA a PPI letter
8. Set the ‘Eligibility completed’ field to indicate that assessment has been completed.
• After completing your assessment of the application, go to the
Eligibility tab of the Eligibility
Assessment activity and set the
Eligibility completed field to
Yes.
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SOP – Assess PRV Eligibility in ADEPT
