Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

I am writing pursuant to Sections 12 and 15 of the Official Information Act 1982, to request specific information concerning the parent category of immigration applications. The below queries apply only to applicaitons that have been submitted to INZ following an ITA being issued.

1. Could you please confirm the yearly period (dd/mm - dd/mm) to which the yearly cap on approvals to immigration applications for the parent category applies?
2. Please provide the total number of parent visa applications approved from the ballot for the current year as of 10/05/2024, relative to the cap. I require only the yearly total, not a monthly breakdown.
3. Please provide the total number of parent visa applications approved from the queue for each yearly cap period as of 10/05/2024, relative to the cap. I require only the yearly total, not a monthly breakdown.
4. Should the cap be reached in any given year, what procedures are followed for applications that are fully assessed but cannot be approved due to the cap?
5. Are such applications then placed in a queue awaiting the rollover date into the next yearly period? i.e. do these automatically get released on the first day of the new year?

As per Section 15(A) of the Act, I request that this information, which I understand is readily available and held by Immigration New Zealand, be provided urgently.

I appreciate your cooperation and look forward to receiving this information sooner than the statutory timeframe, given the nature of the data already held by INZ.

Yours faithfully,

Ethan Harwood

Dear Ministerial Services,

I am writing to urgently request expedited processing of my Official Information Act (OIA) request submitted on 10 May 2024, regarding the parent category of immigration applications.

Given that the information requested pertains to data already held and readily available within Immigration New Zealand, I believe it is feasible to respond sooner than the statutory timeframe. The urgent nature of this request is underscored by its relevance and the necessity for timely access to this information.

While the Official Information Act 1982 generally allows for a 20-working-day response time, I am requesting that this information be provided as soon as possible due to its urgency and significance it has for New Zealanders.

Your prompt attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Yours sincerely,

Ethan Harwood

Tēnā koe Emma,

Thank you for your letter dated 10 June 2024, regarding my Official Information Act request submitted on 10 May 2024, about the parent category of immigration applications.

I acknowledge the extension notice under section 15A(1)(b) of the Act due to the need for consultations. However, I must express my concern about the delay in providing the requested information. The specific data I have asked for, such as the yearly cap periods, the total number of approved applications from the ballot and queue, and the procedures followed when the cap is reached, should be readily available within your records.

Given that this information is critical for understanding the current status and procedures regarding the parent immigration category, I urge you to expedite the process. The requested data is straightforward and should not require extensive consultation or cause significant delay.

I would appreciate if you could review the necessity of the extension and consider providing any available information at the earliest convenience (consider a partial release). A timely response is crucial for transparency and to uphold the principles of the Official Information Act.

Should you require any clarification regarding my request or if there are specific aspects of the data that are causing delays, please do not hesitate to contact me at the earliest.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Ngā mihi,

Ethan Harwood