Kia ora J M,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 29/03/2026 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
 
I am writing to request information under the Official Information Act
1982 (OIA).

Please provide all relevant official information—including but not limited
to internal policies, Standard Operating Procedures, Knowledge Base
articles, 'Advice to Staff' circulars, training modules, internal memos,
legal frameworks, or any other documented guidance—that instructs or
informs immigration officers on:

1.      Handling Application Withdrawals: All information detailing how
immigration officers must process and facilitate an applicant's request to
withdraw their visa application at any stage before a final decision is
recorded.

2.      Handling Requests for Pre-Decline Notification and Election: All
information on how officers should handle explicit written requests asking
for advance notice of an impending decline. Specifically, how officers are
guided to respond when an applicant requests this notice to exercise an
election (choosing between withdrawing or proceeding with the decline),
and whether officers are permitted to ignore such requests if they are not
framed as an immediate, absolute withdrawal.

3.      Fairness and Natural Justice: All information provided to
immigration officers regarding the application of Fairness and Natural
Justice in visa processing and decision-making.

4.      Processing Sequence and Unresolved Correspondence: All information
on the mandatory steps an officer must take regarding unaddressed
correspondence (such as a request for pre-decline notification) before
officially recording a decline decision in the AMS/ADEPT system. Are
officers permitted to finalize a decline while such a request remains
unacknowledged on the file?
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 29/04/2026, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora J M,

 

Please see attached notification of an extension of the timeframe to
respond to your request.

 

Kind regards,

 

Ethan

 

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Immigration New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, PO BOX 1473 Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

 

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Kia ora J M,

 

Please see attached our response to your request for information under the
Official Information Act 1982 and notification of the extension.

 

I appreciate your patience and understanding.

 

Ngā mihi nui,

Gabriel

BUSINESS ADVISOR

Ministerial Services Team,

Office of the Deputy Secretary, Immigration New Zealand | Te Rōpū Manene

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, Hīkina Whakatutuki

 

NZBN 9429000106078