Our entire visa process is based on words…a lot of them, and as with anything based on written rules, it is subject to a lot of interpretation. The difference is that interpretations in the visa space can have huge impacts, not only on their visa status, but their entire lives. One word in the wrong place, or one word taken to mean something different by an INZ officer, can create an entirely different set of rules to those which were intended.

Deciphering visa instructions and being able to understand the original intent and purpose is both an art and a science, but not something we should expect the average migrant (who will hopefully only tackle this process once) to have to Master. So why are they so complicated and do they really need to be that way?

Setting aside the absolute circus that is American politics, it was interesting to see that the former US President, Donald J Trump, who is now attempting another shot at the big chair, has become the first US President (ex or otherwise) to be convicted of a crime and in turn (and more importantly for us), the first President to potentially require a visa and character waiver to travel to New Zealand.

Americans enjoy a visa-waiver agreement with New Zealand allowing them to apply for an NZETA (electronic travel authority) via an app, which then gives them the ability to travel here. However for any visa-waiver traveler convicted of certain criminal wrongdoing, that visa-waiver status is replaced by the need to formally apply for a visa, as well as having their character assessed.

With South African’s anxiously awaiting the outcome of their national elections, which could represent one of the biggest political shifts in the last 30 years, there are a lot of people considering whether now is the right time to make the move.

For any potential migrant, deciding on whether to move at all, is both a process of ‘why’ and ‘when’ - which are often complex puzzles to solve. For some people, the motivations are more obvious and for others, they can take a long time to come to the surface. We take a look at some of the reasons people move country, and whether there really is a better or worse time to migrate.

Twenty years in this business and I have seen plenty of ups and downs, particularly when it comes to the way INZ processes applications. Over that time, I have also seen how easily, good quality applicants can be caught out by INZ simply taking a different approach to all applicants.

These ups and downs also tend to happen as the political winds change direction and right now we are seeing exactly that as the new coalition Government is trying to clean up the mess left by the previous Government.

Unsurprisingly one of the questions that pops up a lot around here is what happens to your Visa application once it is submitted…with most applications being filed online, once you click the “go” button, the process beyond that is somewhat of a mystery. That then leads to the inevitable question of how long it will all take.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is nothing new although is making a sudden and very large arrival with the roll out of systems such as ChatGPT and Google’s Bard equivalent. These systems are incredibly powerful (and will have a huge impact) but does any of this technology have a role to play in the way Visas are processed?

With immigration featuring in the news more than ever before, we dig in to the current options available and what the future might hold…

With over 200,000 applicants are being approved through the one-off 2021 Resident Visa program…many will be looking at options for their parents to follow them. With borders opening, what pathways exist for parents looking to join their children in New Zealand?

July is fast approaching and the borders will soon be open, allowing many employers to secure desparately needed skills from offshore. Getting prepared for this and staying on track can be a challenge. We have some top tips for employers aiming to recruit from offshore…

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) regularly comes under fire from a number of sources (the media being the top of the list), largely due to very public failings in service delivery and outrageous processing times, but are they entirely to blame? There are often two sides to every story…

The new Accredited Work Visa scheme is underway with applications for Accreditation (by employers) opening on 23rd May and initial Visa applications starting on 04 July. Meanwhile the global hunt for talent heats up…have you done enough to stay in the game?

It has taken over two years but the borders are opening. Whilst most existing Visa holders or Visa-waiver travellers are able to enter New Zealand, there are also some key dates coming up in terms of offshore Visa processing, particularly for those coming to work or to visit.