Australia’s State and Territory Skilled Migration Programs Opening Soon!
It’s that time again – Australia’s state and territory skilled migration programs are gearing up to launch!
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Immigration NZ’s Parent Category restart: Just 2 per cent chance of being selected
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that August 8th will mark the day when it will pick expressions of interest (EOIs) from a queue of numerous individuals seeking to sponsor their parents for migration to New Zealand. Currently, the queue comprises 5,000 applicants who have entered since the restart of the Parent Visa Category on October 12th last year. However, only 500 visas are annually approved.
INZ’s Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Vaughn, explained that this category allows New Zealand residents and citizens to sponsor their parents for residence, thereby supporting skilled migration. Yet, some immigration lawyers have criticized the program’s low success rate, pointing out that the limited number of visas (500) corresponds to approximately 250 expressions of interest, considering each typically represents around two people. Consequently, the odds of obtaining a visa are approximately 2%.
To address this, INZ is implementing a selection process from two separate queues: one for EOIs submitted before October 12th and another for those after that date. The agency has not disclosed the size of the first queue but has announced plans to select enough to reach 2000 visa approvals annually until no EOIs remain.
The selection process prioritizes the oldest EOIs, with some applicants having waited since November 3, 2014. For the second queue involving EOIs received from October 12, 2022, selections will be made at random until the 500 visa approvals per year quota is reached.
On August 8th, INZ will choose 200 EOIs from the ballot. To be included in this selection, expressions must be submitted before August 1, 2023
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Partner Work Rights
Immigration New Zealand made significant revisions to the visa regulations for partners of Essential Skills and Accredited Employer Work Visa holders applying for new Partner of Worker Work Visas. Until now, these partners had considerable freedom to pursue their own employment opportunities within New Zealand.
However, under the new guidelines, most individuals in this category will be required to secure jobs that pay at least the median hourly wage in New Zealand, currently set at NZ$29.66/hr. Exceptions to this wage requirement include cases where the partner earns at least double the median wage or if they are working in a role listed on the green list.
Additionally, the updated restrictions stipulate that partners seeking these new visas:
- Can only work for an accredited employer.
- Are not allowed to be self-employed.
- Must not work in roles covered by capped sector agreements if the wage falls below the median New Zealand wage.
These visa changes apply to the majority of partners of workers who hold an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) or an Essential Skills Work Visa (ESWV). However, it is important to note that these changes will not impact current work visa conditions or applicants who submit their applications before 31 May 2023. Furthermore, there are no alterations to visa conditions for partners of New Zealand citizens or those holding other work visas, such as a Post Study Work Visa.
New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category Update
In June 2023, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) introduced a fresh Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) aimed at bolstering economic growth and providing a pathway to residency for highly-skilled and higher-income individuals. Unlike previous categories, this new SMC employs a straightforward six-point skills assessment system and does not impose an annual cap on the number of immigrants eligible to enter New Zealand through this scheme.
To be eligible for residency under the new SMC, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Age: They must be 55 years old or younger at the time of submitting their application.
- Health and Character: Applicants must meet the required health and character standards.
- English Proficiency: They should demonstrate an acceptable level of English proficiency.
- Skilled Employment: Applicants must have skilled employment with an accredited employer, which will be categorized based on ANZSCO levels and corresponding wages. This includes ANZSCO levels 1-3 with payment at the median wage (NZ$29.66 hourly) or ANZSCO levels 4-5 with payment at 1.5 times the median wage (NZ$44.49 hourly).
- Six Eligibility Points: Applicants need to claim a total of six eligibility points.
Points can be earned in the following ways:
- Occupational registration
- Possession of a recognized qualification
- Meeting specific income thresholds
Moreover, individuals with skilled New Zealand work experience can earn an additional three points, at a rate of one point per year.
The new SMC is expected to benefit individuals who hold PhD qualifications, occupations requiring six or more years of training (such as doctors), and high-income earners earning NZ$88.98/hourly. These individuals can achieve the required six points for residency without needing any previous skilled New Zealand employment. This new category is designed to attract and retain highly-talented individuals who can contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth and development.
