Migration Trends and Outlook 2007/08
APPENDIX A: TIMELINE OF IMMIGRATION POLICY CHANGES
This section features an update of the timeline of immigration policy changes reported in Migration Trends 2007/08. Table A1 details the major policy and legislative changes in 2008.
Mar-08
Temporary
Working Holiday Schemes
The Mexico Working Holiday Scheme is introduced. The requirement for an applicant to be ordinarily resident in their home country is removed from the:
- Chile Working Holiday Scheme
- France Working Holiday Scheme
- Argentina Working Holiday Scheme
- Uruguay Working Holiday Scheme
- Czech Working Holiday Scheme
- Estonia Working Holiday Scheme.
Pacific Access
Samoan Quota Scheme
The minimum income requirement in the Samoan Quota Scheme is amended to reflect the increase in the unemployment benefit rate. The gross minimum income requirement is $29,897.92, which is based on the unemployment benefit (married and civil union rate) plus the maximum accommodation supplement (as set by the Government).
International/Humanitarian
Special Zimbabwe Residence Policy
The Special Zimbabwe Residence Policy ceased to be effective from 31 March 2008.
May-08
Skilled
Residence Policy
The annual salary requirement under the Residence Policy for holders of work permits granted under the Talent (Accredited Employers) Work Policy increases to $55,000 if the work to residence permit or visa application is made on or after 28 July 2008.
Jul-08
Residence Programme
Policy is amended to reflect Cabinet’s agreement to:
- maintain the NZRP in 2008/09 at the current level of 45,000–50,000 places
- increase the annual allocation for Parent, Adult Child and Adult Sibling Policies from 10percent to about 11percent
- decrease the annual allocation for Partner and Dependent Child Policies from 21percent to about 20percent (note that because these policies are uncapped this percentage is for planning purposes only).
Residence Programme
Skilled Migrant Expression of Interest Pool; Skilled/ Business
Additional selection criteria maintained for the six months from 1 August 2008 to 31 January 2009 are:
- Expressions of Interest that include 15 points for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage (in descending order of their points total)
- Expressions of Interest that include 10 points for work experience in an area of absolute skills shortage (in descending order of their points total)
- Expressions of Interest that include 10 points for work a qualification in an area of absolute skills shortage (in descending order of their points total)
- The points total of Expressions of Interest not meeting any of the criteria in (i)–(iii) (in descending order).
International/ Humanitarian
PAC
Applicants who are waiting for a decision under the Residual Quota Places Policy or Residual Pacific Access Category Place Policy application are granted further work permits that are valid to 30 September 2009.
Skilled Migrant
Essential Skills
The Essential Skills Work Policy is introduced to replace the General Work Policy.
Source
Immigration New Zealand. Operations Manual. Wellington: Immigration New Zealand Operations Manual. Available at: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/
migrant/general/generalinformation/
operationsmanual (version as at 13 January 2008).
