One applicant reportedly had to endure a four-month wait for her job check, a process that is essential for her work visa application.
One applicant reportedly had to endure a four-month wait for her job check, a process that is essential for her work visa application.
Prolonged delays in job checks by Immigration New Zealand for work visa applications are creating significant challenges and stress for the hospitality sector, according to Hospitality NZ.
Hospitality sector challenges
One particular case highlighted the severity of the issue, where applicant Jessica Choong had to endure a four-month wait for her job check, essential for her work visa application, the New Zealand Herald reported. Choong lost her job during this period, as her prospective employer could not hold the position open for her.
Choong, a former Malaysian Airlines flight attendant, arrived in New Zealand in 2020, and after completing her studies, she secured a job as a barista at an Auckland International Airport cafe.
Despite the cafe being an accredited employer with INZ, the job check, a crucial step under the accredited employer work visa scheme, took an extended four months.
“The delay to job checks is certainly impacting hospitality, presenting ongoing challenges for many employers,” Steve Armitage, chief executive of Hospitality NZ, said in the report.
He said that these delays are causing stress for businesses hiring migrants.
INZ Operations Director Dominic Forde said that most job check applications were surpassing the targeted 10-day processing time.
Forde explained that recent adjustments to the assessment approach, including increased requests for information from employers, contributed to the delays.
Despite the challenges, Forde urged employers to plan accordingly, suggesting allowing at least six weeks for accreditation and another six weeks for job checks with current processing times.
He reassured that efforts were underway to improve these timelines.
Armitage criticized INZ for failing to meet their own stated timelines, adding to the frustration and uncertainty for applicants and businesses.
“Good staff waiting on visas are unable to work, there’s uncertainty about if and when they will receive their visa,” he said.
Job checks were introduced to ensure fair consideration for New Zealanders in employment opportunities.
Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme
However, Armitage said that the kinks in the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme, in place for 18 months, were still being worked through at the expense of businesses and migrants.
Choong shared her distress, describing the delay as a “major disruption” that left her in a precarious position.
Living off her savings and facing financial strain, she said: “INZ’s delay has now put my life in limbo.”
As businesses and migrants grapple with uncertainty, INZ advises applicants like Choong to refer to the agency’s website for information on further visa eligibility.
As of Jan. 15, INZ reported completing 38,547 job checks between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, with an average processing time of six weekdays.
Immigration peak
New Zealand experienced a historic peak in immigration numbers last year, with a record net gain of 110,000 immigrants in the year ending August, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand via Associated Press.
The surge, a notable reversal from the pandemic period, is attributed to increased arrivals.
Despite the influx, the country’s unemployment rate remains relatively low at 3.6 percent.
Economists noted the impact on the housing market as the record 225,000 total immigrants contributed to the surge, with India, the Philippines, and China leading the source countries.
Concurrently, the departure of 115,000 New Zealanders, including a net loss of nearly 43,000 citizens to Australia, is also notable.
Aviation sector visa delays
Recently, Aviation New Zealand also raised alarm over substantial delays in the processing of international student visas, putting local flight training schools at risk of closure, the RNZ reported.
Before the pandemic, over 650 international students contributed over $200 million annually to the New Zealand economy. However, enrollment figures plummeted to less than 100 overseas students in 2023.
Chief Executive Simon Wallace highlighted Immigration New Zealand’s processing times, averaging 30 working days and potentially exceeding 60 days, as significantly longer than competitors like Australia, where approvals take three to five days.
Wallace expressed concerns that these delays are diverting students to global competitors, hindering New Zealand’s ability to attract aviation students from key markets.
Only two students from Vietnam enrolled in New Zealand in 2023, and a group of flight training schools visiting the country were informed that New Zealand has the slowest application process globally.
Aviation New Zealand urgently appealed to Immigration New Zealand and Education Minister Erica Stanford for prompt action, emphasizing that flight training schools are on the brink of closure, jeopardizing New Zealand’s standing as an attractive destination for aviation education.
Immigration New Zealand defended its processing times, stating that the comparison with Australia is not entirely accurate, noting that New Zealand also has applications approved within three days.
INZ’s deputy chief operating officer, Jeannie Melville, clarified that 79 percent of the 81 student visa applications for aviation students were processed within the standard 30 working days. She added that applications missing key information might take longer to process.
New Zealand’s education sector is recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international student numbers.
Despite border closures, approximately two-thirds of pre-pandemic international student levels have been regained, with the current count ranging from 30,000 to 35,000 students, a notable improvement from the previous 45,000 to 50,000.
