1 June 2021
Nabilla
[FYI request #15273 email]
File No: DOIA 2021-2143
Dear Nabilla
Thank you for your email of 24 April 2021, requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA):
1. “
How many EOI are now in the pool?
2. When the selection begins, how will INZ choose who to be invited to apply for residency
first, fortnightly? Previously before EOI was suspended, did INZ rank the applicant base
on their points? And the higher the point, then they will be invited first, fortnightly?
Let's say there are 7000 people, and INZ will ranked this based on points first and will
pick (for example) 1000 highest points applications per 2 weeks?
3. For those that are in the pool now, how many of them have salary above 51 NZD per
hour and 106800 NZD per year?
4. For those that are in the pool now, how many of them have occupation that needs
registration?
5. EOI have been suspended for 1 year, is there any explanation on when it will reopen?”
Our response
Question 1: How many EOIs are now in the pool?
Question 2: When the selection begins, how will INZ choose who to be invited to apply for residency
first, fortnightly? Previously before EOI was suspended, did INZ rank the applicant base on their
points? And the higher the point, then they will be invited first, fortnightly? Let's say there are 7000
people, and INZ will ranked this based on points first and will pick (for example) 1000 highest points
applications per 2 weeks?
As at 25 May 2021 there are a total of 9,985 Expressions of Interest (EOI) in the Skilled Migrant
Category (SMC) EOI pool.
As you are aware from 01 April 2020 the selection of EOIs for residence under the Parent Category
and SMC was deferred until further notice. The deferrals are a temporary measure that allows
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to focus on processing applications from people who are in New
Zealand or those eligible to travel here while border restrictions are in place.
INZ will continue to reassess when EOI selections can take place as the COVID-19 situation develops.
The best place to find updated information on the EOI selections is the INZ website, which is being
updated regularly as decisions are mad
e: www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19.
Question 3: For those that are in the pool now, how many of them have salary above 51 NZD per
hour and 106800 NZD per year? As at 25 May 2021, there are 611 EOIs in the SMC pool with an hourly rate of pay greater than $51
NZD per hour, and 664 EOIs with a salary greater than $106,800 NZD. Please note that this is based on
information provided by applicants in their applications.
Question 4: For those that are in the pool now, how many of them have occupation that needs
registration? Table 1 below provides the number of SMC EOI submissions currently in the pool broken down by
occupational registration as at 25 May 2021. Please note figures less than 5 has been withheld under
section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to protect the privacy of natural persons.
Table 1.
Number of
Employment Registration Body Type
EOIs
Nursing Council of New Zealand
901
Teachers Registration Board
543
Medical Council of New Zealand
235
Electrical Workers Registration Board
114
Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers
43
Board
Dental Council of New Zealand
26
Physiotherapists Board
26
Veterinary Council of New Zealand
17
Engineers Registration Board
6
New Zealand Law Society
<=5
Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand
<=5
Architects Education & Registration
<=5
Board
Real Estate Agents Licensing Board
<=5
Other
385
Question 5: EOI have been suspended for 1 year, is there any explanation on when it will reopen?”
The deferral of EOI selections are currently being reviewed, an outcome will be made available as soon
as possible. INZ will continue to reassess when EOI selections can take place as the COVID-19 situation
develops. The best place to find updated information on the EOI selections is the INZ website, which
is being updated regularly as decisions are made:
www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/covid-19. You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800
802 602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact
[email address]. Yours sincerely
Nicola Hogg
General Manager, Border and Visa Operations
Immigration New Zealand