Ref: 2223-1306

 

Dear Utkarsh,

 

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 14^th December 2022 requesting under the
Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

 

“I am writing to request information regarding the Skilled Migrant
Category (SMC) Visa for which the draw happened on 11 Nov 2022.

 

1. How many case officers (COs) are currently processing SMC applications
or are available to process SMC applications?

 

2. INZ Operational Manual sections SR1.1.b states that STR is part of the
general skilled migrant residency stream. Does that mean that
operationally, the INZ COs who are tasked with processing STR applications
are also processing the tail end of the Skilled Migrant Category and
Residence from Work (RFW) queue, the last of which was allocated recently
to COs? If so, how many applications total in the Skilled Migrant Category
(both the new STR and old SMC/RFW) are currently allocated to a CO but
have not yet been decided upon (i.e. are under assessment)?

 

3. What is the average time frame for the allocation of case officer for
SMC, RFW and STR.

 

4. INZ Operational Manual sections SR1.1.c states that STR applications
are prioritised above "other skilled residence applications". Can you
confirm that "other skilled residence applications" in this context refers
specifically to SMC and RFW applications?

If so, can you explain operationally what form this prioritisation takes?
Is the prioritisation done at the level of allocation of applications to
COs, or within the work of the COs (i.e. the CO is expected to process all
STR applications they have been allocated before working on SMC/RFW
applications)?

 

4. EOI draw for SMC was done on 11 Nov 2022 for applications at 160
points. Can you provide the number of applications lodged, waiting in
queue for SMC allocation( the website provides information upto 12
September 2022), as well as the number of total people represented by
these applications (i.e. including partners/dependent children), by week
of lodgement, since the opening of this category? And for each of those
weeks of applications lodged, can you break the number of applications
down by the current status of those applications using whatever categories
INZ attaches to applications (such as:Issued ITA, waiting on documents,
awaiting allocation, allocated/under assessment, approved, or rejected) as
on the date of your response.

 

5. What is the procedure undertaken by INZ if the CO leaves his/her job
midway assessing an application. Is INZ call centre informed about the
same? Is it communicated to the client?

 

6. Are there separate teams/Case offices for provessing the SMC
applications being

 

7. Does the region affect the processing of SMC application e.g Will a
person filing application from Wellignton , expected to get a case officer
sooner then a person applying from Auckland.

Are the applications processed at the location of filing in New Zealand?”

 

Please note that days between 25 December 2022 to 15 January 2023
(inclusive) are defined as non- working days in the Act and are not
counted in the calculation for the response due date. This will affect the
time period for responding to your request.

 

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

 

If you have any enquiries regarding your request feel free to contact us
via email [1][MBIE request email] or using the contact details below.

 

Nâku noa, nâ

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

 

Ngâ Pou o te Taumaru

Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MBIE request email]

Kia ora Utkarsh,

 

Please find attached the response to your Official Information Act
request.

 

 

Ngā Mihi,

Babitha

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TEAM

Immigration New Zealand

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078