Dr Malini Yugendran
Auckland, March 10, 2023
On 27th February 2023, Michael Wood, the Minister of Immigration, announced revisions to New Zealand’s immigration system. These changes aim to enhance safeguards and streamline procedures for partners of migrants who have arrived in New Zealand for employment purposes.
Expansion of Victims of Family Violence Work Visa
Mr Wood announced an expansion of access to the Victims of Family Violence work visa. Access to the Victims of Family Violence work visa was expanded to people who are on partner-based visas that are linked to temporary migrants. The aim of this visa is to protect victims of family violence and reduce their vulnerability to being controlled through their visa circumstances.
Responses
Manisha Saini, Legal Advisor at Shakti, a women’s rights organisation, said, “Over the years Shakti has been approached to assist a steadily increasing number of partners of temporary workers who are facing family violence at home but are unable to leave the situation due to their own and their children’s dependent visa status. Partnership-based immigration status can be a powerful tool of coercion in the hands of the perpetrator of family violence.”
Ms Saini explained, “It has been disheartening to see partners of temporary visa holders return to violence in the home due to threats that their sponsorship/support would be withdrawn and they and their children would be removed from New Zealand. People in such situations have hitherto been unable to unlink their immigration status from their partners and have also not been eligible for emergency support that is available to partners of residents/citizens in similar situations.”
Ms Saini welcomed the expansion of the Victims of Family Violence work visa. However, she questioned the policy decision to grant a visa of just six months’ duration. She believes that the duration of the visa should be at least a year for it to provide a viable means for a victim to gain independence and consider future options.
Pooja Sundar, an immigration and refugee lawyer and partner at D&S Law, said, “the changes are a good start. However, it is important that the policy team do not sit back now and stop any further work on this category. There is a lot of work still to be done in terms of residence pathways, evidential requirements, parental agreements, and the inclusion of children and other family relationships to ensure that the category is truly representative of ‘family’ violence and not intimate partner violence.”
Ranjna Patel, a trustee of Gandhi Nivas, views this policy as very encouraging. “I believe that it removes barriers for women to seek help if they know that their visa status will not be affected.” However, she raised concerns about the processing of the policy. “I hope that necessary processes will be put in place to deliver the minister’s announcement,” she said. Ms Patel also highlighted the delays in most immigration processes, which have led to a lot of workforce issues.
Overall, all three ladies agreed that the expansion of access to the Victims of Family Violence work visa is a step in the right direction to protect victims of family violence and reduce their vulnerability.
Dr Malini Yugendran is an Indian Newslink Reporter based in Auckland.
