People of Indian origin, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and others from the Indian Sub-Continent regions would be obliged to pay higher fees for various types of visas, permits and other services effective July 2, 2012.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that the average increase would be 16.7%, and that travellers from Visa-Free countries would not be affected.
But people from India and other developing countries (which do not enjoy the free-visa status) would be subject to higher fees.
INZ claimed that the across-the-board increase reflected the increasing cost of delivering the relevant services.
“New Zealand’s fees will remain broadly comparable to competitor countries,” officials claimed.
Aims Global Education & Immigration Services Limited Director Arunima Dhingra said that New Zealand was a highly sought-after country by visitors, investors and potential immigrants.
Setback for Indians
“Thousands of people apply to migrate to New Zealand every year. This increase will be a setback to the many people who may feel the pinch of high cost. I believe that since New Zealand is now a highly sought after country with thousands of people applying to migrate each year, this increase will be a set back to the pocket of many wanting to migrate to this country,” she said.
Mrs Dhingra said that applicants under the Skilled Migrant Category would have to pay $2400 ($1810 for those applying in New Zealand), while those applying under the Family Category would be charged $1600 ($930 in New Zealand).
The Investor Categories (1) and (2) would attract a fee of $3990.
“Visitors would be required to pay $165 per passport in India, while a student visa will cost $180 per person. Many other types of visa including work visa will now cost $360 per passport. The charges for Expression of Interest by people keen to migrate on Permanent Residence have moved up to $510. Converted into Indian Rupees, these charges will be higher than present,” she said.
In an earlier statement (Indian Newslink, June 1, 2012), Mrs Arunima had said that with the policy changes (including higher fees), the New Zealand government was hoping to attract and retain skilled migrants and ensure that family migrants are self-sufficient and can settle well.
“With these changes, skilled migrants meeting the funds requirements, can now sponsor their parents and get a faster result. While the sponsorship term will remain at five years, the Government has decided to amend the Immigration Act 2009 sometime in the future, extending the sponsorship term to 10 years,” she said.
The Sibling Category
According to Mrs Arunima, New Zealand citizens and residents can no longer sponsor their siblings or adult children for residence. However, applications accepted prior to May 15, 2012, will continue to be processed.
“The reason behind this change is this category does not generate sufficient economic benefit for New Zealand.
Statistics reveal that only 66% of sponsored siblings and adult children, who were interviewed 18 months after gaining residence, had jobs, despite a job offer for on-going and sustainable employment being a key requirement of this policy.” “Once the current queue of applications for this category has been cleared, then approximately 1400 annual residence places currently used for siblings and adult children will be transferred to the Skilled Migrant Category,” she said.
Read our editorial, ‘Rising Immigration costs counterproductive’ under Viewlink.
