Kindly refer to the below information relating to - Immigration Amendment Bill 2020 (COVID-19 Response) Summary of Proposed Changes
This is likely to be passed by 15 May 2020 (with changes if required)
The below information provides a simplified version of the proposed changes to the Immigration Act 2009
The Minister can only make a special direction to manage the effects and consequences of
- to contain or mitigate the outbreak of COVID-19 or its effects
By special direction, the Minister can
1.1. Vary or cancel conditions imposed on the resident visas to a class or classes of persons.
Example – Allowing more time to the resident class visa holders who are offshore.
1.2. In the absence of an application, grant a visa to an individual or classes of people who Is/are outside New Zealand and are in New Zealand and holds a temporary entry class visa.
Example - Individuals are too unwell to make an application. This will be used in limited circumstances.
1.3. Extend the temporary entry class visas, by a period of up to 6 months from the date on which they would otherwise expire.
Example – If a person cannot enter New Zealand within the validity of the visa due to border restrictions.
1.4. impose further conditions on the visas, vary or cancel conditions otherwise applied on a temporary visa
Example - Making changes to visa conditions to the workers to be redeployed working for a different employer
1.5. Waive regulatory requirements for certain classes of people/applications.
2. An immigration officer may revoke the entry permission of a person.
3. Regulations are inserted in the Immigration Act to suspend the ability of all persons or of any class of persons to apply for a particular class or type of visa, or submit an expression of interest in obtaining an invitation to apply for a particular class or type of visa.
Stop certain types of applications for three months initially and if required, additional three months.
The regulations in point 3 may—
- provide for different periods of suspension for different classes of people and different classes and types of visa; and
- the country or place from which they are travelling or have travelled (whether it be their original or an intermediate point of departure):
- whether or not they hold, or are required to hold, any particular type of travel or immigration documentation, by whomever issued:
- any other type of visa that they hold or have applied for:
- whether the person is outside or in New Zealand:
All these powers will expire after 12 months of enactment
