Former Immigration Minister Tuariki Delamere alleges that the government is keeping migrants in the dark about the processing timeframe for the one-off resident visas. It may be noted that ever since the one-off resident visa was announced in September last year, the government has been promising to process applications in the 12-month timeframe.
At present, the processing of Phase 1 of the one-off applications is under way by Immigration New Zealand.
According to Delamere, INZ will not be able to complete processing applications on time due to a delay in getting police checks (which is provided to INZ by the NZ Police directly).
Delamere even uploaded a video on his social media page, claiming it. When contacted, Delamere told the Indian Weekender, "Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi has publicly proclaimed that nearly all 2021 RV applications will be processed and decided within 12 months. However, sources inside INZ say that it is likely to take the Police about ten months to provide INZ the Police Character Certificates needed for processing the 2021 RV applications lodged to date.
“If this is correct, and as the balance of applications numbers about 8,500, then Minister Faafoi needs to be open and transparent about how and when INZ intends to obtain the more than 100,000 Police Character Certificates for the Phase 2 applicants for the 2021 RV and how long it is going to take to complete the processing and make a decision on the more than 100,000 applications. These applicants deserve to know the truth and not be kept in the dark.”
However, NZ Police disagrees with Delamere and claims that there are no significant delays in providing Police checks to Immigration New Zealand.
Responding to the Indian Weekender’s query, a Police spokesperson said, “The total number of Police Vetting applications that we expect to receive for Phase 1 applicants is 40,000. As of 23 January 2022, the Police Vetting Service have received 18,816 vetting requests of which 17,219 have been completed.”
INZ has always maintained that processing applications for the 2021 Resident Visa is a priority for them. Also, they are committed to deciding most of these residence applications within 12 months, with some being much faster.
Immigration professionals, too, have different opinions on the issue.
Immigration expert Jasmine Bath believes there is no substance to Tuariki’s claims. She says, “There is no truth to Mr. Tuariki’s statement in his YouTube video that according to his sources, the New Zealand Police check for the new one-off resident visa applications will take ten months. Such statements cause a lot of unnecessary panic amongst the migrant community. No professional should make such statements, let alone a former Minister of Immigration. I do not exactly understand the motive behind such statements and claims of having ‘sources’ other than indirect marketing, self-promotion, and political motivation.
"New Zealand police checks take approximately 20 days, and in very rare cases, it may take a little longer. Police checks are necessary for the assessment of good character. Applicants for all visas must be of good character; and not pose a potential security risk. The new one-off resident visa is a fast-track application process, and this has been proven as some applicants under Phase 1 received a decision within a few days.”
However, Immigration lawyer Simon Laurent of Laurent Law believes that INZ should dispense with the NZ Police check requirement entirely if it is likely to cause any delays in the processing of one-off visa applications.
“If INZ dispenses NZ police check requirement, it would help deliver on INZ’s promise to complete applications efficiently. Also, the 2021 Resident Visa Instructions have already removed the need for overseas Police Certificates unless a visa officer decides that one is required in the course of the application.
“The purpose of an NZ police check is to show whether someone has been charged with a serious offence, or convicted of an offence, to determine eligibility for the visa. From our experience, the Police already promptly share information with INZ about charges and convictions of migrants on temporary visas. The minority of applicants whose eligibility was in doubt could be picked up in that way, instead of penalising the rest by delaying their applications.”