Immigration Online Enhancements & Automated Electronic Decision-Making Instructions

Policy effect

INZ implemented instructions to support the migration of visitor visa products to the enhanced Immigration Online system. This introduced provisions setting out circumstances where automated electronic processing and decision-making may determine that criteria are met to grant visitor visas under V2/V3 instructions or refer cases to manual officer assessment. It also created general processing instruction A16.3 under s26(4) of the Immigration Act 2009.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Information about these changes is available on our website www.immigration.govt.nz. Description of changes A4.25 Medical and Chest X-ray Certificates: temporary entry class visa applications A21 Automated electronic decision making E7.2 Automated processing and granting V2.20 Funds or sponsorship requirements Changes have been made to immigration instructions to support the migration of visitor visa products from current processing systems to the Immigration Online system, once enhancements have been made (from 31 January 2022). These changes include provisions which set out the circumstances under which an electronic system may determine that requirements are met to grant a visitor visa under instructions at V2 and V3, and when consideration will be referred to an immigration officer. The changes also set out: • when sponsored persons or their sponsors must provide a relevant form and • that, where an online system does not require a Medical Certificate or Chest X-ray Certificate, an immigration officer may request one if it is required to determine whether the applicant is of an acceptable standard of health. A16.3 General Instructions on manner of processing visas A new general instruction has been created for immigration officers on the order and manner of processing of visa applications, under section 26(4) of the Immigration Act 2009. This general instruction sets out the manner in which immigration officers will process applications submitted once enhancements have been made to Immigration Online. The topics it covers include: • Performing activities assigned by the enhanced Immigration Online system. • Performing activities pertaining to final gathering of information, assessment and decision. • Pre-decision quality checks. 1 Appendix 1: Amendments to Temporary Entry instructions effective on and after 31 January 2022 2 A4.25 Medical and Chest X-ray Certificates: temporary entry class visa applications Applications for temporary entry class visas from applicants intending a stay in New Zealand of more than 12 months must include a completed Medical Certificate and a Chest X-ray Certificate (see A4.25(k)) which have been issued less than three months before the date the application is made, for every person included in the application, unless (c), (d) or (e) below apply. The Medical Certificate and Chest X-ray Certificate that may be required with a temporary … of the Immigration Act 2009 and acting under delegated authority from the Chief Executive of the Ministry of the Business, Innovation, and Employment, I give the following general instructions as to the manner of processing of visa applications using the Immigration Online system, effective from 31 January 2022 A16.3.10 Performing activities assigned by the enhanced Immigration Online system a. An immigration officer who is responsible for processing visas in the enhanced Immigration Online system will complete activities in the following manner: i. An officer will accept activities in the general …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2022

• 2022-02-21Staged early access to the 2021 Resident Visa for eligible Phase 2 applicants
• 2022-03-01General Phase 2 opening of the 2021 Resident Visa
• 2022-04-12Border Reconnection Step 3: Entry for Offshore Temporary Visa Holders, Australian Travelers, and Student Cohort 4 Border Exception
• 2022-05-092021 Resident Visa eligibility preserved for specified special-direction visa holders
• 2022-07-01Operational Manual Amendments to Refugee Family Support Category & Duration of Sponsorship (Amendment Circular No. 2022-38)
• 2022-07-01Refugee Family Support registration, visa fees and immigration levy waived
• 2022-07-04Offshore visa-application exception extended to families of work-visa applicants
• 2022-07-31Immigration fee and levy schedules revised
• 2022-09-05Operational Commencement of the Green List "Straight to Residence" Resident Visa
• 2022-09-27Annual Cap Increase for the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme
• 2022-10-12Restart and Policy Restructuring of the Parent Resident Visa Category