Pathway Student Visa English-test requirement narrowed by country decline rate

Policy effect

Instructions effective February 4, 2016 limited the specific initial English-test requirement to first-time Pathway Student Visa applicants from countries with a student-visa decline rate greater than 20 percent whose pathway began with English study and culminated in an NZQF level 5–8 qualification. These applicants had to submit IELTS or an accepted equivalent and show they needed an improvement of no more than 0.5 IELTS overall band to meet the subsequent programme prerequisite. The rule previously covered pathways to levels 5–7 without that country-rate limitation. Other student-visa and programme-entry requirements remained applicable.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Instructions effective February 4, 2016 limited the specific initial English-test requirement to first-time Pathway Student Visa applicants from countries with a student-visa decline rate greater than 20 percent whose pathway began with English study and culminated in an NZQF level 5–8 qualification.

Official source excerpt

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

… e course. Any enquiries about these amendments should be directed to the Immigration Contact Centre on 0508 558 855 or 09 914 4100 (Auckland only). Changes to temporary instructions effective on and after 4 February 2016 U14.5 Requirements to be granted a pathway student visa U14.10 Currency and conditions of pathway student visas U14.15 Changing and complying with pathway student visa conditions U14.20 Provider requirements First time pathway student visa applicants seeking to undertake a study pathway that begins with an English language course and leads to a programme of study at levels 5 t … o 7 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework no longer need to submit an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test (or equivalent), unless they are from a country that has a decline rate of more than 20 per cent for student visa applications. The annual decline rates for all countries are published on the Immigration New Zealand website. The 16 week course length restriction for English language courses will also only apply to first time pathway student visa students from countries with a student visa application decline rate that is greater than 20 per cent. The range of p … rogrammes that require an applicant to provide an IELTS (or equivalent) test have also been increased from levels 5 - 7 to levels 5 - 8. WH1.1 Objectives and overview – RSE Instructions WH1.1.15 Annual limit to number of visas available under RSE instructions The annual Recognised Seasonal Employer visa cap has been increased from 9,000 to 9,500. APPENDIX 1: AMENDED IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS EFFECTIVE ON AND AFTER 4 FEBRUARY 2016 U14.5 Requirements to be granted a pathway student visa To be granted a pathway student visa, an applicant must: a. be offered an eligible study pathway from a qualify … out in U3.20 for the first year of study on the intended pathway have been met and satisfy an immigration officer that they have the ability to fund any remaining balance of the first programme of study and subsequent programmes of study on the intended pathway. b. Despite (a)(ii), second and subsequent offers of place for a pathway can be conditional on meeting pre- requisite programme of study entry criteria. c. First time pathway student visa applicants from a country with a student visa decline rate of more than 20 per cent who intend a study pathway commencing with an English language pro … gramme of study and culminating in a qualification at Levels 5 to 8 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework must: i. submit an International English Language Testing System test (IELTS) (or equivalent internationally recognised test) at the time of application; and ii. demonstrate that they only require an improvement of 0.5 of an IELTS overall band score (or equivalent) to meet the English language prerequisite for entry into the intended level 5 to 8 programme of study. Note: The student visa decline rate for a country is based on statistics, generated over a calendar year (12 months), b … 4 February 2016 IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND INSTRUCTIONS: Amendment Circular No. 2016/01 To: All Manual Holders AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND OPERATIONAL MANUAL Introduction This circular outlines changes to immigration instructions. A copy of the amended instructions is attached. All immigration officers dealing with immigration applications should read the amendments in Appendix 1 and operate in accordance with the amended instructions on and after 4 February 2016. Note The amendments described in this circular will be published in the Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual in du …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2016

• 2016-02-04Pathway English-course 16-week limit narrowed to specified applicants
• 2016-10-12Capped Family allocation set at 4,000 places for the two-year residence programme
• 2016-10-12Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual
• 2016-10-12Skilled Migrant automatic EOI selection threshold set at 160 points
• 2016-10-12Skilled Migrant English-language evidence alternatives tightened
• 2016-11-21Establishment of the Global Impact Visa (GIVs) Pilot Programme
• 2016-11-21South African citizenship-based visitor travel visa waiver removed
• 2016-11-21Visa waiver extended to citizens of Mauritius and Seychelles
• 2016-12-09Student visa provision introduced for qualifications delayed by NZQA intervention