Student visa provision introduced for qualifications delayed by NZQA intervention

Policy effect

From December 9, 2016, students whose qualification could not be awarded because their education provider was under NZQA statutory intervention could receive a student visa for up to six months, with multiple-entry travel and work of up to 20 hours in any week. Applicants had to have submitted all assessment material, await NZQA confirmation, meet health and character requirements, provide the application and fee, and show at least NZ$1,250 per month for maintenance. Evidence of completed assessment submissions could come from NZQA if provider confirmation was unavailable. Visa conditions named the programme, provider and location when the provider continued operating; these could be omitted if it had ceased operating.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: From December 9, 2016, students whose qualification could not be awarded because their education provider was under NZQA statutory intervention could receive a student visa for up to six months, with multiple-entry travel and work of up to 20 hours in any week.; Applicants had to have submitted all assessment material, await NZQA confirmation, meet health and character requirements, provide the application and fee, and show at least NZ$1,250 per month for maintenance.

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 immigration instructions effective on and after 9 December 2016 NZQA Statutory Intervention processes U16 Students affected by New Zealand Qualifications Authority Compliance notification U16.1 Application and evidence U16.5 Currency and conditions A new provision has been added to student visa instructions to ensure students who have finished their study but have not been awarded their qualification as a result of a New Zealand Qualific … ations Authority statutory intervention process, are able to maintain lawful status along with the ability to work part-time and study if and when required. APPENDIX 1: AMENDED IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS EFFECTIVE ON AND AFTER 9 DECEMBER 2016 U16 Students affected by New Zealand Qualifications Authority Compliance notification a. The intent of these instructions is to allow people whose education provider is subject to statutory intervention by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to maintain their status as student visa holders while awaiting a determination of whether their qualific … ation can be awarded. b. Student visas may be granted under these instructions where the applicant: i. has submitted all required material for the assessment of their qualification; ii. is or has been enrolled at an education provider that is subject to statutory intervention by NZQA which prevents the awarding of their qualification; iii. is awaiting NZQA’s confirmation that their qualification can be awarded; and iv. meets health and character requirements as set out at A4 and A5. U16.1 Application and evidence a. Applicants must provide: i. a completed student visa application form and fee; … and ii. evidence that they have a minimum of $1,250 per month in funds available to maintain themselves during their intended stay in New Zealand; and iii. confirmation from their education provider that they have submitted all required material for the assessment of their qualification. b. If an applicant is unable to obtain confirmation from their education provider required for (a)(iii) (for example if the education provider has ceased to operate), confirmation from NZQA that they have submitted all required material for assessment can be provided instead. U16.5 Currency and conditions a. … Despite U13.15, a student visa holder may be granted under these instructions with conditions allowing work for up to 20 hours in any given week during the validity of the visa. b. Visas can be granted up to a maximum period of six months with multiple entry travel conditions. c. Where the education provider is continuing to operate the original programme of study, education provider and location must be specified on the visa. d. In the event the education provider has ceased to operate, the visa can be granted without a specified programme of study, education provider, or location. … 9 December 2016 IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND INSTRUCTIONS: Amendment Circular No. 2016/11 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 9 December 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
• 2016-02-04Pathway Student Visa English-test requirement narrowed by country decline rate
• 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