Skilled Migrant Residence queue

‍

There was a rush of applications when the Skilled Migrant category (SMC) reopened in November 2022. The surge was due to built-up demand and the limited window before the passmark moved from 160 points to 180).

‍

It is difficult to reach 180 points, and in most cases, people need a job offer outside of Auckland to get sufficient bonus points.

‍

Many applicants are concerned the Immigration New Zealand website reports that processing time frames for SMC residence applications are taking 3 to 4 years. Rest assured, INZ will update the website soon. In the meantime, non-priority applications lodged in early December 2022 are now being allocated to Immigration Officers for assessment. Priority applications land on an officer’s desk within about two weeks.

‍

Priority processing applies to applicants who are earning double the median wage or require occupational registration to claim points for their job offer (e.g., electricians, vets, teachers etc).

‍

It pays to engage a reputable Licensed Immigration Adviser to manage a SMC application, as they provide reliable immigration advice and regular updates. Applying for residence is stressful, and delays just add to the uncertainty of the whole process. You need a strong friend walking next to you on the visa journey.

‍

Almost 80% of the 2021 Resident Visa applications have now been approved. That is just over 160,000 people out of the 214,000 who applied. But what if you are in the last 20% and still waiting? Immigration NZ say most applications will be decided by the end of June 2023. There are reasons for delays. This can include health or character issues, security checks (which can take a very long time to process), waiting on more documents from the applicant and limited human resources at Immigration NZ to process the remaining applications. You may have friends who were approved some time ago and we recommend you don’t read anything into that for your case taking longer.

‍

Poorly documented applications cause most processing delays. Getting the documents right and lodging a visa application that is 100% correct will get it processed much quicker. Use an expert – avoid shortcuts.

‍