A Sneak Peek of What's Coming in 2022

With most of us resume working on the 10th of Jan, we believe it is the best time to give you a bit of introduction of what you should expect in 2022 in immigration settings.

On the 1st of March, all eligible one-off resident visa applicants will be able to lodge their one-off resident visa applications online. Surely, we don’t put our hope high that Immigration is able to accept 95,000 applications in a day or in the first week, but we wish to see the system can at least stay sober in March.

Grounded kiwis are also hoping the Trans-Taman bubble can reopen soon to allow loved one to reunite. Uncertainty around the setback of the free-quarantine travel has showered people with frustration, anxiety and endless wait. At the moment being, fully vaccinated kiwis can return from Australia without staying in the MIQ from 16 Jan 2022; fully vaccinated kiwis from anywhere in the world can return without staying in the MIQ from 13 Feb 2022; All fully vaccinated individuals could travel to New Zealand in the end of April 2022.

A fairly large amount of NZ employers is also left with uncertainty regarding what is set to happen on 4 May 2022, where businesses plan to hire migrants must be accredited. Employers onshore, especially in some rural areas, have already been struggling with finding employees to work for them. The shortage of people even led some employer to poach of staff from others so they can survive. We are happy to see Immigration New Zealand making the process of accreditation as transparent and easy-to-pickup as possible, so no more frustration and pressure will be added to the current financial hardship that employers are going through.

Immigration New Zealand will also review the current Skilled Migrant Category Scheme in the mid of 2022. A decent number of master and PhD students who will therefore graduate in the mid 2022, would like to be assured that New Zealand has plan in place to secure their future. We hope to see some practical updates in the current point system post-pandemic, to allow truly skilled migrants who missed their boat of this RV21 to have a pathway to residence.

In August, Immigration New Zealand will announce whether the offshore application will be resumed. But bear in mind, this date could be moved ahead of schedule based on New Zealand border policies.

We hope 2022 is a year in which an abundant industrial resurgence takes place. We are glad to welcome 2022 with all of you. May 2022 is a year full of good news!