Siân Roguski – Manager Immigration Policy Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Immigration Policy Work Programme (2017) Siân Roguski – Manager Immigration Policy

Overview Work since the last conference Strategic labour market and immigration work Current policy projects, and changes to the immigration system Upcoming or proposed policy projects

Since the last conference Refugee quota increased Visa waiver changes NZRP for 2016/17 to 2017/18 set Skilled Migrant Category review South Island Contribution visa Consultation on changes to the Essential Skills work visa Changes to improve the functioning of various categories including: Updating the definition of a ‘fit and proper’ person for business visa applications Removing the 7-year limit for domestic violence or sexual offences committed by New Zealanders supporting partnership-based visa applications A pathway to residence for long-term partners of New Zealanders when a relationship has broken down and the family includes children Preventing circumvention of immigration health requirements In June last year the refugee quota was increased from 750 to 1000 from 2018, after the Syrian emergency response refugees have been resettled The change of visa waiver status for South Africa (no longer visa waiver), Mauritius and the Seychelles (became visa waiver) was implemented from November 2016. The new NZRP was announced in October 2016 with a reduced planning range for the next two years to 85,000 – 95,000 (down from 90,000 – 100,000). The points for selection under the SMC were raised from 140 to 160 and the Parent Category was reduced from 5,500 to 2,000 per year. This resulted in a temporary closure of the Parent Category to deal with applications already in process. From October, consultation was undertaken on changes to the SMC and these changes were announced in April along with the details of the South Island Contribution visa (formerly known as the pathway). Other changes included extending the accreditation period for Talent employers; guardian visas for parents of NZ citizen children; visitor visas for tour escorts (rather than work visas); aligning crew of superyachts and other private craft; small change to entertainers policy to include crew; amending the maximum age requirement for work to residence LTSSL; requiring all onshore dependants to be included in a residence visa application.

Strategic labour market work Taking a big picture look at the New Zealand labour market and the future of work Sector Workforce Engagement Programme Working with occupations and sectors to understand their reliance on migrant labour compared to New Zealanders Co-developing responses to create a domestic pipeline of labour

Strategic immigration work Looking at the connections between migration and the New Zealand labour market Work has been completed on the first phase of: Improving the attraction, selection and integration of investors and entrepreneurs Facilitating people who will contribute to New Zealand’s economic growth while managing risk Work is still underway on improving the contribution of migration to the labour market through reviewing key labour migration policies

Current policy projects Improving the operation of various immigration policies Reviewing the parent category Reviewing the partnership and dependent child categories Implementing a pilot programme for community sponsorship of refugees Consulting on the changes to Essential Skills work visas agreed in principle by Cabinet

Upcoming or proposed policy projects Fee and levy review Phase two of the changes to temporary work visa settings Review of character settings Review of some student settings – scope to be determined Combatting exploitation and people trafficking

Thank you