Immigration Law Changes

Are you or someone you know contemplating sponsoring parents to come to New Zealand?

If so, you should be aware that a new policy change will be implemented in July which creates a ‘two-tier’ system for parents coming to New Zealand to reunite with their NZ resident children.
The two tiers are:

• For parents who bring into NZ guaranteed income/funds (meaning a guaranteed life-time minimum income of $27,203 per annum for a single person or $39,890 per annum for a couple or minimum settlement funds of $500,000), or if their sponsoring resident children earn at least $65,000 per annum or $90,000 per annum when combined with the sponsor’s partner’s income, their applications will be processed faster.
• For those parents who have less means and are sponsored by children on a lower income (minimum of $33,675 per annum), their applications will take longer to process.

NB: For both categories, there are English Language requirements.

The Parent Category will close from 16 May 2012 until July 2012 and applications cannot be lodged during this time. However applications (with all necessary documents) accepted for processing by Immigration New Zealand on or before 15 May 2012 will be processed.

The Sibling and Adult Child category which allowed residents to sponsor their adult siblings and/or adult children is now closed.