3 May 2024
A KS
[FYI request #26270 email]
DOIA 2324-2142
Tēnā koe A KS
Thank you for your email of 30 March 2024 to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the fol owing:
1. Please provide all updated Standard Operating Procedures SOPs (Family Category Parent),
templates and other staff guidance which have the steps of how a parent resident visa application is
processed, assessed/decided by INZ. These can be from Global Processing Manual or any other
documents too. The fol owing was shared in Jan 2024
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2F250
22%2Fresponse%2F95430%2Fattach%2F5%2F2324%25201232%2520A%2520KS%2520Appendix.pdf
&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad7dd09446d0971608dc509fd26
1%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C638473895778262094%7CUnknown%7C
TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0
%7C%7C%7C&sdata=D4dfSH770tAjNV9DlYejgdSVOfn9JpkMy%2BH%2Fn%2FrdnR8%3D&reserved=0
2. Please provide SOP/assessment template that explains the process of assessment of English
requirement for the Parent Category visa applicants. Page 9 of the fol owing guidelines does not seem
to be complete
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2F250
22%2Fresponse%2F95430%2Fattach%2F5%2F2324%25201232%2520A%2520KS%2520Appendix.pdf
&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad7dd09446d0971608dc509fd26
1%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C638473895778270227%7CUnknown%7C
TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0
%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FAHGEvYeRat641P6ItxY6BYPUCaKRVPFzG%2BIvRFXVmM%3D&reserved=0
The guidelines in the above document Page 9 are only considering the English test results or ESOL pre-
purchase as the criteria for meeting English language ability for parent category. However as per
instruction F4.25.1(b)(i i) there are other criteria that can be considered as the evidence of meeting
English requirement like 'completion of a course of at least 3 years duration leading to the award of a
tertiary qualification at institutions using English as the language of instruction or completion of at
least 5 years of secondary education (that is, the equivalent of New Zealand Forms 3 to 7 or years 9
to 13) at schools using English as the language of instruction;
1
Please advice why the criteria of F4.25.1(b)(i i) is missing from the assessment guidelines of
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2F250
22%2Fresponse%2F95430%2Fattach%2F5%2F2324%25201232%2520A%2520KS%2520Appendix.pdf
&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad7dd09446d0971608dc509fd26
1%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C638473895778276035%7CUnknown%7C
TWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0
%7C%7C%7C&sdata=jc1ZfBLCm3mKswxEXqTtF1j94xOpHFDFGpM4tLPOHPY%3D&reserved=0
Can or by When the assessment guidelines be updated to incorporate F4.25.1(b)(i i) instructions?
3. Could you advice if in absence of an English language test, can INZ consider the evidence as
mentioned in the instruction F4.25.1(b)(i i) for the assessment of parent category application?
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.immigration.govt.nz%2
Fopsmanual%2F%2373242.htm&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad
7dd09446d0971608dc509fd261%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C63847389
5778280803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1h
aWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GLusKYf83ucSGbPPmCc5m4xIefWiU7%2F27kv1e
nxuUkQ%3D&reserved=0
4. Do you have the updated version of the fol owing document that was shared in the fol owing old
OIA?
https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffyi.org.nz%2Frequest%2F210
85%2Fresponse%2F80471%2Fattach%2F4%2FAppendix%2520One%2520Bundle%2520final%2520Re
dacted%2520Part1.pdf&data=05%7C02%7CMinisterialServices%40mbie.govt.nz%7C553aad7dd0944
6d0971608dc509fd261%7C78b2bd11e42b47eab0112e04c3af5ec1%7C0%7C0%7C638473895778285
202%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJ
XVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2F4oPHPPsUXvLzh9rLSs4QMtPbdMrchSRZvNkbbQgjKw%
3D&reserved=0
It can be an updated version of the same document or any other training materials/guide of INZ for
the officers to assess parent category application.
Our Response
Question 1: Please provide all updated Standard Operating Procedures SOPs (Family Category
Parent), templates and other staff guidance which have the steps of how a parent resident visa
application is processed, assessed/decided by INZ. These can be from Global Processing Manual or any
other documents too.
There have been no further updates since your previous OIA request (2324-1232) which we responded
to on 23 January 2024.
Question 2: Please provide SOP/assessment template that explains the process of assessment of
English requirement for the Parent Category visa applicants. Page 9 of the fol owing guidelines does
not seem to be complete. The guidelines in the above document Page 9 are only considering the
English test results or ESOL pre-purchase as the criteria for meeting English language ability for parent
category. However as per instruction F4.25.1(b)(i i) there are other criteria that can be considered as
the evidence of meeting English requirement like 'completion of a course of at least 3 years duration
leading to the award of a tertiary qualification at institutions using English as the language of
instruction or completion of at least 5 years of secondary education (that is, the equivalent of New
Zealand Forms 3 to 7 or years 9 to 13) at schools using English as the language of instruction; Please
advice why the criteria of F4.25.1(b)(i i) is missing from the assessment guidelines of [
link]
Can or by When the assessment guidelines be updated to incorporate F4.25.1(b)(iii) instructions?
2
INZ has not included reference to instruction F4.25.1(b)(i i) in the SOP because the requirements of this
instruction are addressed by Step 2, which helps determine whether there is other evidence that the
applicant(s) meets the minimum standard of English. The evidence can include country of citizenship
and/or residence and include type and place of education.
Question 3: Could you advise if in absence of an English language test, can INZ consider the evidence as
mentioned in the instruction F4.25.1(b)(i i) for the assessment of parent category application?
Yes, the immigration instructions set out the rules and criteria for a person to be granted a resident class
visa under the Parent Category, therefore INZ can consider the evidence outlined at F4.25.1(b)(iii). As
noted in the response to
Point 2, this instruction is covered by Step 2 of SOP
Assess English Language.
Question 4: Do you have the updated version of the fol owing document that was shared in the fol owing
old OIA? It can be an updated version of the same document or any other training materials/guide of INZ
for the officers to assess parent category application.
Please refer to the attached Appendix for the information you have requested. Some information has
been withheld under the fol owing sections of the Act:
• 6(c) to avoid prejudice to the maintenance of the law, including prevention, investigation, and
detection.
• 9(2)(a) to protect the privacy of natural persons.
I have considered whether the decision to withhold this information is outweighed by a public interest
in its release and have concluded that this is not the case.
In addition to the standard operating procedures (SOPs), Immigration Instructions are publicly available on
the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website at the following link: -
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/policy-and-law/how-the-immigration-system-
operates/immigration-instructions
Please note unredacted names of individuals in the training document represent mock case studies
about hypothetical applicants.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. Information
about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802
602.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request or this response, please contact
[email address]
Nāku noa, nā
Alejandra Mercado
Acting General Manager
Service Design and Implementation
Immigration New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
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