Immigration (Covid-19 Response) Amendment Bill
Section 50
Amended to allow the Minister to:
- vary travel dates to New Zealand
such as extending the requirement to enter New Zealand within 12 months of the residence visa being granted; or
- allow different employment to what was approved
such as working for a different employer, different occupation or different location
This amendment appears to be very positive.
Part (a) allows the Minister to issue instructions to extend validity travel dates for all temporary visas.
Therefore, anyone who has missed out on coming to New Zealand because of the lockdown and border closures or no available flights, then it appears that the Government intends to be sympathetic and allow the expiry dates to be extended. Such as extending the last day for meeting the requirement to enter New Zealand within 12 months of the residence visa being granted
Let’s hope that this is what the Government intends to do.
Part (b) allows the Minister to issue instructions that people with existing valid work visas, and who have lost their jobs, but have found a new job, then it appears that the intent of the Government is to allow these people to work in the new job, and possibly without paying any application fees.
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