The Indian Weekender, Friday 03 July 2020

4 NEW ZEALAND
Friday, July 3, 2020
The Indian Weekender
Not every temp migrant workers stranded
overseas will be able to return: Iain Lees-Galloway
SANDEEP SINGH
plausible entry date; however, the Minister was
once again unable to give such timeframes.
However, on being queried further the
Minister assured that some decisions could
come within weeks time while some other more
complex ones could come in a months time,
depending upon how the officials were able to
align mutually conflicting goals of keeping NZ
safe from any overseas infection of the novel
Coronavirus and letting those stranded overseas
back into the country.
In news that can break many hearts and
lives, the Immigration Minister Iain Lees-
Galloway has suggested that not every
temporary migrant worker stuck overseas
might be able to come back to New Zealand.
The Minister was speaking with the Indian
Weekender on Sunday, June 28.
When pressed for a response about what
was in store for the temporary migrant work
visa holders stuck overseas, the Minister said
they are working on a policy where it might be
required for such work visa holders to put an
altogether new application.
On further enquiry, if that means that many
such workers could potentially be declined
to enter back in NZ forever, the Minister
responded affirmatively.
The Indian Weekender had got the opportunity
to speak with the Minister for Immigration for
the first time since the onset of Covid-19 related
border closure and Alert Level 4 lockdown, and
it chose to discuss with the Minister a range of
immigration policy-related issues affecting the
wider communities.
The issue of temporary migrants
stranded overseas
Most of the conversation with the Minister
was focussed on the perils of tens of thousands
of temporary migrant workers who were
unsuspectingly caught on the wrong side when
NZ borders were closed on March 19.
The Minister was categorically asked if
he had any timeframe on exactly when those
stranded temporary migrant workers would
be able to hear from the government about a
In the ensuing discussion around
this hugely emotional issue,
the Minister was not willing to
reveal too much, except that
the officials were working on
new immigration policy - thus
making it clear that most of the
visa holders who are fortunate
enough to be allowed back into
country will be invited to apply
for a new visa under the new visa
policy.
In the ensuing discussion around this hugely
emotional issue, the Minister was not willing
to reveal too much, except that the officials
were working on new immigration policy - thus
making it clear that most of the visa holders
who are fortunate enough to be allowed back
into country will be invited to apply for a new
visa under the new visa policy.
Clearly, their respective work visas will look
vastly different from their current work visas.
Exceptions for relationshipbased
visa holders to enter NZ
The issue of the continued declining majority
of requests for exceptions from the partners of
NZ citizens and residents was also discussed
in detail with the Minister, bringing to his
attention the perceived gap in the government’s
assurance on uniting the families with the
situation on the ground.
On being queried, if the Minister was aware
that possibly around 80 per cent of applications
for exceptions by partners and spouses of NZ
citizens and partners were being rejected, the
Minister acknowledged the fact saying that it
was always clear that the partners who were
not ordinarily resident in NZ would not be
able to get such exceptions.
Processing delays in Skilled
Migrant Category visas
The Minister also acknowledged the
processing delays in Skilled Migrant
Category visas - in some cases for
more than 15-18 months, however,
sought to shift the blame of the
delay on the burgeoning numbers
of new applications under the
category.
In the ensuing conversation
when the Minister was categorically
asked if he had set any expectation
on the INZ for the time frame for
disposal of applications under the
SMC category, he responded with
a broad 12 months window - which
apparently was not being met, even in the
pre-Covid 19 environment.
Please see the full interview on the
Indian Weekender’s Facebook page.
वापस पटरी पर
हैमिलटन का COVID-19 से ननपटने का बजट
वार्षिक योजना 2020/21 का प्ारूप
हर साल Council एक वार्षिक पलान बनाती है जजसिे
िुखया प्ोजेकट और उनका वार्षिक आय - वयय ननज्चित
ककया जाता है !
Covid-19 की हिारे सिुदाय और हिारी आर्षिक ज्तर् पर दुष्प्भाव
की वजह से वार्षिक आय - वयय पर दुबारा दृजष्ट डालना अनत आव्यक
हो गया ्ा!
इस ददशा िें हि कु छ बदलाव का प््ताव पेश कर रहे हैं ! जजससे
हिारे शहर को Covid-19 के दुष्प्बाहवो से ननपटने िें सफलता मिलेगी!
अरिक जानकारी और अगले 12 िहीनो के बारे िें अपने
रवचिार हिे बताये !
hamilton.govt.nz/annualplan/feedback
ककताब ककसी भी Council दफतर
से या Hamilton City Library
से प्ापत कर सकते हैं !