online status approved but immigration contact centre said application not finalised yet.

[Rajneesh]

Dear experts(especially JandM & Karen),

My parents residence application has been approved on the INZ website a week ago and when I contacted INZ regarding AIP letter. Contact centre officer have advised that the desicion has not been finalised yet.

So, why did INZ website is showing decision Approved if the decision has not been made yet? How definite is that the residence is approved or not?

Bit worried now ☹️

Regards
Rajneesh

[David12345]

We have the same, can anyone help with this? What is the difference between approved and approved in principle (AIP)??

[JandM]

What the INZ call centre can tell you depends on which part of the INZ computer they can access, or happen to access while you are speaking to them. Updating computer records is secondary to the actual work of processing cases, and may be done some while after the event. Whereas, when your CO finishes your case, as part of the process your name goes onto a list for two things - the 'Approved' or 'AIP' status to be entered, and the AIP letter or email to be sent out - which are both done by clerks.

The difference between Approved and AIP. Approved in Principle means that your case has all been verified and you're being told that if you do the necessary to complete the process (following the directions in your AIP letter and sending in your passport for the visa label), you can have residence. (You could still at that stage NOT do that, then you wouldn't become a Resident.) Approved means that you have done the necessary and the sticker is in your passport. You still need to go to NZ by the date on your visa label, to activate the visa.

[David12345]

Thanks for explaining, however maybe I am not understanding something but I thought my partners status should be approved in principle as she has not had any contact from a CO at all and has not sent her passport in to get the sticker (she has not been asked to).

Her status is showing as approved which you say means the sticker I'd in her passport and everything is done?

Her passport along with relationship evidence was sent back a few days after lodging and we have no contact from INZ at all except the email we got today saying the online status has changed

[JandM]

Make allowance for the fact that INZ officials are human. They get distracted or otherwise make slight errors too.

[David12345]

Thanks, so you would asume they entered her status as approved but they should have done it as AIP?

[JandM]

It looks likely.