Just wanted to post a bit of a "word of warning" or heads-up for those planning to lodge an application for an Essential Skills work visa, as I've noticed a bit of a disturbing trend in my work as a licensed adviser when dealing with certain branches and immigration officers regarding the evidence required to prove that an applicant is suitably qualified by training and experience to do the work offered (as per WK3.20a). It has long been the practice that, where an applicant has relevant work experience which demonstrates that they satisfy the ANZSCO requirements for a job they have been offered in NZ, a work experience reference letter has been sufficient to satisfy an immigration officer that they are suitably qualified by experience.
However, I am increasingly seeing immigration officers state that a work experience reference letter provided is "not sufficient" and more and more immigration officers are asking for tax records, bank statements and employment agreements as further evidence of work experience.
In my opinion, this is high-handed and does not align with instructions requirements. I had a 1-hour phone conversation with an immigration officer yesterday, after he stated that a work reference letter stating that an applicant had worked in a particular trade-based role for more than 4 years, and specifically listed the tasks and duties the applicant undertook in that role, was not enough to satisfy him that the applicant had the 3 years of relevant work experience as required by ANZSCO for the occupation he has been offered. When pressed as to what it was about the letter that did not satisfy him, his (arrogant) response was "how can I tell from that letter that he really does have that experience?". Suffice to say, I was dumbfounded. But unfortunately this is the level of arbitrary requests that is becoming the norm across most INZ offices.
So just a word to the wise that, if you are planning to apply for an Essential Skills work visa and meet the ANZSCO skill level requirements by way of your past work experience, perhaps be prepared with tax records, bank statements and employment agreement on-hand to give the immigration officer should you be unlucky enough to be allocated to one who is taking this approach to their assessments.