ITA April 2019

[Roger89]

It appears that the allocation of SMC applications to Immigration Officers has come to a grinding halt - upon enquiring about the date that applications were lodged that were being allocated to IO's on Monday this week, I was told by an Immigration Manager at Manukau that applications lodged on 7 December were being allocated. This has not changed since Monday 8 July. When I enquired further as to why it appeared allocations were not happening at all, the IM referred to "staff shortages" but I do not believe he is being honest. I believe it has more to do with the fact that INZ now has more Residence applications on-hand for processing than there are now spaces left for approved Residence under the NZ Residence Programme until 31 December 2019. Unfortunately, no one at INZ is being honest enough to confirm this, but this news article more or less confirms it: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/07/1...XP6RuTrE5vEZI#.
I will check in with INZ again for an update next Monday and see what the story is then.

What I don't understand is if immigration wants to slow down, why the number of EOI keep being selected.
The values below are from the Immigration website:

EOI People
25/07/18 554 1222
08/08/18 500 1112
22/08/18 555 1301
05/09/18 570 1222
19/09/18 608 1360
03/10/18 592 1280
17/10/18 591 1293
31/10/18 560 1258
14/11/18 709 1458
28/11/18 569 1291
12/12/18 504 1096
23/01/19 1080 2482
06/02/19 558 1241
20/02/19 597 1311
06/03/19 635 1394
20/03/19 663 1465
03/04/19 635 1390
17/04/19 626 1386
01/05/19 542 1213
15/05/19 648 1348
29/05/19 651 1481
12/06/19 616 1371
26/06/19 662 1444
10/07/19 581 1240
Total 14,806.00 32,659.00


https://www.immigration.govt.nz/abou...=&q=&s=dd&l=30

[JandM]

None of us understands this situation for certain.

It looks as though maybe the rank and file officials of INZ have continued to do their job, following the instructions in the normal way, and therefore selecting EOIs and issuing ITAs to those that are eligible in accordance with the INZ operational manual, while the high-ups in charge of INZ, under instruction from politicians, have not made any more resources available to clear the queues, which of itself has created this blockage.

[toughbloke]

From what I'm reading it simply means that there will be no more assignments of applications past 7 December 2018 until the end of the year. Once 1 January 2020 comes around, they'll start processing applications again from 7 December 2018. However, those applications will form part of drastically cut numbers, meaning that they'll probably only assign applications up to about March or April 2019....and then they'll stop assigning applications again until the next year.

Yes true. I read in one of the documents shared by Erin that the # for skill based visas is 55000 for the period of 18 months between Jul-18 and Dec-19 which has been exhausted now. But what you are not considering is the fact that during this period there would have been application before Jul-2018. So my estimation based on the numbers is in a similar ball park range but I was thinking more Jun-Jul application cut off. Again, I may be totally wrong but I'm just going based on what I've figured out of the projections from the release from MB.

[toughbloke]

None of us understands this situation for certain.

It looks as though maybe the rank and file officials of INZ have continued to do their job, following the instructions in the normal way, and therefore selecting EOIs and issuing ITAs to those that are eligible in accordance with the INZ operational manual, while the high-ups in charge of INZ, under instruction from politicians, have not made any more resources available to clear the queues, which of itself has created this blockage.

Yes, the best thing to do is to wait and hope things move on.

[benz]

[QUOTE=Roger89;582547]What I don't understand is if immigration wants to slow down, why the number of EOI keep being selected.


This is what I was thinking as well. Why don't they stop accepting EOI's so that no one would pay and wait forever for their application. In this way people could still think if they really want to still stay in NZ. But it is a business for NZ government. They get heaps of money for this one.

[EGoodhue]

Sorry to have to report that the update from Manukau's Immigration Manager that I contacted this morning was that the front of the queue was still stuck at 7 December (unchanged since 8 July). I have asked for confirmation whether allocations are still taking place of applications that meet INZ's own internally-set criteria (Salary is above the high remuneration threshold, Occupation is one that requires registration through a governing body and applicant holds current registration, Employer is a government department), but I have yet to hear back. Will update when I know.

[toughbloke]

Sorry to have to report that the update from Manukau's Immigration Manager that I contacted this morning was that the front of the queue was still stuck at 7 December (unchanged since 8 July). I have asked for confirmation whether allocations are still taking place of applications that meet INZ's own internally-set criteria (Salary is above the high remuneration threshold, Occupation is one that requires registration through a governing body and applicant holds current registration, Employer is a government department), but I have yet to hear back. Will update when I know.

Some good news if they are still assigning applications through if the employer is a government department. Really appreciate your support Erin.

Best

[Roger89]

EOI selection from 24/07/19
715 EOI - 1510 People

EOIs are still normally being selected, I believe that is a good thing.. Not really sure, but I don't believe SMC will be closed

[EGoodhue]

In response to my further querying of what is happening with the SMC allocation queue (are allocations stopping altogether or going very slowly or only certain applications that meet a set criteria being allocated?), one of the Immigration Managers at Manukau has replied to say that they will send me a "formal response" next week. Will update here as soon as I receive this "formal response"

[shrinivasrao]

Dear Egoodhue,
Could you please help me to get my CO's Manager email address or contact number in Manukau branch.
CO Name: Tuniloa Ofanoa

Below is my Timeline:
Offshore SMC, 165 Points without job offer

12 Oct 2018 ITA lodged
06 Mar 2019 CO assigned and asked more documents
10 Mar 2019 documents received through email
08 May 2019 called to CO and he informed My application in 2PC Queue
2 June 2019 again called to CO and he informed application sent back for re-correction and it will be finish this month end.

Thank you.