2nd NSC requested as part of PRV (1st was for RV) -- ???????

[Gaida]

Hello All,

- 2 adults on PRV application
- Both citizens of one of the "5 Eye" countries
- An NSC was requested as part of the RV application. RV granted OCT 2018; we were directly informed by INZ that we were "cleared".
- We have resided in NZ continuously since 2016, leaving on ly for visits to a Pacific Island nation (holiday) or a 5 Eye country (to see family).

Now, 3 weeks after PRV application lodged, INZ have requested an identical NSC to the one we completed as part of RV application.

The first NSC took more than six months to process -- we can't comprehend why a second has been requested, or the idea of waiting another 6 months on what has been already more than a 4 year journey.

Any ideas?

[JandM]

Thoughts. NSC is a dark hole - people are not usually told exactly why it's being required in their case. But if something about them makes it obligatory, the CO can't proceed without it.

In your place, I would try gently pointing out to the CO what you've just said above - that an NSC check done on you was passed as clear on x date (copy the communication), and you have only been to (whichever) foreign countries since that check. Therefore, you wonder if the fact of the previous NSC has been overlooked, as it seems strange that another should be asked for. It's worth a try.

However, when it comes right down to it, INZ is a government body, and if they insist, you don't have any options if you want your visas. It would be possible to spend just as long disputing the point as it would take to get the NSC.

[Gaida]

Hi JandM, thanks for the reply.

Have you ever heard of an applicant being asked to provide TWO NSCs? Particularly if they have resided exclusively in NZ between the two time periods?

[STV]

Thoughts. NSC is a dark hole - people are not usually told exactly why it's being required in their case. But if something about them makes it obligatory, the CO can't proceed without it.

In your place, I would try gently pointing out to the CO what you've just said above - that an NSC check done on you was passed as clear on x date (copy the communication), and you have only been to (whichever) foreign countries since that check. Therefore, you wonder if the fact of the previous NSC has been overlooked, as it seems strange that another should be asked for. It's worth a try.

However, when it comes right down to it, INZ is a government body, and if they insist, you don't have any options if you want your visas. It would be possible to spend just as long disputing the point as it would take to get the NSC.

Hi JandM

What is the criteria to ask NSC , This can ask to anyone or people from specific countries or region ?

[JandM]

There isn't information openly available about NSC, so what follows is quite a lot guesswork.

We think that applications from people who are nationals of, or have lived in, countries where there has been unrest and/or insitutionalized repression, get referred for these checks. NZ have a policy of not granting visas to individuals who have been personally responsible for any such issues. Therefore, they ask for a detailed employment history, and assurance that they haven't been in the military or other employment with the repressive forces. They have to wait for responses from the foreign regime, who do not give any priority to replying quickly, hence the long delays.

As when someone's medical is referred to an MA, the CO cannot grant a visa until after a favourable answer comes back.

However, the application still has to go through all the same checks as everyone else's - qualifications, work experience, partnership (if relevant). And there's no way to tell if a particular CO will have done all that part of the work while waiting for the NSC result, or whether some parts will still remain to be finalized.

[Gaida]

@JandM -- Have you ever heard of someone being asked for two NSCs?

@STV -- Note that JandM stated there is a lot of guesswork. While nationals from countries with issues of repression are often asked for NSCs, likewise, so are people from countries with strong security agreements with NZ (such as the Five Eyes Network).

Our first NSC check was *NOT* sent to the foreign country -- this has been confirmed. That country had already provided a background check considered adequate in NZ. The long delay (more than six months) had nothing to do with waiting for a foreign government to respond, but was related to delays at INZ and within the New Zealand agency that runs the checks.

It is best to think of it as a "black box" -- no one knows how or why -- it doesn't matter what your citizenship is, it may or may not have anything to do with a foreign government...basically, they can do it whenever they want to whomever they want without citing a reason.

[larrykiwi]

Hi JandM, thanks for the reply.

Have you ever heard of an applicant being asked to provide TWO NSCs? Particularly if they have resided exclusively in NZ between the two time periods?

Yes. I have.

[Gaida]

@larrykiwi

Thanks for the reply. Can you share any details? Reason, or countries of citizenship? It's unclear to me what they get from a second NSC other than 2018: NZ, 2019: NZ, 2020:NZ

Please feel free to reply here or DM me.

[larrykiwi]

There could be a variety of reasons. The 2 cases I knew about was Citizens from China. One was later found to have non disclosure in an earlier Residence application, the other one has no issue and was approved within weeks.

[Gaida]

@larrykiwi Thanks for the reply. Pleased to hear it only took weeks to get the NSC approved for one person. Do you know why? According to @JandM, NSCs are usually sent to foreign governments -- and six months is a pretty standard turn around.

Are 2nd NSCs processed differently than 1st?

I realise no one may know anything, but happy for any information.