Potential Industry Partnership between INZ and the Immigration Professionals Industry
Discussion Document
Purpose
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The purpose of this document is to outline a potential industry partnership initiative
between Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and Immigration Professionals (the Industry)1.
This initiative recognises that INZ and the Industry share a goal to work together as
partners to bring the best people to New Zealand.
This paper reflects discussions and ideas developed during two meetings in February and
March 2014 of the working party. This paper does not purport to reflect the agreement
of INZ and member organisations to enter into a partnership.
Background
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INZ’s Vision 2015 involves moving to an operating model that is based on partnerships
with industry stakeholders. The intent of these partnerships is to facilitate INZ sharing risk
and benefits with partners to enable faster and more efficient processing of low risk, high
quality visa applications.
The Immigration Reference Group (IRG) was formed and met for the first time in
December 2013. At the first meeting the IRG agreed to develop a strategic relationship
that includes shared objectives, opportunities and an agreed work programme. The IRG
meets quarterly and is made up of senior INZ staff and representatives from relevant
industry organisations.
Following high level discussions within the IRG, it was agreed to explore whether there
could be benefits to establishing and maintaining an industry partnership with members
who meet and maintain specific criteria in relation to providing immigration advice.
This partnership could create an opportunity for INZ and Industry to work together to
manage risk and increase efficiencies which will lead to quality decisions that are both
cost effective and faster.
Including Licensed Immigration Advisers licensed by the IAA and Lawyers who are exempt from
licensing.
Potential industry partnership model
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The IRG agreed to form a small working party which was tasked by the IRG to progress the
potential industry partnership by developing ideas that could form the basis of an industry
partnership.
The working party has approached this task with the understanding that the integrity of
the immigration system must be maintained and the interests of both INZ and Industry
must be considered.
Early discussions of a potential industry partnership have resulted in the following ideas
which may form the basis of a partnership framework.
Concept
10 INZ and the Industry agree to share the risks and benefits associated with processing visa
applications. This will improve standards and practices as well as information flows and
feedback, which will inform and shape the ongoing partnership. This will be achieved by
INZ outsourcing assessment tasks associated with certain applications that are lower risk
and received in higher volumes by INZ through an industry partnership. It is envisaged
this will result in faster and more efficient processing of specific types of applications
prepared by experienced immigration professionals which will benefit shared customers
and New Zealand.
Principles
11 An industry partnership between the parties will be based on adherence to the following
principles;
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Industry and INZ are committed to a working relationship that is professional
and respectful and benefits each party.
The Industry and INZ are committed to maintaining open and ongoing
communication.
The Industry and INZ will be responsive where any issues are identified that relate
to the partnership.
The Industry and INZ will monitor and minimise any adverse risks that may arise.
Entry Criteria / Performance Standards
12 In order to gain entry to the industry partnership the following list of criteria (which is
neither definitive nor exhaustive) must be met; ongoing inclusion in the partnership
would be dependent upon these standards and requirements being maintained;
a. Be a company / partnership / legal entity;
b. Be based in New Zealand2;
c. Employ at least one adviser with either;
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i.
Five years’ continuous licensing from the Immigration Advisers’ Authority, or
ii.
Five years’ continuous registration with the New Zealand Law Society.
This criteria ensures swift communication is achievable and will assist in building and maintaining
relationships.
d. Have approved internal management structure and systems including the ability to
have cases 2 person checked;
e. Participate in an audit and assurance process;
f. Hold professional indemnity insurance;
g. Hold membership of one of the following professional bodies;
i.
New Zealand Law Society; or
ii.
New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment; or
iii.
New Zealand Association of Immigration Professionals; or
iv.
New Zealand Immigration Institute;
h. Minimum 90% approval rate for all applications (within agreed streams3) for each of
the past five financial years;
i. Maximum 10% Returned Failed Lodgement for all applications (within agreed streams)
for each of the past five financial years.
Benefits
13 Benefits made available to participants may include, but are not limited to;
a. Improved application processing times and sharing of tasks. These will be realised by;
i.
All applications (within agreed streams) being processed by the Henderson
Area Office.
ii.
Guaranteed processing times by stream/application type.
iii.
Guaranteed timeframes for internal processes (e.g. medical assessor referrals,
labour market checks).
iv.
Dedicated relationship manager and assessment team.
v.
Provision of clear application lodgement criteria. The partner will state that a
qualifying application is complete upon submission.
vi.
Allowing ‘front end loading’ of labour marker checks, where required. If
evidence of comment from Work and Income was provided with an
application, INZ would not undertake a further referral to this agency.
b. Improved, streamlined processes and use of new technology;
i.
Applications may be submitted to Henderson Area Office electronically
(scanned copies via e-mail) removing the need to provide physical documents
unless specifically requested by an Immigration Officer.
ii.
Supporting documents may be submitted electronically removing the need to
provide originals or certified copies, unless specifically requested.
iii.
Issuing of label-less visas (e-visas), the physical passport may not be required
when the visa is issued.
c. Formal recognition of the industry partnership:
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The final list will be discussed and agreed as this work progresses with an aim to include as many
streams as practical. S61 cases and Refugee applications will not be included.
i.
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Participating immigration professionals will be listed on INZ’s website as
Industry Partners.
Benefits to INZ may include, but are not limited to;
a. Receiving applications from industry partners which require minimal work to assess
because INZ has confidence that the preparation of each application that has been
undertaken by its Industry Partner is of high quality and conforms with current
immigration instructions. This will lead to the applications being assessed faster.
b. Developing an aspirational set of entry criteria to raise the level of quality within the
industry in terms of low risk, high volume applications, while rewarding those
experienced industry members who have established practices and processes which
meet the expected level.
Next steps
15 It is likely that any partnership would initially be designed as a small scale pilot of a set
duration, possibly 12 months. This would allow the parties to work closely in order to redesign and re-shape the processes involved to ensure the partnership delivers maximum
benefit while exposing neither party to unacceptable risk, and at the same time making
provision for maximum ongoing take-up of the partnership.
16 Both parties note that INZ is prepared to work alongside the industry to develop this
partnership, however the industry may following consultation decide not to pursue an
industry partnership.
17 Immigration New Zealand will circulate this paper to the IRG for any final amendments
with an invitation to meet with members through a consultation process that will include
meetings in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch as well as an online survey.