Immigration New Zealand Revises AEWV Work Visa Extension Policy
Immigration New Zealand has revised its policy on Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) extensions, limiting the extensions to specific applicants rather than offering them universally. These changes, which are complex and detailed, have introduced new criteria based on skill levels and salary rates.
Skill Level and ANZSCO
The skill level assessment of occupations has returned as a key determinant, with ANZSCO being reinstated as the occupational classification system. The duration of the AEWV Work Visa extension now depends on the skill level of the job under ANZSCO:
- Skill Level 1-2: Professional jobs
- Skill Level 3: Trades jobs
- Skill Level 4-5: Caregiving, transport sector work, labouring, hospitality, and tourism
- Skill Level 2-4: Office jobs (varies by role)
- Skill Level 1-3: IT jobs
Duration of Visa
The duration of the visa extension is determined by the skill level and salary/wage rate:
- Skill Level 1-3 roles: If paid $29.66/hr or more, eligible for a maximum stay of 5 years.
- Skill Level 4-5 roles: If paid $29.66/hr, eligible for a maximum stay of 5 years, provided the application was made between 23 June 2023 and 6 April 2024.
- Skill Level 4-5 roles (earning below $29.66/hr): If now earning $29.66/hr or more but applied before 23 June 2023, eligible for an extension of 1 year, with a maximum stay of 3 years.
Specific Cases
- Caregivers: Earning $28.25/hr or more can get a work visa for up to 5 years; below this rate, only 3 years.
- Bus Drivers: Specific details are too complex for a general post and require direct consultation.
Key Points
- New applications are required for all visa extensions, effectively making them new applications rather than extensions.
- Application fees are $750 per work visa application.
- Health and character requirements from previous applications do not need to be repeated.
- Evidence of 3 years of relevant work experience or a qualification equivalent to NZQF Level 4 is required, unless previously assessed.
- For applicants earning $29.66/hr or more in skill level 1-3 roles:
- No new Job Check required; existing one can be reused.
- No English test result needed.
- Eligible for the balance of 5 years.
- Accompanying family visas will also be new applications with associated fees.
- For applicants earning below $29.66/hr in skill level 1-3 roles:
- Must be offered $29.66/hr or more to get an extension.
- Eligible for an extension of 1 year.
- New Job Check required.
- No English test result needed.
- Must show at least 3 years of relevant experience or a Level 4 qualification.
These changes reflect a significant shift in Immigration New Zealand’s approach to AEWV Work Visa extensions, emphasising skill levels and salary rates as key factors.
Why the changes
“So, you know, we’ve thought about it quite carefully”
RNZ Erica Stanford, Minister of Immigration
While she is turning the tap down for now, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says the reverse might be the case next year, depending on how the economy goes
These changes are a perfect example of how Immigration New Zealand gets itself tied in knots. They are a knee jerk reaction to the rising unemployment and worsening economy.
While tossing out international workers at the first sign of trouble might be an approach that finds many supporters in the voting public, it is very short-term thinking for the economy. People are not liquid, Immigration is not really a tap that can be turned on and off. The recent pandemic has shown us how reliant New Zealand really is international people to work and maintain our economy.
Recent trends in migration have been predominantly lower skilled workers coming in as those are the roles that employers have been struggling to fill. This reflects our demographic shift, and the large number of local people who are unfit or unwilling to work in lower skilled roles.
There fraud that came in due to the gaps policy failures of the Employer Accreditation scheme should not be conflated into a need to push out all lower skilled workers. This would be a very heavy handed approach.
There are structural changes needed to get New Zealanders who have been out of the workforce long-term into the workforce again. That’s another issue.
To force employers to lose the international staff they have brought in punishes employers who have invested in the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme and settled their international talent into NZ. It also punishes international people who have sacrificed a lot to come here, and worked hard to make a difference once they’ve arrived.
We should treat people who are willing to come here and join our society awith dignity and respect for hard work and contributions.
After all, as COVID show, it is international people who are keeping our country running.
