British Expats - Changes to SMC coming in 26th November

[QUOTE=BEVS here;5580235]NZIS are effecting changes to the SMC on the 26th November. This will bring the policy more into line with Australia ANZSCO. Hopefully it will make the process easier for some, as relevant work experience may be enough to assess a skill level where a qualification is not available. .

Received the following email today:

On 9 November 2007, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) sent you an email concerning your Invitation to Apply (ITA) for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and the changes to policy that were to come into effect on 26 November 2007.

We are now writing to advise you that the changes you were told about have been delayed because more time is needed to implement the technical changes required to our systems. The changes to SMC policy identified in the previous email will now come into effect on 4 February 2008 together with some further changes, which are set out in Appendix 1 below.

Therefore, the SMC policy regarding skilled employment and the recognition of qualifications has remained unchanged as at 26 November 2007.

What's the impact?
Applications lodged with INZ for residence, on or after 4 February 2008 may be affected by the changes to SMC policy. This is because the policy that an application is assessed against is the policy that is in effect when the application is lodged with INZ (and is accepted for lodgement by INZ). It is not the policy that is in effect when an Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted to, or selected from, the Pool. Please note you must lodge a residence application within four months of the date of the letter in which you were invited to apply for residence.

In particular, the policy changes may affect your application if you claimed points for:

an offer of employment that may not meet the requirements for skilled employment under the amended policy; or
a qualification that is currently recognised for the award of points but may not be recognised under the amended policy.

Residence application
If you have concerns that the policy changes may affect your eligibility for residence you should lodge your completed residence application prior to 4 February 2008 (and within four months of the date of the letter inviting you to apply) in order to have it assessed against current policy. Please contact the visa/immigration officer who invited you to apply for residence if you have any questions.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by our original email.

Further information about the policy changes to the Skilled Migrant Category is available in Amendment Circular 2007/21 at
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...dmentcircs.htm

If you would like further information about the SMC policy you can refer to our website (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/), visit your nearest INZ branch, or if you are in New Zealand, phone our contact centre on 0508 55 88 55 (or 09 914 4100 if you are in Auckland).

Regards

Immigration New Zealand

APPENDIX 1

FURTHER CHANGES TO THE SKILLED MIGRANT CATEGORY (TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 4 FEBRUARY 2008)

1. Recognising only qualifications at level four if they are on the National Qualifications Framework (i.e. National Certificates)

Qualifications at the following levels of the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualification (the Register) will be recognised for the award of points under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC):

- Levels five (Diploma) to ten (Doctorate)

Level four (National Certificate) if the qualification is a National Qualification Framework (NQF) qualification relevant to certain occupations that may be considered skilled employment (includes trade occupations), or compared to such by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority

Level three - Specific qualifications listed at Appendix 13 of the Operational Manual.

A new clause will be introduced into SMC policy that will enable students who, prior to 4 February 2008 were enrolled in, or gained, a New Zealand qualification (at level three or four on the Register) that would have qualified for SMC points as at 3 February 2008, to still be eligible for points for their qualification under the SMC.

2. Assessment of Skilled Employment

Offers of employment (or current employment) in New Zealand will be assessed as 'skilled' if that occupation is included on the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) and the applicant holds the required skill proxies (qualification, experience and/or registration) specified in the LTSSL for that occupation.

The policy concerning skilled employment will also provide clarification that an applicant's job must substantially meet the relevant occupational description in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) and that the indicative skill level in the ANZSCO must also be met.

3. Additional Requirements for Skilled Employment

There will be a new requirement for skilled employment stating that the employment must not have been offered as a result of payment made by the applicant (or their agent) to the employer (or their agent) in exchange for securing that offer of employment. Such practices are contrary to the principles of the Wages Protection Act 1983, as well as to immigration policy.