High court to prevent New Zealand’s unfair immigration changes

New Zealand, 21st May: New Zealand immigration’s latest changes will be prevented from coming into effect by High Court proceedings.

This is being done in response to criticism by a large number of immigrants as well as immigration advisers against immigration changes introduced at a short notice.

Short notice changes to New Zealand immigration-- On 10th May, New Zealand immigration minister Nathan Guy had announced new rules for New Zealand immigration. As per the announcement, new rules were to become effective from 15th May, 2012.

Several immigrants allege this short notice changes by Immigration New Zealand(INZ) were not possible to be followed. That’s because they gave almost negligible time for filing papers for New Zealand family sponsorships.

What do the changes mean—As per the announced changes, immigrants will not be able to offer sponsorship to their close family members or their siblings. It meant that New Zealand immigration had put to a temporary halt New Zealand parent sponsorship program.

Among the reforms to New Zealand Family Category, two applications will now be needed to be filed by applicants.

This includes actual residence application as well as an “Expression of Interest”. In addition, a New Zealand two-tiered program is going to be introduced by Immigration New Zealand. This aims to give priority to few applications under changed New Zealand Parent Category. INZ confirmed ending the Sibling and Adult Child Category.

Immigrants caught unaware-seek legal action against immigration changes--No wonder, such changes without any timely notice have led to legal action from a religious ethnic body named ‘The Supreme Sikh Council of New Zealand’.

The organization has sought court proceedings against the New Zealand immigration minister Mr. Guy.

It is being alleged that a large number of members of the religious body in New Zealand could not make applications for New Zealand visas for which they could have been eligible had the minister bothered to give a notice at least a few days ahead of the changes.

Due to sudden implementation of new rules for New Zealand immigration, many applicants found it impossible to get relevant documents for filing applications for New Zealand residence before 15th May, 2012. And this has dashed their dreams of reunion with their families to the ground.

As per the information, the Supreme Sikh Council has hired Frank Deliu, an immigration lawyer, to file court proceedings to put a stop on the immigration changes.