new zealand student visa

NEW STUDENT VISA POLICY

Evidence of Funds increase

As of 2 April 2012, the funds a student will need to show they have access to will be $15,000 per annum (pro rata for short courses).  N.B. It is not the start date of the course in this case that dictates the amount of money required, it’s the date the application for a visa is deemed to be accepted.
• The increased amount applies to student visa applications that are lodged on, or after 2 April 2012.  If a student visa application is lodged before 2 April 2012, then the current sum of $10,000 per annum applies.  It is expected that the date of application lodgement is relevant to the start date of the course. For example, we do not expect to see students lodging their applications in March for courses that begin in September.

• On 2 April 2012, the amount of funds required to study in New Zealand per year was increased to NZD$15,000 for courses of 36 weeks or longer; NZD$1,250 per month for courses less than 36 weeks.

Note: There is no change in the evidence of funds that are acceptable, i.e. education loan, PPF, EPF, fixed deposits, saving certificates, bank statements etc.

Property valuation, sale deeds etc continue to be unacceptable evidence for demonstrating availability of funds.

Study to Work Visa changes 
The changes to eligibility for Graduate Job Search and Graduate Work Experience visas came into effect on 2 April 2012.
Amongst the changes to eligibility, INZ is now making it clear that we expect the student to have studied the whole qualification in New Zealand, not partly offshore (unless it is a level 7 qualification, such as a twinned degree with a foreign university)

The following categories of Student applicants are eligible to be considered for a Graduate Job Search or Graduate Work Experience visa:
• Students who have completed a qualification at level 7 or above on the New Zealand Qualification Framework and studied that qualification in New Zealand for at least one academic year; OR
• Students who have completed a two year qualification at level 4* to 6 on the New Zealand Qualification Framework and studied that qualification in New Zealand for at least two academic years; OR

Students who have completed two individual qualifications at level 4* to 6 on the New Zealand Qualification Framework, where each qualification required at least one academic year study in New Zealand, provided the second qualification is at a higher level than the first (two years study in New Zealand in total).  For example, a Level 5 followed by a level 6, where each qualification is one academic year in length. This is commonly called the “1+1” model.

For students following the “1+1” model, we do not need to see an offer of place for the second qualification, because your visa will not be granted for the second qualification upfront. However, you will need to explain your study pathway.  Both the “1+1” and one two year qualification are equally viable education opportunities. INZ just needs to be sure that, if your goal is to obtain a graduate work visa once you finish studying, you have a viable study pathway in mind and are able to finance that pathway. If your goal is only to do one course, you may like to consider applying for a Limited Visa.

* PLEASE NOTE - Not all level 4 qualifications are eligible – only National Certificates Level 4 or the newly introduced NZQA owned “New Zealand Certificate” Level 4 qualify if they meet conditions listed in Immigration Instructions SM 14.10.

An academic year means a minimum of two semesters equating to at least eight months of study.

Please note that these changes do not apply to students who commence their course before 2 April 2012.  Those students will come under the “old rules”.

A student is considered to have commenced their course before 2 April if:
• that student is in New Zealand; and
• has begun studying the course and is attending the provider;
• and holds the correct authority from Immigration to study - a valid student visa or interim student visa.

If a student does not arrive in New Zealand and is hence unable to start his/her course before 02 April 2012, they will not be eligible for the existing study to work graduate pathway after completing their proposed course of study.
If they arrive and start their course on or after 02 April 2012 the student will need to be eligible for the new study to work pathway which requires the completion of two full time courses (with the second course needing to be at a higher level than the first course).

Note: Given that students from this market are seeking a pathway to residence, the pathway to work and residence post study will be possible only if the intended course of study meets the above mentioned requirements.

Student visa applicants intending on moving to work and residence will therefore need to demonstrate a genuine intent to study for two years in New Zealand (unless their course is Level 7 or above). Students must have the funds required for the duration of the first visa. Additionally, if the student intends on studying in New Zealand for longer, they may also be asked to demonstrate that they will have access to sufficient funds for the remainder of their study plan.  While INZ does not need to see the actual funds for subsequent study years upfront, providing documentary evidence to demonstrate that the future funds are available at the time of first visa application will assist in the immigration officer’s decision.

Students who only intend on studying in New Zealand for one year, or who do not intend on moving through to work and residence, may like to apply for a limited visa for that purpose.

Effective 21 November 2011, there has been a change in approach, and instructions, to the decision making process for temporary entry visa applications made in offshore branches of Immigration New Zealand. INZ is now only obliged to seek comment from an applicant prior to making a final decision on an application when the decision is made on the basis of any potentially prejudicial information (PPI), as per E7.15 below.
E7.15 Potentially prejudicial information
a. In accordance with the principles of fairness and natural justice set out in the Administration chapter (see A1), applicants will be given the opportunity to comment before a decision is made on the basis of any potentially prejudicial information (PPI).
b. PPI is factual information or material that:

• i. was not obtained from the applicant or the applicant’s authorised representative or agent; and
• ii. is not publicly available, or the applicant is not necessarily aware of the material or information; and
• iii. the material or information will or may adversely affect the outcome of an application; and
• iv. the applicant has not previously had an opportunity to comment on the information or material.

Note: Where an applicant has had an opportunity to comment on the information or material during the course of a previous application, the information or material is not potentially prejudicial information as per