Will all of these changes benefit my EOI or SMC residence application?
Yes, from 30 July 2007 all of the changes (except the removal of cluster bonus points) will result in more bonus points being available. The removal of cluster bonus points should not affect a great number of people as currently very few applicants claim these points.
Should I wait until after the July changes come into effect to submit an EOI?
No, you should submit your EOI as soon as possible to be eligible for selection from the EOI pool (currently selections are made fortnightly). Once your EOI is entered into the pool it will remain in the pool (eligible for selection) for six months.
What should I do if my EOI is in the pool on 30 July 2007?
To reflect the 30 July 2007 changes in policy, a number of changes will be made automatically to EOI in the pool. However, as we will not necessary have information on a recognised post-graduate New Zealand qualification (if you have this qualification) in your EOI, it is recommended that you edit your EOI to claim points for such a qualification after 30 July 2007.
Also, you might want to check that all of the changes made automatically to your EOI are correct after 30 July 2007.
I have been invited to apply for residence under the SMC. Do the July changes affect me?
Yes, the changes may affect you. All applications that are made with Immigration New Zealand are assessed against the policy that is in effect at the date the application is made. Therefore, SMC applications that are made before 30 July 2007 will be assessed against the current policy. Applications that are made on or after 30 July 2007 will be assessed against the SMC policy that includes the changes to bonus points.
I have been invited to apply for residence under the SMC. Should I wait until the policy changes come into effect to make my SMC application?
You can decide when to make your SMC application; but remember it must be made within four months of the date of the letter inviting you to apply for residence.
If your EOI included a claim of cluster bonus points it is worth considering that SMC applications made before 30 July 2007 will not be affected by the removal of cluster bonus points.
If you have an offer of skilled employment and therefore possibly eligible to claim identified cluster bonus points, you will not be eligible to be awarded the cluster bonus points if you make your SMC application on or after 30 July 2007. If you are in this situation you should contact the immigration/visa officer who invited you to apply for residence to ensure that you will still be eligible for residence after your cluster bonus points are removed on 30 July 2007.
Will my SMC application be assessed against the policy that was in effect when my EOI was submitted or selected?
No, the date that your EOI is submitted or selected does not indicate what policy your subsequent SMC application will be assessed under. An EOI does not form an application with Immigration New Zealand; it is the date that the actual SMC application is made that determines what policy the application will be assessed under.
Where can I find out more?
The new operational policy for the SMC changes, and other changes being made to immigration policy is in Amendment Circular 2007-06 PDF [1MB]
What has the Minister of Immigration said about the changes to the SMC?
The Minister of Immigration’s media statement about the upcoming SMC changes is available on the official New Zealand Government website, the Beehive.