A16 General Instructions as to the order and... (15/12/2003)

A16 General Instructions as to the order and manner of processing Visa and Permit applications (General Skills Category and Interim General Skills Category of Government Residence Policy)

Section 13BA of the Immigration Act 1987 provides that general instructions may be given as to the order and manner of processing of visa and permit applications. The general instructions given here relate to the order and manner of processing General Skills Category and Interim General Skills Category residence applications during the 2003/04 financial year.

Pursuant to section 13BA of the Immigration Act 1987 and acting under delegated authority from the Chief Executive of the Department of Labour, I hereby give the following general instructions as to the order and manner of processing applications under the General Skills Category and Interim General Skills Category of Government Residence Policy (GSC).

1. In particular, applications received under the GSC for which the principal applicant has a relevant offer of employment, or has claimed 29 points or more, will be given priority of processing.
2. For other GSC applications, they should be processed in that order and manner which, in the judgement of the relevant Service Manager or Visa or Immigration Officer, ensures the greatest contribution to New Zealand from skilled migrants.
3. These instructions do not prevent visa and immigration officers according urgency to the processing of any particular GSC application when the individual circumstances warrant that.

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Brendan Quirk
Acting General Manager

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Date: 10 July 2003

Effective 15/12/2003