Visa processing in Christchurch when office closes

Immigration New Zealand will keep a presence in Queenstown after its office closes by the end of August, but visa applications will be carried out in Christchurch.

In a statement yesterday, INZ assistant general manager Geoff Scott said a review of the Queenstown office found visa processing work in the resort could be managed elsewhere, but, an alternative non-processing immigration presence should be established in the "medium term''.

INZ would now recruit a specialist business adviser to be based in Queenstown, providing immigration policy and visa processing advice to employers and other stakeholders.

Mr Scott said that role would be reviewed after 12 months.

"Once the Queenstown office closes, the visas that are currently processed there will be processed in our Christchurch area office.

"Around 48% of Queenstown visa applications are already processed in Christchurch.''

The changes were a result of a new service delivery model which centralised visa processing in large processing hubs, rationalised the office network, simplified processes and increased online access.

Removing visa processing from Queenstown would not have any impact on customers, nor on any of INZ's other work in the resort, Mr Scott said.

"[Customers] can continue to submit their [visa] applications online or via a secure drop box in the same building as the current office.

"The two border operations officers located at Queenstown Airport will remain, as will the three settlement, protection and attraction relationship managers who provide services to the Queenstown Lakes District.''

Mr Scott said the manager of the Queenstown office had already been reassigned to another post, while two of the six staff on fixed-term contracts had already left.

INZ was working with the four remaining staff to "support them through this transition'', he said.

The new service delivery model has meant the closure of both the Sydney and Dunedin offices, with the Singapore office also to be closed.

Three other offices, in Dubai, Ho Chi Minh City and Moscow, have been under review.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz

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