Urgent High Court Proceedings to Prevent Implementation of New Unfair Immigration Policies

On 10 May 2012, Immigration Minister Nathan Guy confirmed the changes to Immigration New Zealand’s policies for the family category by way of press release.

Among the changes made to the Family category, applicants under the Parent category will have to lodge two applications – an “Expression of Interest” as well as the actual residence application. Immigration New Zealand is also introducing a new two-tiered system which would give preferential treatment to certain applications lodged under the new Parent category. Further, Immigration New Zealand has confirmed that it will be terminating the Sibling and Adult Child category permanently.

The changes will only be implemented in July 2012; however Immigration New Zealand will not be accepting anymore applications from 15 May 2012 onwards. Many current applicants are in the process of putting together their residence application and are merely awaiting supporting documents such as medical and police certificates. However, with the sudden unannounced implementation of these changes, these applicants have been unable to gather their documents in time to lodge their residence applications before 15 May 2012. Their hopes and dreams of reuniting with their family members in New Zealand have now been destroyed.

Dr. Frank Deliu, on behalf of the Supreme Sikh Council, will be urgently applying to the High Court at Auckland to seek interim orders against Immigration New Zealand’s sudden policy changes. More specifically, Dr. Deliu will be arguing gross unfairness in relation to the short three working days’ notice in which to lodge applications under existing immigration policies.

ENDS

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