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  • February update from Immigration New Zealand

    Update on Student visa processing*  

    Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 25,471 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have decided 17,601 of these applications, with more than half of our decisions made in under four weeks. 

    *Figures current as at 10pm on 30 January 2023.  

    We have updated our reporting 

    INZ is improving the way we publicly report on processing times for different visa categories. We now publish the processing times for applications decided in the previous month, instead of the previous three months.  

    The website illustrates the median number of days, along with the actual number of days it takes to process 90% of applications. These new metrics give a good indication of what customers can expect, regardless of the complexity of their application.  

    Check out our updated processing times here: How long it takes to process a visa application | Immigration New Zealand 

    Apply for visas at least 8 weeks ahead of intended travel date 

    New Zealand is in the middle of our student processing peak period. You can apply up to three or four months ahead of intended travel if you wish, however please ensure that applications are applied for at a minimum of 8 weeks ahead of intended travel date.  

    INZ generally processes applications in date order and the course start date is also taken into consideration.  

    We appreciate that students are keen to have their travel bookings confirmed given the cost of flights and flight route limitations, however INZ recommends that students do not confirm travel bookings until a visa has been granted. If students still wish to book travel ahead of a visa decision, we recommend that they explore flexi travel dates or refundable tickets.  

    Student visa checklists 

    The student visa checklist is key to submitting a complete student visa application that has the information we need to make a decision. We update the visa checklists regularly, so be sure to use the web link rather than download the checklist. The first time international students visa checklist was last updated in December 2022. 

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  • Fermented flour a food waste breakthrough

    Ninna Granucci, a former University of Auckland international student, is part of a new generation of thinkers contributing solutions with out-of-the-box thinking. 

    Ninna grew up in Brazil and saw for herself the amount of food waste primary producers there generated. Learning about the scale of the problem globally, she resolved to apply her skills to help bring about change.  

    “I wanted to use science in an area which fascinates me –microbiology and specifically, fermentation – to try and find a solution to this huge problem.” 

    University of Auckland a great place for new ideas 

    Ninna chose to study for her PhD in Biological Sciences under Dr Silas Villas-Boas at the University of Auckland in 2014. “The university environment was a great place for new ideas, to promote the spark to find solutions to problems, with the scientific approach to support it.” 

    It clearly worked. After only 18 months, she had a breakthrough in the lab which she knew could make a real difference. She refined a fermentation process to successfully convert waste pulp and peel from selected fruit and vegetables into a nutritious flour. Widening the range of ingredients in her trial, she proved she was on to something.  

    Data from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)shows that almost 32 percent of plant-based product is wasted annually. Ninna’s technology has the potential to make substantial progress on this. 

    It turned out that the ingredients also tick all the boxes for health and sustainability-conscious consumers: high protein, high fibre, low calorie, gluten free, rich in vitamins, minerals and natural antioxidants. And the bonus is that they also have lowest CO2 footprint compared with other ingredients in the market today.    

    Entering her prototype into the University’s Velocity 100K Business Idea Challenge sparked media interest and a flurry of inquiries from supermarkets and other businesses wanting to buy the product. “That was when we realised it was not only an academic project but also something which could be much bigger and could help to address the problem of food waste,” Ninna says. 

    Green Spot Technologies has global plans 

    With support from Velocity, she and Silas co-founded sustainable food innovation company Green Spot Technologies, which has ambitious plans to go global. Ninna is now CEO and based in Toulouse, France, where the business is established in a start-up accelerator environment and employs 15 people.  

    But back in the early days, it was pretty nerve-wracking. “My plan was to complete my PhD first and then set up a company based around the project. But after the success in the Velocity Challenge, we decided the time was right to forge ahead with the start-up. It was quite challenging. My background is all scientific, I didn’t have any experience in business, and I had a lot to learn.”  

    She is grateful for the support she got at the University of Auckland and believes that her career path would never have progressed as quickly if she hadn’t chosen New Zealand as a study destination. 

    “I give a lot of credit to New Zealand for how things worked out”

    “New Zealand was the catalyst,” she says. “I managed to secure a scholarship through Callaghan Innovation available to students looking to add value to waste streams. It allowed me to focus on the work and find opportunity. I give a lot of credit to New Zealand for how things worked out.” 

    Ninna worked in Auckland with other international students from around the world and says that, too, helped contribute to her success. “When you are in the same situation you can support each other and that was super important during my PhD.”  

    New Zealand education the right decision 

    Ninna remains passionate about sustainability and reducing food waste. It is at the heart of her business and is important to her personally. The mission of Green Spot Technologies is “challenging the food waste paradigm to feed the future”. The company has won multiple awards, both in New Zealand and in Europe, highlighting the unique nature of its technology and products. 

    With food insecurity spreading to hundreds of millions of people around the world, the UN has set a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to halve food waste by 2030. It is an ambitious target and needs innovative thinkers like Ninna to make it achievable. 

    “I think it is incredible that we waste so much food, knowing that we need more food in the world. It doesn’t make any sense, but it motivates me to work on solutions,” she says.   

    The decision to study in New Zealand was a critical part of Ninna’s journey from international student to international businesswoman and innovator. “I could not have imagined that it would lead to such huge changes in my life in such a short time,” she says.  

    “A New Zealand education provides a truly enriching experience. I really think I made the right decision.” 

  • Study abroad promo in US

    Study Abroad Month, led by our Washington DC-based team, targeted the study advisors at United States universities, who support students with their study abroad plans. A series of videos were published each week and sent to key contacts, including a closing video from Education Minister Chris Hipkins. 

    Lewis Gibson, Field Director North America at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, says study abroad students are our main source of international students from the US.  

    “Pre-Covid-19, around 350,000 tertiary students each year spent a semester overseas as part of their degree. We’re looking to increase our share of this group. 

    “In normal times, US institutions and study abroad advisors rely on the voices of New Zealand alumni, who can share their experiences with other people on campus and build interest in a New Zealand study experience,” he says. 

    “We needed to do something different this year, because our borders had been closed so there weren’t the alumni students available on campus. We also needed a good way to remind study advisors about New Zealand’s unique education offering.”  

    Lewis says feedback from institutions in the US has been very positive, and they are looking forward to seeing students travel again to New Zealand. Some of the comments received included the following: 

    • “Thank you so much for letting us know about this exciting project! I just shared the New Zealand Study Abroad Month YouTube channel with our spring 2023 applicants... We are thrilled to nominate over 15 students to our outstanding partner universities in New Zealand ...for the first time in over two years!”  

    • “Thank you for sharing this information. I watched Fiona’s video for VUW and I am sharing it with several students who are deciding which NZ institution to attend for Term 1 via TEAN.  I’ll be certain to watch future videos and do the same with those.”   
    • “We are so grateful of the opportunities you provide our students, and our tight partnership together.”  

    “In case anyone is wondering, we initially intended to run the promotion for four weeks, hence the name, ‘Study Abroad Month’. But with the participation of so many universities, and the inclusion of additional videos reflecting the voices of students, it made more sense to expand the promotion to six weeks.”  

    Before our borders closed, the US was our sixth largest source of international students, with most students seeking to enrol in university-level study here. Study Abroad Month aimed to attract students to New Zealand from the US spring semester 2023 onwards. 

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  • INZ student visa update: August 2024

    Post Study Work Visa – cross crediting study from post graduate diploma to masters 

    Provided eligibility is met, most level 8 post graduate diplomas will be eligible for a one year post study work visa (PSWV) with masters graduates eligible for a three year post study work visa. 

    In order to be eligible for a PSWV, post graduate diploma (level 8) and masters qualifications (level 9) require a minimum of 30 weeks full time study in the specific programme/qualification being presented for a PSWV. 

    Students must have held a student visa for that programme/qualification and apply for their PSWV within three months of the expiry date of the student visa for qualification they are presenting to INZ.

    Recently some students completed post graduate diplomas (PG dip) and cross credited directly into a taught masters. In these cases, the students did not undertake full time study in the masters for a minimum of 30 weeks full time in New Zealand, due to the cross credited PG Dip.

    This resulted in issues for the graduates when they applied for their PSWV. INZ is working directly with affected students and exploring options for them. However, it is important for agents and education providers to understand the PSWV rules.

    Eligibility for Post Study Work Visas following study at level 8 and 9 are: 

    • a minimum of 30 weeks full time study in that specific qualification, 
    • hold/held a student visa for that specific qualification, and
    • apply for their post study work visa within three months of the student visa expiry for that specific qualification.

    Although the initial coursework of a masters might be similar to, or the same as a post graduate diploma, the two programmes have different entry criteria and are recognised as separate qualifications. For students who want to cross credit their PG Dip to a masters and undertake some extra study in order to gain a three year PSWV for that masters, the student would need to have studied the masters itself full time for at least 30 weeks. 

    Note: Study weeks include exam preparation time, but exclude holiday periods and time spent repeating failed components.

    We will continue to engage with the education sector to ensure they are aware of the requirements for a post study work visa. If you have questions about this article and are an agent or student, please talk to your education provider in the first instance.

    Student visa peak – apply three months before intended travel

    The processing of international student visas is a key focus for INZ, particularly as we get closer to the end of the year.

    We are now coming into the period in which INZ receives the highest volumes of applications.

    As soon as they have all the documents they need to apply for their visa, students should submit their application three months before their intended travel date to give them the best chance of having their application decided in time. They can apply earlier than three months if they wish, as long as they have all the required information and documents.

    Our visa processing times are published on the INZ website and updated monthly: Visa processing times for international students

    New fees and levies for visas come into effect from 1 October 2024

    Earlier this month, the Government announced that the cost of applying for all visas will increase on 1 October 2024. 

    Until now, the immigration system has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers.

    The new fees have been set at a rate to recover the costs of assessing and processing each visa type and more accurately reflect the total service surrounding the immigration system.

    Student visa fees increase from $375 to $750. The post study work visa fee increases from $700 to $1670.

    Student visa fees differ depending on where the student applies from so be sure to check the new fees and levies here.

    It is also important to note that New Zealand does have agreements with some countries where student visa fees are waived, and these remain. You can find information here.

    INZ is receiving questions from the education sector on whether students can apply for visas now at the lower fee, and upload documents later once they are ready. 

    Applications received before 1 October 2024 will be charged the current fee, however if the applications are not ready for assessment because they are missing documents then this will result in delays or disappointment for the student. 

    INZ will not be contacting applicants if documents are missing from the application and, if the missing information is key to the assessment, then the applications may be declined.

    Please make sure you are advising students to submit their visa application when it is complete and ready for assessment. For more information, please see the student visa information sheets here - Student visa information | Immigration New Zealand

     

     

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