Topical:
The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) has released the statistics for the first quarter of 2006. Generally, the aggressive program to recruit skilled workers and issue visas and work permits is successful. Businesses are reporting that they are experiencing far fewer vacancies than the record levels of a couple years ago.
A Senate committee has told Prime Minister John Howard to scrap his planned new immigration laws which would lock women and children in offshore detention centres.
The laws have sparked division in the government, with Liberal backbencher Judi Moylan telling a joint party meeting she was reserving her right to vote against the bill or abstain.
Immigration Rules were changed on 09 January, 2006 with several updates. One that becomes effective on 19 June is a new category that does not require a work permit.
Beginning 22 June, 2006, all of the following forms are updated to Version 06/2006 of their respective designation: BUS, FLR(M), FLR(O), FLR(S), FLR(SEGS), FLR(FT:WISS), FLR(IED), SET(F), SET(M), SET(O), ELR, NTL and TOC. Any older versions of these forms filled out and submitted on or after 22 June will be rejected; forms submitted by post with a 22 June post-mark must be the new version. Fees generally are not refunded for rejected applications since the fees are for the consideration process rather than actual approval.
The current contractors that processes payment for many UK immigration, visa and work permit applications will change, effective Monday, 19 June, 2006. Persons submitting applications are asked to note that addresses for submitting applications will change in many cases, so they should take especial note of the correct address for their form(s). Some of these forms themselves are changing, which should not be confused with the contractors processing the payments for the process.