After Jaishankar talks, NZ changes visa rules to tackle delay

The External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar paid his first visit to New Zealand recently. He met with the country’s Foreign Minister and they talked about various topics, including global issues like the Indo-Pacific and the war in Ukraine.

Jaishankar brought up the difficulties Indian students face with the student visa application process with Nanaia Mahuta, his counterpart from New Zealand. The EAM announced this news on Twitter, writing, “Took up the matter of Indian students affected by Covid measures. urged individuals who wanted to study in New Zealand right now to have their visas processed quickly.”

Additionally, S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, asked the nation to treat people affected by the virus with “fairer and more sympathetic treatment.” 

Revisions made to the student visa rules

The talks will be fruitful towards the students, but this also indicates revised visa rules for students to study in the country. While the country is recovering from the loss due to the pandemic, the government is adding some new rules to visa applications that will safeguard the international border and recover the damage caused.  

What are the changes?

You might be permitted to work full-time during the Christmas and New Year holiday season and part-time for up to 20 hours per week on all other planned holidays. 

Working part-time (Tertiary students)

Students enrolled in a full-time programme may work up to 20 hours per week. Depending on the course that satisfies certain requirements for a foundation programme

for at least 1 academic year at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) at an education provider in Canterbury, for at least 2 years for a New Zealand qualification that gains points under the Skilled Migrant Category to improve English language abilities.

Working full-time (Tertiary students)

Students can work full-time if they are enrolled full-time for at least one academic year and their course is worth more than 120 credits during specified study breaks, and if enrolled full-time, your course is worth less than 120 credits throughout the Christmas and New Year vacation.

Regarding international students enrolling in higher education in New Zealand across various fields, including information technology, hospitality, science, engineering, and architecture, India comes in second. The talks held with the Indian foreign minister will increase the pace of visa processing. On September 2, New Zealand opened its border to international students and welcomed them all during an event at the University of Auckland. 

For other visa rules you can visit: New Zealand Immigration 

Jaishankar had previously also been in talks with the US

S. Jaishankar also discussed the delay in US visas with the US High Commission on September 27. The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, blamed the pandemic as one of the reasons Indians are having trouble getting visas. 

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