About 200 employees who entered New Zealand through the Recovery Visa are currently residing unlawfully in the country, according to Immigration New Zealand.
Out of a total of 1,236 individuals under the Recovery Visa scheme, 177 employees remain in New Zealand, with only 72 having returned to their home countries, as reported by VisaGuide.World.
Furthermore, 615 former Recovery Visa holders have transitioned to different visa categories, while 336 are currently holding interim visas.
The Recovery Visa, introduced last year, aimed to expedite the entry of workers to support the country’s economic recovery from extreme weather events in January and February 2023. However, difficulties in contact tracing and incomplete information during the visa application process have hindered immigration compliance efforts, stated Stephen Vaughan, Chief Operating Officer at Immigration New Zealand.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s (MBIE) immigration compliance team will continue to engage with individuals found to be residing unlawfully in New Zealand.
Overstaying visa holders may face exploitation, and employers are liable for hiring individuals in breach of visa conditions.
In response to unsustainable net migration, New Zealand recently implemented stricter rules concerning the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), effective April 7, 2024. Minister of Migration Erica Stanford stated that these measures aim to attract necessary skills while safeguarding migrants from exploitation.
According to statistics from Stats NZ, the country received 254,393 migrant arrivals last year, with 115,263 migrant departures, resulting in a net migration of 139,130.
In March 2024, approximately 164,000 non-New Zealand citizens arrived in the country, with 52,500 departures, marking a 17% decline compared to March 2023 figures.
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