‘Biometrics provides better tools which allow Immigration to confirm an individual’s identity and protect New Zealand’s border,’ he explained.
INZ now has the ability to store photos of all non-New Zealanders and extend the powers to require fingerprints in some circumstances.
The changes will protect people from identity theft and prevent the misuse of passports or visas by fraudsters and criminals. A further benefit is that the new technology will speed up visa application processing, as we are more readily able to confirm who we’re dealing with,’ added Coleman.
New Zealand is part of a Five Country Conference biometric programme involving the immigration agencies of New Zealand, Canada the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. This enables the various agencies to share biometric data to help confirm identities.
All biometrics are handled with strict rules around access of data. A privacy impact assessment has been conducted in close consultation with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and is publicly available on INZ’s website.
But fewer skilled migrants are arriving in New Zealand as the global economic crisis has had an impact on the number of people moving around.
The latest edition of the Labour and Immigration Research Centre’s Migration Trends Key Indicators Report shows 40,700 people were approved for residence in 2010/11, some way below the New Zealand Residence Programme planning range of 45,000 to 50,000.
The shortfall reflects labour market conditions, the effects of the global economic crisis on skilled migration internationally and disruptions caused by the Canterbury earthquakes.
‘New Zealand has not been immune to the decrease in skilled migration. Potential skilled migrants are less willing and able to migrate, while fewer skilled job offers have been available in New Zealand,’ said Labour and Immigration Research Centre’s Vasantha Krishnan.
The report also shows that Essential Skills work approvals for 2010/11 were 3% lower than last year.
‘The Christchurch earthquake had a short term impact on migration of skilled workers to the region, but there will be more opportunities for skilled workers as the rebuild gains momentum. As economic growth accelerates across New Zealand the demand for workers will increase, creating opportunities for both New Zealanders and migrants,’ added Krishnan.
The labour market is improving and the unemployment rate is expected to fall to 5.3% by 2013.
However, there was an increase in the number of temporary work approval numbers in the 2010/11 year, due to increases in the number of working holidaymakers, up 8%, and those approved for a study to work visa, up 16%.
Student visas increased 2% on the previous year, to 74,900 in 2010/11. Student numbers from India have continued to grow and India has become a prominent source of students in the international export education sector.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Ray Clancy
Quelle/Source: Expat Forum, 27.10.2011
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