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Changes to Immigration Operational Policy – April 2010
A continuing professional development workbook for people giving immigration advice
Temporary Entry: Silver Fern Work Policies
Two Silver Fern policies
There are two Silver Fern policies:
- Silver Fern Job Search Policy
- Silver Fern Practical Experience Policy.
Objectives are
- attracting highly skilled young people to New Zealand
- matching these workers to the needs of the economy by providing a pathway to remain in New Zealand upon gaining skilled employment.
Process
- Highly-qualified young people offshore apply under Silver Fern Job Search Policy.
- If successful, they’re granted an open work visa/permit for nine months.
- They come to New Zealand to look for a skilled job (can take a non-skilled job while searching).
- When they have a job offer that meets the requirements, they can apply for a Silver Fern Practical Experience work permit.
The online application system will open on 27 April.
The policy can be found under WL in the operational manual.
Silver Fern Job Search Policy
The ‘job search’ policy allows people aged between 20 and 35 who are based offshore during the application process, and have recognised qualifications, to come to New Zealand for up to nine months in search of skilled work.
There are 300 places available each year, beginning 27 April 2010.
You’ll find the policy at WL2 in the operational manual.
Online application system
The quota will be managed by an online application system. Applicants confirm they meet the requirements and pay a fee, then are sent an email telling them what evidence to send.
Because applications can only be made online, there’s no new application form. See the policy at WL in the operational manual.
Requirements
To be successful, applicants must:
- be aged between 20 and 35 years
- be outside New Zealand during the application process
- hold a recognised Bachelor's degree, higher qualification or a recognised trade qualification with a minimum of two years of work experience in that trade
- meet the same English language requirements as Skilled Migrant Category
- hold a minimum of NZ$4,200 to support themselves during their stay.
Full medical and character evidence required
Because applicants must intend to find long-term skilled employment people intending to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months need to meet health requirements and those intending to stay more than 24 months need to meet health and character requirements, regardless of the duration of the visa/permit itself.
Applicants will have to provide completed Medical and Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1007) and police certificates from all countries they’ve lived in two years or more in the last 10 years.
Family members
Partners and children of Silver Fern Job Search visas/permits holders are not eligible for visas or permits as accompanying family members under this policy.
Qualifications requirements
The Silver Fern Job Search policy is for highly skilled people with recognised qualifications. Applicants will need to provide a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) assessment (either an International Qualification Assessment or a Qualifications Assessment Report) of their qualification, unless:
- the qualification is on our List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA), or
- the applicant has full or provisional registration and their qualification has been assessed by a New Zealand registration authority as being comparable to a New Zealand qualification on the LQEA.
Tertiary qualifications
Tertiary qualifications must be equivalent to a New Zealand bachelors degree (level 7) or higher.
Registration
If an applicant has a qualification required for a job where registration is compulsory in New Zealand must show that they hold, or can obtain, registration.
Trade qualifications
Trade qualifications must be:
- equivalent to a New Zealand National Certificate, and
- related to an occupation on Parts B and C of the list of skilled occupations (Appendix 11).
Work experience for trade qualifications
The work experience required to qualify for the policy with a trade qualification must be:
- relevant to the trade qualification
- gained after the qualification was completed
- gained in a comparable labour market in line with SMC policy.
- hold a Silver Fern Job Search visa, or an initial Silver Fern Practical Experience visa valid for less than 24 months
- have an offer of skilled employment which is current for a period of at least 12 months
- hold occupational registration in New Zealand if it is required for the job
- not have held previous Silver Fern Practical Experience visas or permits totalling more than two years.
Silver Fern Practical Experience Policy
When they find a skilled job in New Zealand, Silver Fern Job Search permit holders can apply for a Silver Fern Practical Experience visa/permit. This will allow them to work in that employment for up to two years.
The policy is designed so that people who meet the requirements will be likely candidates for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category.
There is no annual limit to the number of people who can apply under the Silver Fern Practical Experience Permit.
You’ll find the policy at WL3 in the operational manual. Applications can be made using the Work Visa/Permit Application (INZ 1015).
Job offers must be for 12 months or more. Visa/permit duration will match the duration of the offer of employment, up to a maximum of two years. If the permit holder has a shorter-term contract and obtains further employment, they can apply for a further work visa/permit up until they reach the maximum of two years.
Requirements
Applicants must:
Health and character
Because they would have submitted full medicals and character evidence, with the job search application, practical experience applicants normally will not need to submit any more evidence.
Skilled employment requirements
To qualify as skilled employment for a Silver Fern Practical Experience visa or permit, an offer of employment must meet the requirements for skilled employment under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Skilled employment is employment that requires specialist, technical or management expertise.
An offer of employment in an occupation included as a skill level one, two or three occupation in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) may be considered skilled employment (providing certain policy requirements are met). (See Appendix 11 of the Operational Manual.)
Other employment requirements
Job offers must also: