2013-Nov 29: Assessing NZAP scholarship student visa applications

Visa Pak 139 - Advice for staff about assessing NZAP scholarship student visa applications.

Visa Paks

29 November 2013

Assessing NZAP scholarship student visa applications

As part of an agreement between The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), MBIE has agreed that INZ will assess New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAP) scholarship holders according to the usual immigration criteria, including that they are bona fide applicants. INZ has also agreed to advise MFAT of any intention to decline a visa application from an NZAP scholarship holder.

Assessing bona fides
Before offering a scholarship, MFAT conducts limited screening of the scholarship applicants – primarily based on whether they meet the academic and/or eligibility criteria. When assessing a student visa application from an NZAP scholarship recipient, the scholarship should therefore only be used as evidence of funds and fees (as appropriate). The scholarship is not appropriate evidence that the applicant is a bona fide student. Immigration officers should conduct a normal bona fide assessment, following the advice in IAC 13-09.

Declining NZAP applications
Before an application from an NZAP scholarship holder can be declined (for any reason), the relevant Immigration Manager must escalate the case to Operations Support. This will allow INZ to fulfil its obligation to keep MFAT advised of applications from NZAP scholarship students that may be declined.