2015-Dec 11: Variation of Conditions – Declared Labour Shortage

Visa Pak 240: Information for staff regarding applications for Variations of Conditions for those holding Visitor Visas wanting to work in an area of Declared Labour Shortage. Includes the documents required and INZ' processing procedures.

Visa Paks

11 December 2015

Variation of Conditions – Declared Labour Shortage

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) may approve a Variation of Conditions (VOC) for holders of visitor visas for a maximum duration of six weeks to undertake seasonal work in any region where the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has declared a seasonal labour shortage.

Seasonal work includes planting, maintaining, harvesting and picking crops in the horticulture or viticulture industries.

The Southern Regional Commissioner for the MSD has recently declared a labour shortage in the Central Otago region from 5 January 2016 to 15 February 2016.

Applications for VOCs for visitor visa holders may be submitted to any INZ branch but we would anticipate that most applications will be submitted to INZ Queenstown Market Office. Seasonal Solutions Co-operative (an RSE Employer) will be collecting applications in Central Otago and submitting them directly to INZ Queenstown for processing.

Due to the short term nature of the labour shortage, it is recommended that any applications received are processed with some urgency. When processing VOC applications under instructions E3.25.1, Immigration Officers must ensure that the following lodgement requirements are met:

  • Variation of Conditions Application Form
  • Fee
  • Passport
  • Must be on a valid visitor visa (any category) which does not expire until after the 6 week period

These applications must be lodged under the special category in AMS – Visa, Visitor, Vary Conditions Hort/Vit. Please also ensure that the following conditions are entered on the visa label:

“The holder may undertake seasonal work for any horticulture/viticulture employer in the Central Otago Region from 05 Jan 2016 to 15 Feb 2016”

VOCs can only be issued for a maximum of six weeks and can only be valid for the period of the declared labour shortage (5 January 2016 to 15 February 2016).

Action
Please discuss with your team(s) and ensure:

  • Staff are aware of this declared seasonal labour shortage in Central Otago from 5 January –
    15 February 2016
  • VOC applications are considered with some urgency due to the short-term labour shortage
  • VOC lodgement requirements are met
  • Staff understand the correct category to lodge these under in AMS and the relevant conditions are noted on the visa label