2016-May 13: Closure of the Immigration New Zealand Singapore

Visa Pak 259 - Information on where applications will be processed on closure of the Immigration New Zealand Singapore branch.

Visa Paks

13 May 2016

Closure of the Immigration New Zealand Singapore Office

In 2012 the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Singapore Office was identified for review as part of the Global Service Delivery Model work. On completion of the review in March 2016, the Visa Services Leadership team recommended to the Immigration Leadership team that Singapore Office be closed.

From 3 June 2016 all visa applications for people residing in Singapore, Malaysia, Maldives, Seychelles and Brunei will be sent to the Bangkok Area Office for processing.

The Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Singapore will continue to accept applications from clients and these will be couriered to Bangkok each day.

Previously, the Singapore Office has facilitated visa labelling for other INZ offices in respect of clients who are residing in the Singapore catchment area or transiting through to New Zealand. This process took 3 working days.

As Bangkok Area Office will be the processing office, please advise your clients to allow up to
7 working days. The below process has been amended to reflect this change:

  1. Client either drops off in person or couriers their passport to the Singapore VAC along with the AIP letter or confirmation email that advises the application number:

    New Zealand Visa Application Centre (VAC)
    135 Cecil Street
    8th Floor
    Singapore 069536
    Opening hours: 8am to 2pm, Monday to Friday
    Passport collection: 2pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday
    Phone: +65 66929872 (8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday)

    Email: info.nzsg@vfshelpline.com
    Website: New Zealand Visa Information - Singapore - Home
  2. VAC charges a passport handling fee using the attached credit card authorisation form VAC Credit card Authorisation Form.
  3. Singapore VAC sends the passport to INZ Bangkok.
  4. INZ Bangkok issues the visa label and the passport is returned to Singapore VAC.
  5. The client collects the passport in person or Singapore VAC couriers the passport back to the client (a courier charge applies).
  6. If the client requires the passport to be couriered, the credit card authorisation form needs to be completed along with the postal address.
  7. The process takes 7 working days, including the time that the client submits their passport to Singapore VAC.

 

Procedure for Immigration Officer requesting visa label to be issued:

  1. Format Label in AMS.
  2. Draft AIP letter (if applicable) in AMS templates.
  3. Application is e-transferred to INZ Bangkok office (case manager, Singapore Label Issuing).
  4. Advise the client to drop off or courier their passport to the Singapore VAC and that the process will take 7 working days.
  5. Email inzbangkok@mbie.govt.nz to advise that you require INZ Bangkok to issue a visa label and print the AIP letter (if applicable).
  6. Copy the email into AMS notes.
  7. INZ Bangkok will e-transfer the file back to the office once the label has been issued.

Action
For your information.