2016-Nov 11: Visa Application Procedures for Personnel Taking Part in Les Mills International’s Media Productions

Visa Pak 285: Guidelines for applications for those taking part in Les Mills International's Medical productions.

Visa Paks

11 November 2016

Visa Application Procedures for Personnel Taking Part in Les Mills International’s Media Productions

Every three months Les Mills International Limited (Les Mills International) produces a fitness DVD. This DVD is for instructor use on a global scale and is considered an educational tool that registered instructors receive each quarter. The DVDs are produced using instructors from all over the world in order to maintain Les Mills’ global appeal and diversity. The DVD production can be separated into two main groups of individuals: the presenter and the participants.

The presenter for the DVD is sourced from local and international instructors selected by Les Mills International for their expertise in their field of instruction and for their particular ethnic significance. The selected presenter receives a one-off payment, a set of Les Mills-branded attire and also has their airfare and accommodation covered for agreeing to take part in the production.

The participant group comprises of local and international instructors who are not considered to receive gain or reward. The participants receive no payment and are there solely to make up numbers in the audience of the production.

It has come to our attention that Les Mills International’s presenters and participants are entering New Zealand under a variety of different visa categories and are also often linked with the incorrect employer in AMS.

When receiving an application from an applicant who is applying to enter New Zealand as a presenter for the purposes of taking part in filming, ensure that they have applied for a work visa and raise it in AMS under Visa, Work, Entertainers and Associated Workers. The immigration instructions that apply when assessing applications for a presenter are those held at WS6 Performing Artists, Entertainers and Entertainment Industry Workers.

Note: if the presenter is to stay longer than 14 days then a letter of non-objection from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance New Zealand must be provided.

As no remuneration or compensation is provided to participants taking part in filming, those who are citizens of visa waiver countries may travel to New Zealand as visitors by that means, while citizens of visa required countries are eligible to apply for a general visitor visa.

Please ensure that all applications processed for personnel coming to New Zealand to take part in DVD productions for Les Mills International as presenters are linked in AMS to the employer ‘Les Mills International Limited’ not ‘Les Mills New Zealand Limited’.