Immigration struggles to cope

By ALAN PERROTT

The Immigration Service admits it is struggling to cope with the flood of foreigners seeking residency or visas.

"We've already opened longer hours and opened Saturdays so we've extended most of the things we can," says operating officer Andrew Lockhart.

"There is just no more ability to cope with the numbers coming in at [Queen St,] Auckland and Manukau."

Mr Lockhart says a third branch will open within six months.

"The numbers have gone up quite dramatically."

The service is working with universities, schools and polytechnics to streamline student visa applications. One option is to give visas for the entire length of a student's course rather than the six and 12-month permits now issued.

It is also about to introduce an online service for tourists to extend their visitors' permits.

Mr Lockhart says a surge in permanent-residency applications has also put pressure on staff.

In the New Delhi office, 1500 applications landed in one week at the end of June when the Government said it was about to increase the points required for permanent residency.

"The wait for general skills applicants [from New Delhi] is likely to be up to two years," says Mr Lockhart.

"It's quite a bit longer than it has been previously."



The chairman of the Association of Migration and Investment, Bill Milnes, says the delays in places such as New Delhi and at the Auckland offices are unprecedented.

"It makes it horrendously difficult for people and, of course, it makes it not the most pleasant place to work [for service staff]."

An immigration consultant and former Immigration Minister, Tuariki John Delamere, says there are justifiable criticisms but his former department has a difficult task.

Budget limitations mean fewer people are doing the bulk of the work behind the scenes.

Mr Delamere believes the long queues consist mostly of those who left the paperwork to the last minute.

But another immigration consultant, Gene Leckey, says the system is badly designed and treats people "atrociously".

"I keep telling my clients that the average New Zealander is not like that and they will give you a fair go, but there is no service in the New Zealand Immigration Service. They are only there to find reasons not to let people in."

Feature: Immigration