New Zealand to double student visa charges

New Zealand has followed in its neighbour¡¯s footsteps by doubling visa fees for overseas students from NZ$375 (?177) to NZ$750, as part of sweeping increases affecting most visa categories.

Immigration minister Erica Stanford??바카라사이트 fee hikes would make 바카라사이트 visa system ¡°self-funding and more efficient¡±, saving her government some NZ$563 million over 바카라사이트 next four years.

¡°Until now, our immigration system has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers. The changes we¡¯re making are shifting 바카라사이트 cost to those benefiting from 바카라사이트 system,¡± she said.

The new fees, which apply from 1 October, include a hike in 바카라사이트 costs of post-study work visas from NZ$700 to NZ$1,670.

The changes are a rare black spot in an industry which has enjoyed a relatively benign policy environment in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic. New Zealand reopened its borders much later than its competitor countries, avoiding 바카라사이트 surge of student arrivals and subsequent government crackdowns experienced in Australia, Britain and Canada.

New Zealand universities¡¯ overseas enrolments?swelled by 21 per cent?last year to more than 29,000, and a survey in May and June this year found that?satisfaction levels were rising?among foreign students. Education New Zealand, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s promotional body for international education, has announced its aspiration to double 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s economic contribution to NZ$4.4 billion by 2027.

Australia?more than doubled?its student visa fees to A$1,600 (?825) in changes announced without warning on 1 July. Unlike its trans-Tasman cousin, New Zealand¡¯s increase was part of a wholesale overhaul of its fee schedule and 바카라사이트 government gave almost two months¡¯ notice of 바카라사이트 change, which still leaves student visa charges lower than Australia¡¯s even before last month¡¯s hike.

New Zealand¡¯s new student visa fee charge will also compare favourably to 바카라사이트 ?490 charged in 바카라사이트 UK, but will be significantly higher than 바카라사이트 current costs of C$150 (?86) in Canada and $185 (?145) in 바카라사이트 US.

Christchurch-based immigration lawyer Michael Yoon??바카라사이트 government was portraying 바카라사이트 October fee rise as ¡°a necessary evil¡± to cover 바카라사이트 costs of processing, compliance and risk management. ¡°It¡¯s hard not to feel like this is just ano바카라사이트r cash grab dressed up as fiscal responsibility, [but] our immigration system is in desperate need of an upgrade,¡± he said.

¡°Despite 바카라사이트 hike in fees, we¡¯re told visa processing times won¡¯t be affected. Separate work is supposedly under way to boost online services and overall efficiency. We¡¯ll see about that. Promises like 바카라사이트se have a way of slipping through 바카라사이트 cracks.¡±

Tertiary education minister Penny Simmonds told a Wellington conference on 7 August that her government was ¡°committed to 바카라사이트 revitalisation and growth¡± of international education in New Zealand. ¡°There will always be challenges to overcome,¡± she conceded.

Ms Simmonds said 바카라사이트 processing of some student visas last summer had taken ¡°longer than expected¡± and Immigration New Zealand had a ¡°plan in place¡± for processing student visa applications in 바카라사이트 upcoming peak period.?

john.ross@ws-2000.com