Immigration revamp puts bigger load on sponsors

Changes to immigration laws were needed to 'bring New Zealand into the 21st century'. Photo / Supplied

New Zealanders wanting to sponsor a visitor will face increased risk and responsibility under changes made to the immigration law.

Sponsors of temporary migrants will from next month be responsible not only for their visitor's accommodation and food, but for all other costs - including medical, deportation and any Government costs incurred.

In the most comprehensive change to immigration legislation in more than 20 years, the new Immigration Act will replace the 1987 act on November 29.

Other changes will relax rules on schools enrolling foreign students unlawfully in New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand said that under current rules, failed sponsor undertakings often resulted in a debt to the Crown.

"Although the debt could be recovered, the act did not allow a third party to recover it," the agency said.

"If a visitor owed large amounts of money to the district health board, the board was not able to recover the costs."

Under the new act, the sponsor would be liable to pay if the visitor did not. If the visitor left New Zealand without paying the debt, the sponsor would still be liable, and would be unable to sponsor anyone else until the debt was repaid in full.

The service said sponsorship was an important change in the new act.

The changes also allow organisations, businesses and government agencies to sponsor individuals.

Sponsors of people coming to New Zealand will be responsible for all maintenance, accommodation and repatriation and cannot withdraw their sponsorship while the visitor is in the country.

Under the new rules, children who are unlawfully in New Zealand - such as overstayers - will be able to attend local schools.

"While it does not mean that foreign national children unlawfully in New Zealand are automatically eligible to enrol in schools for free, education providers in the compulsory education sector cannot be prosecuted under immigration law if they enrol these children," said Immigration New Zealand.

Terms such as "permits" and "exemption" will be dropped, and only the term "visa" will be maintained for authority to travel.

Jimmy Lee, an Association for Migration and Investment director and licensed immigration adviser, said the mood of the industry was that changes to immigration laws were neededto "bring New Zealand to the 21stcentury".

But many were still adopting a wait-and-see attitude to the changes.

"Not everyone agrees that pushing the sole liability for all costs to a sponsor is the best way to encourage immigration or investment," he said.

GREATER LIABILITY
Some changes to the immigration law (with effect from November 29):

* Sponsors of immigrants will be liable for all costs, including medical and deportation.

* Schools cannot be prosecuted if they enrol foreign students who are unlawfully in New Zealand.

* No more "permits" or "exemptions" - only visas will be issued or waived.

ON THE WEB
http://www.immigration.govt.nz