The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security has recommended improvements to New Zealand's approach to screening visa applications for security risk.
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Inspector-General Brendan Horsley says his office reviewed the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service's (NZSIS) policies and procedures for screening and commenting on immigration visa applications.
"We found shortcomings, but also that the service is well aware of them and has plans for improvement. My recommendations are intended to highlight matters that can be addressed within the service's proposed programme of change."
The recommendations include providing internal guidance on how to make the relevance of NZSIS advice to immigration decisions as clear as possible, clarifying that the service provides advice on security risk and not on whether an immigration applicant is of good character, and reviewing internal quality assurance checks.
An unclassified version of the review report is available on the [www.igis.govt.nz Inspector-General's website].