Some Former students at New Zealand tertiary institutions stranded overseas in March 2020 will now be allowed back in on a 12-month open work visa, but others will not. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
International graduates who missed out on work visas because they were out of the country when the border closed have been told they can come back.
Former students at New Zealand tertiary institutions usually have work rights when they finish their course.
Some stranded overseas in March 2020 will now be allowed back in on a 12-month open work visa, but others will not.
When it was announced last month, Immigration Minister Michael Wood said it would help about 1800 graduates who were affected by the pandemic restrictions.
Sonu Pival was among those waiting to find out the detail.
He had finished a masters degree in electrics and electronics and was working in managed isolation when he had to rush back to India to look after his sick parents in December 2020.
He thought he would be eligible to return, but received an email with the criteria today and realised he had to be overseas at the start of the pandemic.
"It's actually very disappointing. During the minister's announcement, he just said all post study work visa holders who are stuck offshore will be getting [a visa] extension for 12 months but I'm not getting anything."
He estimated 500 people in similar situations are not eligible to return.
Migrant Workers Association spokesperson Anu Kaloti said people started getting notifications yesterday.
"The one off 12 month open work visa should be extended to all NZ migrants stranded offshore with expired visas because they could not re-enter NZ due to Covid related border closure. This provision should be made available to all regardless of what visas they held."
Immigration NZ general manager of border and visa operations Nicola Hogg said, in a statement: "In December 2022, the Minister of Immigration announced that previous holders of Post Study Work Visas (PSWV) who were unable to use their visa because of New Zealand's border restrictions would be granted a 12-month open work visa by special direction.
"MBIE recognises the impact the border restrictions had on individuals and their families, particularly people on temporary visas. This special direction recognises that impact and is intended to reinstate the ability of former post-study work visa holders, who were offshore when the New Zealand's border restrictions came into place, to work in New Zealand.
"There are specific criteria an individual must meet to be eligible which can be found on our website.
"On Tuesday 14 February, we reached out directly to those eligible applicants to provide them with further information on the open work visa. The new open work visas will be effective from 30 March 2023.
"People who have since obtained another visa are not included in the special direction, as their current visa (or a different subsequent visa) may better suit their circumstances. People who were in New Zealand when the border closed are also not included as this group was not affected by the border closure in the same way.
"New Zealand's borders are now fully open, meaning other former visa holders can apply to work, visit and study using the visa categories best suited to them."