Pathway English-course 16-week limit narrowed to specified applicants

Policy effect

Instructions effective February 4, 2016 limited the requirement to complete the initial English-language programme within 16 weeks to first-time Pathway Student Visa students who had submitted the English test required by U14.5.1(c): applicants from countries with a student-visa decline rate greater than 20 percent on an English-to-NZQF-level-5–8 pathway. The corresponding breach provision was narrowed to that group. The separate requirement to begin a subsequent pathway programme within 16 weeks of completing the earlier programme remained.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Instructions effective February 4, 2016 limited the requirement to complete the initial English-language programme within 16 weeks to first-time Pathway Student Visa students who had submitted the English test required by U14.5.1(c): applicants from countries with a student-visa decline rate greater than 20 percent on an English-to-NZQF-level-5–8 pathway.; The separate requirement to begin a subsequent pathway programme within 16 weeks of completing the earlier programme remained.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

… o 7 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework no longer need to submit an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test (or equivalent), unless they are from a country that has a decline rate of more than 20 per cent for student visa applications. The annual decline rates for all countries are published on the Immigration New Zealand website. The 16 week course length restriction for English language courses will also only apply to first time pathway student visa students from countries with a student visa application decline rate that is greater than 20 per cent. The range of p … ess on the pathway by: i. meeting the conditional pre-requisites for enrolment into a second or subsequent programme of study (E3.20(d); and ii. commencing the second or subsequent programme of study on a pathway within a 16 week period of completing an earlier programme of study. g. Where a first time student has submitted an IELTS test (or equivalent) as set out at U14.5.1 (c) and been granted a pathway student visa to undertake an English language programme of study culminating in a qualification at Levels 5 to 8 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, the English Language programme of … study must be completed within a 16 week period. U14.15 Changing and complying with pathway student visa conditions See also Immigration Act 2009 ss 49, 52, 56 a. If a student holding a pathway student visa wishes to move to a different education provider or lower level programme of study than those specified in their visa conditions, they must apply for a new student visa and meet the requirements set out at U3.40. b. A variation of conditions, for the purpose of changing a programme of study at the same education provider will only be granted if an immigration officer is satisfied that: i. … any scholarship continues. U14.15.5 Breaching visa conditions a. A student on an pathway student visa will be considered to be in breach of visa conditions where: i. they fail to meet conditional pre-requisites for enrolment into a second or subsequent programme of study (E3.20(d); or ii. the time between the completion of one programme of study and the start of a second or subsequent programme of study on a pathway exceeds 16 weeks; or iii. they have submitted an IELTS test (or equivalent) as set out at U14.5.1 (c) and their intended pathway is an English language programme of study culminati … e course. Any enquiries about these amendments should be directed to the Immigration Contact Centre on 0508 558 855 or 09 914 4100 (Auckland only). Changes to temporary instructions effective on and after 4 February 2016 U14.5 Requirements to be granted a pathway student visa U14.10 Currency and conditions of pathway student visas U14.15 Changing and complying with pathway student visa conditions U14.20 Provider requirements First time pathway student visa applicants seeking to undertake a study pathway that begins with an English language course and leads to a programme of study at levels 5 t … out in U3.20 for the first year of study on the intended pathway have been met and satisfy an immigration officer that they have the ability to fund any remaining balance of the first programme of study and subsequent programmes of study on the intended pathway. b. Despite (a)(ii), second and subsequent offers of place for a pathway can be conditional on meeting pre- requisite programme of study entry criteria. c. First time pathway student visa applicants from a country with a student visa decline rate of more than 20 per cent who intend a study pathway commencing with an English language pro … gramme of study and culminating in a qualification at Levels 5 to 8 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework must: i. submit an International English Language Testing System test (IELTS) (or equivalent internationally recognised test) at the time of application; and ii. demonstrate that they only require an improvement of 0.5 of an IELTS overall band score (or equivalent) to meet the English language prerequisite for entry into the intended level 5 to 8 programme of study. Note: The student visa decline rate for a country is based on statistics, generated over a calendar year (12 months), b … 4 February 2016 IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND INSTRUCTIONS: Amendment Circular No. 2016/01 To: All Manual Holders AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION NEW ZEALAND OPERATIONAL MANUAL Introduction This circular outlines changes to immigration instructions. A copy of the amended instructions is attached. All immigration officers dealing with immigration applications should read the amendments in Appendix 1 and operate in accordance with the amended instructions on and after 4 February 2016. Note The amendments described in this circular will be published in the Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual in du … rogrammes that require an applicant to provide an IELTS (or equivalent) test have also been increased from levels 5 - 7 to levels 5 - 8. WH1.1 Objectives and overview – RSE Instructions WH1.1.15 Annual limit to number of visas available under RSE instructions The annual Recognised Seasonal Employer visa cap has been increased from 9,000 to 9,500. APPENDIX 1: AMENDED IMMIGRATION INSTRUCTIONS EFFECTIVE ON AND AFTER 4 FEBRUARY 2016 U14.5 Requirements to be granted a pathway student visa To be granted a pathway student visa, an applicant must: a. be offered an eligible study pathway from a qualify …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other New Zealand changes operative in 2016

• 2016-02-04Pathway Student Visa English-test requirement narrowed by country decline rate
• 2016-10-12Capped Family allocation set at 4,000 places for the two-year residence programme
• 2016-10-12Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual
• 2016-10-12Skilled Migrant automatic EOI selection threshold set at 160 points
• 2016-10-12Skilled Migrant English-language evidence alternatives tightened
• 2016-11-21Establishment of the Global Impact Visa (GIVs) Pilot Programme
• 2016-11-21South African citizenship-based visitor travel visa waiver removed
• 2016-11-21Visa waiver extended to citizens of Mauritius and Seychelles
• 2016-12-09Student visa provision introduced for qualifications delayed by NZQA intervention