Discontinuing permanent resident visas won’t create migrant loyalty

Opinion piece: Aaron Martin, Immigration Lawyer at New Zealand Immigration Law

The recent Productivity Commission has made a recommendation to the government that permanent residency visas be discontinued- replaced with a renewal process every 6 years.  The aim is to encourage migrants to “build roots” in New Zealand before getting permanent residency status. A similar system ran up until 1995; it didn’t work then, and it won’t work now…

Does anyone look at history?

We used to do what the Productivity Commission is suggesting, but discontinued the practice in 1995. However, back then it wasn’t renewal for six years, it was for four years.

What problem is this aiming to solve?

The concern pre-1995 was that people would gain residence, and then leave their family in New Zealand to take advantage of our free health care and education, while the main applicant went back overseas to continue working, so there was no tax being paid on that offshore income.

This was seen as unfair because the family was taking advantage of taxpayer-funded services.

That is why, in our current post-residency process, there is an obligation to spend time in New Zealand, or act in a way that brings a person within the tax loop. If a person doesn’t display their “commitment” to New Zealand they can’t obtain a permanent resident visa, and if it is the main applicant who fails to meet this obligation, their family can’t obtain the permanent resident visa either.

What was introduced after that is essentially what we have at the moment

People must display commitment to New Zealand in the first two years of residence to obtain a permanent resident visa. Once gained, the permanent resident visa simply allows a person to maintain a residence status, but they are free of the obligation to spend time in New Zealand.

One reason we moved away from the old system of continually needing to renew your residency was the ongoing administrative bureaucracy needed to police it.

Additionally, it bought injustices – children who had lived all their lives in New Zealand ended up being separated from parents who lost their residence entitlement.

Those parents couldn’t reunite with their children in New Zealand even after many decades away, and despite being former residents. This is because of a rule that prohibits a former resident family parent applying because of a relationship with the child who was originally a dependent in that parent’s residence case.

The most important flaw in the argument for continual renewal of residence visas is this: it only takes five years to get a passport. Once you have the passport, why do you need to renew your residency?

It all sounds good on paper but discontinuing the permanent resident visa makes no administrative sense and doesn’t yield any benefit.

The Productivity Commission also said migrants are not driving down wages

The productivity report has also said that immigration is not driving down wages or replacing local workers. That doesn’t suit the trade union narrative. Nor does it suit the Government narrative for the introduction of more restrictive policies, which aim to reduce the numbers of migrants in New Zealand.

The commission states that “Immigration has had on average, smaller, mostly positive effects on wages and employment of New Zealand-born workers over the last 20 years.”

That is to be expected and is likely to continue given the current methodology of increasing the median wage requirement for the issue of certain classes of work visa. This author has for many years maintained the view that the underlying objective trying to be achieved through the use of this tool, was upward pressure on wages through pay parity.

I don’t accept the concern that there may be a displacement of local labour in the event of future economic shock or cyclical downturn in the economy, if there are large numbers of work visa holders in New Zealand. The immigration system can deal with that.

In high unemployment, the labour market test (now known as the job check) on the new visa application would usually fail, because there were local candidates who were available and qualified to perform the job in times of high unemployment. Again, the prospect of displacement is managed within the work visa system. The recommendation of a clear Government Policy Statement to improve transparency and clarify objectives within the immigration system is a welcome suggestion. But it is important that doesn’t become just another piece of reflection or navel-gazing.

At present we have a lack of clarity around residency that prevents people making long-term plans for a life in New Zealand. It makes us less attractive to the competing countries in the global labour market.

 

Make an Appointment

Make an Appointment

Need immigration advice?

Feel free to call us with your concerns or make an appointment to see how we can work with you.

We have a fluent Mandarin speaker in our team if you need Chinese language assistance.

Case Review

Need a Review of your Case?

If your case is more complex, consider our 60-minute Immigration Clinic. In this one-on-one appointment with immigration lawyer Aaron Martin, you can talk through your specific issues and gain insight on the best approach.

Make an appointment or contact us to see how we can help.