- The new visa process is led by the employer offering the job, your potential employer must complete the employer accreditation and job check before you apply for a work visa
- Employers will be able to apply for accreditation from late September ,before 1 November 2021 when AEWW will come into effect.
- The new AEWW replaces these 6 work visas: essential skills work visa, essential skills work visa – AIP, Talent (Accredited employer) work visa, long term skills shortage list work visa, sliver fern job search visa and silver fern practical experience visa
- If you have a current temporary work visa, you will not be affected. The changes will not affect other work visa holders (e.g. post-study work visa, partnership work visa).
New application process
The new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) application process will be employer led. Before hiring a migrant on the AEWV employers will need to:
- apply for accreditation under the new system
- apply for a job check to make sure the role they want to fill cannot be done by New Zealanders, and
- request a migrant worker to apply for a visa.
The migrant will need to meet the skills and experience stipulated as part of the job check.
New system has 3 checks
The system will introduce 3 checks before an employer can hire a migrant worker. These checks are:
- the employer check — employers need accreditation to pass this
- the job check
- the migrant worker check.
When to apply for accreditation
Employers will be able to apply for accreditation from late September, ahead of the 1 November 2021 introduction date.
Employers accredited under the current system will need to apply and meet the policy requirements of the new accreditation system.
Employers only need to be accredited under the new system when they want to start hiring migrants on AEWVs.
Employers don’t need to be accredited in the new system by 1 November 2021 if they do not plan to start hiring migrants on AEWVs at this time.
Employers who want to start hiring migrants on AEWVs soon after 1 November 2021 should consider applying during the pre-accreditation period.
Businesses employing migrants who hold a current talent or essential skill visa don’t need to become accredited until they want to hire someone on the new visa.
What migrants workers need to know
In November 2021 6 temporary work visas will be replaced by the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
The new visa process is led by the employer offering the job. Your potential employer must complete the employer accreditation and job check before you apply for a work visa.
If you have a current temporary work visa you will not be affected as long as you are meeting your visa conditions and your visa remains valid.
If you have a Residence from Work visa application underway (requiring a further Work to Residence visa to be granted residence), you will be able to continue this process if you remain with your employer.
The changes to accredited employer work visas will not affect other work visas holders.
News source : Employer leads visa application process | Immigration New Zealand