Changes in visa requirements for temporary workers in the music, screen and entertainment industry

Monday, 30 April 2012 (Source – Immigration New Zealand

Changes in visa requirements for temporary workers in the music, screen and entertainment industry take effect on 30 April 2012.  The changes apply to entertainers, performing artists and associated support personnel, film and video production and post-production crew, producers and directors.

What has changed?

Previously all such applications needed to be referred to the relevant professional association, industry guild or union such as the New Zealand Film and Video Technicians’ Guild, the Screen Production and Development Association, the Screen Directors’ Guild of New Zealand, New Zealand Actors Equity, the New Zealand Actor’s Guild, or the musicians’ branch of the Service and Food Workers Union.

New rules

From 30 April 2012 there will be a streamlined process, without any professional association, industry guild or union referral, for applicants whose engagement in New Zealand is:

• for 14 days or less, or
• on an official co-production, or
• with an accredited company.

Applications that fall outside these criteria will be subject to the same industry-led labour market testing that currently applies.

Accreditation

New Zealand companies who seek to engage entertainment industry personnel will be able to apply in advance to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to become accredited. They must demonstrate that they:

• are financially sound,
• have a sound industry track record,
• have a commitment to engaging and training New Zealanders, and
• have good work place practices.

The relevant professional associations, industry guilds and/or unions will be consulted as part of consideration of applications for accreditation.

For more information on the accreditation criteria, please see Entertainment industry accreditation.

Approved arts and music festivals

Performers and direct support staff attending an ‘approved’ arts or music festival will be able to enter New Zealand as visitors, without having to apply for a visa if they are from one of the more than 50 countries with which New Zealand has a visa-waiver agreement.

For an arts or music festival to become ‘approved’, its organisers will have to submit a proposal to INZ demonstrating that their festival meets certain criteria. See the Checklist for Arts and Music Festival Approval Status PDF [334KB] for further information.

Rationale for changes

The key objective of the changes is to reduce red tape and compliance costs on entertainment industry businesses and to support economic growth. This will ensure that these businesses can get the people they need when they need them, while still providing protection for New Zealand workers. The previous ‘one size fits all’ immigration process, where all applications are referred to industry guilds or unions irrespective of whether there is a risk of displacing New Zealand workers, does not necessarily reflect the requirements of different industry sectors, types of production or other government objectives.

Benefits of the changes

The changes will make it easier for entertainment industry companies to bring workers to New Zealand. Inbound productions can create a significant number of jobs for New Zealanders across a range of roles.  The changes will reduce the risk of the immigration process reducing New Zealand’s attractiveness to overseas productions.

For more information regarding your immigration and visa requirements please contact Auckland law firm Quay Law NZ.

Changes to Immediate Skill Shortage List and Long Term Skill Shortage List

Source: infonew.co.nz

1 September 2010, 2:09PM

By Department of Labour

The bi-annual review of the Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) and the Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL), administered by the Department of Labour, has been completed.

The ISSL includes occupations that are in immediate demand in the New Zealand labour market. The LTSSL includes occupations that are in long term and global shortage.

Two occupations, Scaffolders and Automotive Technicians will be added to the ISSL, and three occupations, Ship’s Master, Ship’s Officer and Forest Scientist to the LTSSL. Thirteen occupations mostly in the building, design and racing industries will be removed from the ISSL. One occupation, Architect, will be removed from the LTSSL. In addition, four occupations will be removed from the ISSL as they are already covered in the LTSSL. Some requirements will be updated.

The ISSL and LTSSL will be released on 8 September 2010.

The removal of the occupations from the lists is the result of an extensive consultation with industry groups, other stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

Employers can still recruit migrants in occupations that have been removed from the lists. The employer will need to demonstrate genuine attempts to recruit suitable New Zealand citizens or residents. Temporary work visas or permits can be granted after there is evidence that there are no suitable New Zealanders available.

Immigration New Zealand works with a number of agencies when reviewing the labour market to help identify areas of immediate and long-term skill shortage. This is to ensure that the lists reflect genuine skill shortage so New Zealanders are not disadvantaged while at the same time making sure employers get the skilled employees they need to take advantage of improvements in the economy.

Head of Immigration New Zealand, Nigel Bickle says “For occupations no longer on the LTSSL and ISSL the labour market test process, where agencies such as Work and Income are involved, ensures that New Zealanders are not disadvantaged if seeking employment before an employer recruits a migrant worker. However, New Zealand still has skill shortages in certain areas and jobs may need to be filled by people from overseas.”

Mr Bickle says there will be ongoing review of all occupations on the list which will ensure flexibility in times of both shortage and economic growth.

Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL)

Thirteen occupations to be removed from the ISSL on 8 September 2010:
• Architectural Designer
• Architectural Draughtsperson (Civil CAD Designer)
• Architectural Draughtsperson
• Graphic Artist
• Fire Alarm Technician
• Florist (Senior)
• Gas Fitter
• Vehicle Body Builder (Bus or Coach only)
• Horse Trainer (Stallion Master)
• Horse Trainer (Stud Groom)
• Jockey
• Trackwork Rider
• Telecommunications Technician

Two occupations to be added to the ISSL:
• Automotive Technician (Motor Mechanic)
• Scaffolder (Advanced)

Four occupations to be moved from the ISSL to the LTSSL:
• Conductor (Conductive Education Practitioner)
• Construction Project Manager (Chip sealing, Asphalt or other Technical Manager) (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Construction Project Manager (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Ship’s Engineer

Four occupations to be removed from the ISSL as covered by the LTSSL:
• Marine Designer
• Systems Analyst
• Software Engineer
• ICT Support and Test Engineer
Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL)

One occupation to be removed from the LTSSL on 8 September 2010:
• Architect

Three occupations to be added to the LTSSL:
• Ship’s Officer
• Ship’s Master
• Forest Scientist

Four occupations to be moved to the LTSSL from the ISSL:
• Conductor (Conductive Education Practitioner)
• Construction Project Manager (Chip sealing, Asphalt or other Technical Manager) (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Construction Project Manager (Roading and Infrastructure)
• Ship’s Engineer