From Welcoming to Deterring: The Changed Perception of Studying in New Zealand

Overview

The current situation surrounding immigration policies for international students in New Zealand has significantly affected New Zealand's reputation for welcoming and accommodating international students.??

It is important to note that international students contribute materially to the academic community and benefit the New Zealand economy by contributing financially.

The inconsistent decisions made by visa officers, the time taken in processing, and the delays experienced in the admission process have discouraged many high-calibre candidates from choosing New Zealand as their desired study location.

This misalignment between Education New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand has created bottlenecks, with many applicants waiting as long as 4-6 months for a visa decision.?

These delays are taking a significant toll on the desire of international students to study in New Zealand. There is a growing perception that the New Zealand visa application process wastes time and resources, ultimately discouraging students from choosing New Zealand as a study destination.

This concern is not limited to prospective students alone; even educational agencies are now promoting alternative countries with more favourable immigration policies to prospective student applicants. New Zealand is quickly losing its appeal as an international student destination as the perception of its admission and visa application process becomes increasingly hostile.

It is now paramount that Education New Zealand (ENZ) and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) collaborate to address the challenges facing international students with visa processing.?

A coordinated effort is urgently needed to restore confidence in the system, guard against further damaging "Brand New Zealand," and maintain the country's reputation as one of the world's most desirable education destinations.

Why Is Brand New Zealand, Loosing Shine?

The inability of New Zealand to provide fast and efficient university admission and visa decisions is the biggest reason for the brand New Zealand losing its shine so quickly. The delays in admission and visa approvals have caused many talented and motivated students to look elsewhere for educational opportunities.?

Genuine students eager to start their careers are being put off by the long wait times they must endure.

The country’s exorbitantly costly “Brand New Zealand” campaigns champion its attractiveness as a destination of choice. Yet, international students from leading global student markets like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South East Asia and the Middle East face pauses of up to four to six months before they can start their university studies. This is not a desirable situation for anyone involved.?

New Zealand is in danger of being outcompeted by other countries that offer faster and more efficient admission and visa processing times. If this situation isn't addressed, it could have long-lasting damaging effects on the country's reputation as a desirable destination for international students and skilled workers.

What is the Solution?

The current university admission process can often take several months, discouraging bright international students from applying. Therefore, decreasing the turnaround time to two or three weeks would give students a timely response, allowing them to make informed decisions about their education and future. Additionally, capping the student visa processing time at one month would streamline the application process, reducing student stress and anxiety and ultimately making the country more attractive to international students. By implementing these changes, the country would remain competitive and become a more attractive destination for students seeking a high-quality education.

This could easily be possible if INZ starts accepting the university admission team's assessments when evaluating the eligibility of prospective international students to do the course instead of relying solely on visa officers, who are not best suited for assessing academic pathways. Let academicians do their job while visa officers do their own.

ENZ must also remember that academically brilliant applicants from multiple countries seeking high-value courses or highly skilled migrants seeking upskilling opportunities require special care and nurturing.

While the StatsNZ data may show high demand for New Zealand as a study destination, those who have been in the education and immigration industry long enough will confidently say that these numbers do not include the high-calibre students whom the expensive recruitment campaigns of ENZ are targeting.

Conclusion

The visa application process for international students in New Zealand is experiencing significant delays, hurting the country's reputation for welcoming international students. As a result, prospective students are discouraged from choosing New Zealand as a study location, and educational agencies are promoting alternative countries with more favourable immigration policies. To address this issue, Education New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand must collaborate on challenges facing international students with visa processing, including decreasing processing times to two or three weeks and capping the student visa processing time at one month. Additionally, INZ should accept the university admission team's assessments when evaluating the eligibility of prospective international students to do the course. Failure to address this issue could have long-lasting damaging effects on the country's reputation as a desirable destination for international students and skilled workers.