Part 2: Preparing Your Application for Submission

Welcome back to the Step-by-Step New Zealand Visa Application Guide. In Part 2, I will explain how to prepare your application for submission. If you would like to start from the beginning, please click here to view Part 1.

As mentioned in Part 1, the applicant is responsible for submitting evidence and documents to support their application. According to the Law of the 5 Ps, proper preparation prevents poor performance when submitting an application. The case officer’s role is to evaluate the evidence provided in a visa application, weigh it against the relevant guidelines, and decide whether to approve or decline the application. For the applicant, this means that a well-prepared and submitted application will help the case officer understand the situation quickly and fairly, allowing for a timely decision. If the application is not prepared properly, it may lead to delays, especially if the case officer has to request additional information. It is important to note that depending on your location and the type of visa you are applying for, immigration instructions empower the case officer to decline an application due to insufficient evidence without first asking for more information. To ensure fairer and faster processing of your application, it is crucial to submit a well-prepared application that is fully supported by adequate evidence.

Common Reasons for Visa Declines

Visa declines are typically due to issues related to eligibility, health, or character. For student visas, some common reasons for denial include concerns about the applicant’s genuineness as a student. This may stem from doubts about their intentions to come to New Zealand for a lawful purpose, as well as personal circumstances such as financial situation, employment status, and ties to their home country. Another frequent issue for student visa applicants is the case officer’s inability to verify the genuine source of available funds. For visitor visas, typical reasons for decline include insufficient evidence of ties to the home country, lack of family connections, failure to demonstrate a genuine and lawful purpose for visiting, and the absence of certified translations of required documents. As previously stated, the responsibility lies with the applicant to demonstrate to the case officer that they meet the prerequisites for the visa they are applying for and to provide sufficient evidence to support their application.

Evaluating Your Evidence

In Part 1 of this guide, you learned how to select the right visa for your needs and how to check the requirements for that visa. To prepare your application for submission, it is essential to include relevant evidence that supports your application. Following on from Part 1, you should now be looking at the requirements for your visa. You can expand on each requirement to view more details.

For instance, one of the requirements for a visitor visa is having genuine intentions. Therefore, you will need to prove that you possess genuine intentions. The question then arises: what do I need to demonstrate that I have genuine intentions? To find out, click on the link labelled “Genuine Intentions to Visit, Study, or Work in NZ.” Clicking this link will direct you to a page that explains what genuine intentions are and what evidence you will need to provide.Here is where you will need to evaluate what evidence demonstrates that you meet these requirements.

Imagine yourself as the case officer reviewing your application and ask whether you have provided enough information to support each requirement. If any information is missing, consider submitting additional details to strengthen your case. However, if there is too much information, the case officer may become overwhelmed. Additionally, if the information is disorganised, it could be overlooked or missed.

The Importance of Preparation

It is crucial to understand that proper preparation significantly influences the outcome of an application and is one of the few aspects within your control. Keep in mind the “Law of the 5 Ps” when preparing your application and ensure that you have a well-organised submission before sending it off.In this area, the services of an immigration adviser can be very beneficial. We conduct an eligibility assessment to evaluate your circumstances in line with current immigration laws and regulations. We will provide you with a list of necessary documents needed to support your application and will review, organise, and prepare your application for submission.In New Zealand, immigration advisers are licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority. All licensed immigration advisers are required to complete a prescribed course, adhere to a strict code of conduct, and maintain their knowledge through continuing professional development. Through this course, immigration advisers learn essential skills for conducting eligibility assessments and preparing and submitting documents while understanding their professional responsibilities.

In the final part of this step-by-step guide on applying for a New Zealand visa, we will discuss the application lodgement and post-lodgement processes.