ATR Workshop

1. ATR Workshop RSE Conference 2015 Apia, Samoa

2. 2014/2015 review • Approval numbers based on previous year • Employers wanting an increase had to show need • Increased use of Joint ATRs. Up from approx 1000 workers to approx 1400 workers • Approx 10,000 approvals • 8483 worker arrivals compared to 7855 year before • 118 RSE Employers across New Zealand

3. National Cap • RSE cap was increased to 9000 worker arrivals - not ATR places approved • Cap not a target and can not be exceeded • Still need to provide evidence to justify an increase to approval numbers. • Any increase need to be agreed by all parties (MSD, RSE RM, LI, Compliance) • MSD Engagement vital this year – stronger emphasis placed on consultation

4. National Cap (continued) • Even if ATR supported by W&I, due to national or regional allocations an increase may still not be possible • RSE Unit takes into account regional recommendations from all regions • Regional recommendations do not have to be met • Joint ATRs assist with national numbers not regional numbers • Regional recommendations now signed off by MSD RC / INZ

5. Regional Allocations 2014/2015 • Forecast regional allocations to the South Island (primarily Marlborough/Nelson) and BoP, constrain allocation to HB • Expected actual increase in RSE numbers for 2014/15 season approx. 500 in total • Breakdown – South Island 300 (M/N – 200, C/CO – 100 – North Island 200 (BoP 150 –rest 50

6. New RSE Instructions • RSE Instruction changes in mid 2014 • Mainly to allow for one LV for a joint ATR • Start and end dates for the transfer to be varied by up to 14 days before or after the date on the visa label • Keep INZ informed of this change as we need to know where the workers are for compliance / emergency reasons.

7. New Work & Income Engagement Form • MSD / MBIE designed a new form to record Work & Income engagement and labour demand / supply • Employers should be starting to complete this form with their Work Brokers • Disagreements will then involve RSE RM • Provide this form when submitting the ATR • Should hopefully speed up ATR processing

8. PPI • PPI stands for ‘Potentially Prejudicial Information’ • Information that Immigration NZ has that may be ‘prejudicial’ to the outcome of your application – i.e. which may lead to it being declined • INZ has to inform the applicant of any information that may be prejudicial to the outcome of the application. • If there are no concerns in relation to a decline, INZ can make a decision without giving an invitation to comment. • In the past we have sent PPI letter on increase requests. • For 15/16 season we will not be going back to employers on increase requests and any information needs to be submitted with the ATR

9. Timeframes – 2015/2016 Submission Dates • If you have multiple time periods and first worker arrivals beginning October/November, submit your ATR prior 5 August. • If first worker arrivals in January/Feb, please submit your application no earlier than 5 September and no later than 30 October. • If first worker arrivals in March, please submit your application no earlier than 05 October and no later than 30 November • If first worker arrivals in April/May, please submit your application no earlier than 30 November and no later than 5 January. • Joint ATRs need to be submitted together – arrival date of first employer.

10. How the top 5 can be addressed • Applications not submitted on time • Ensure that LV applications are submitted at least 5 working days before travel • Incomplete applications • Complete all sections. Workers need to sign and date application form. • X-ray certificate missing • Need to provide an X-ray certificate that is less than 3 months old • Employment agreement missing • Need to provide an IEA and deductions that are signed by both employer and employee. • Health insurance missing • Evidence of workers having health insurance needs to be provided with visa application.

11. Questions