Many Samoans are complaining about the New Zealand online visa application process, saying that it is inconvenient and, often, inaccessible.
Online applications for New Zealand visas was introduced in 2019 but Immigration New Zealand told the Samoa Observer newspaper, the recent shift to full time online service has been made to respond to the growing number of applicants and for health and safety reasons.
The Immigration New Zealand General Manager Border and Visa Operations, Nicola Hogg, acknowledged the change may be difficult for people to adjust to at first.
“To ensure this transition is as smooth as possible, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has a dedicated office mailbox and phone where applicants and their families can seek assistance on how to make an application online,” she said.
She added that over 1,300 visa applications from Samoan nationals have been received using the online submission platform.
Ms. Hogg said that online applications is a model already in place with other nations who receive large numbers of applications from Samoan applicants.
“INZ will continue to use the online system as the future of our business, and we are committed to developing this system and ensuring it is user friendly for our applicants.”
