Are you a UAE resident who has applied for a visa to New Zealand and is waiting for the decision? Patience really is a virtue isn't it?
Waiting for visa approval can be a nerve wrecking task, especially when you don't know if all your documents have been accepted and what the outcome will be.
The processing time greatly differs depending on your nationality, when it comes to a New Zealand visa from Dubai, this period is less as an NZeTA can be obtained for UAE residents.
If you would like to know more about the processing times, how you can check and what your application status means, keep reading this guide to get an understanding of the visa process.
The processing time varies greatly depending on the type of visa you will be issued. If you belong to a nation that is part of the New Zealand visa waiver program, congratulations, getting one is so much easier.
A New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority also known as an NZeTA is a visa waiver issued to nationals of selected countries. With this you are allowed to enter New Zealand without a visa.
This is valid for a 2 year period and allows multiple entries. The NZeTA has an easy application process which can be done online without the need of having to visit the embassy.
Not every country has this privilege but if you are a UAE resident, it is possible to travel to New Zealand visa free. All you have to do is apply for a NZeTA beforehand and it will be available in a couple of days.
If you are a passport holder from regions like the EU, USA and UK, Israel and Singapore you are also on the visa waiver list which consists of 61 countries.
First let's get an understanding of what your status means.
If something is shown as pending, it generally means it has been received and ready to be processed.While approved shows that the application was a success.
However, if you have applied through Arooha, you do not have to worry about a thing as you can always ask your visa consultant for information on your status.
If you are an independent applicant this is how you can check online.
If you know the visa you have applied for, click the 'Apply Online' button on the New Zealand immigration website to log in to your account.
By using your RealMe account to log into Immigration Online, you may see the status of your application. Go to the 'Submitted applications' section on the 'My Visas' tab and look at the 'Status' column. By clicking on the 'see application progress' link, you can also see more information about how your application is progressing.
Let's get an overview of how NZ immigration makes their decisions on each applicant.
First they will thoroughly check your application to see if it is fully complete with no Inconsistencies and then supporting documents. The immigration officers want to be sure you have sent everything needed for them to make a decision.
The time taken will greatly depend on the visa type, circumstances and information given. Inconsistencies and incomplete applications can make the waiting period for approval longer but if everything is in order a decision can be made sooner so it reduces the processing time.
Now that you have an understanding on how the immigration makes their decisions let's take a deep dive into what the application status for each stage means.
Submitted: The system has received your application and will begin processing it.
Preparing application: It has been entered into the system and the details you have supplied are being confirmed.
The immigration authorities will examine the documents you have submitted and verify your identity. They might contact you or your agency to request additional information or documents.
For those that have directly applied online, your status will be updated on your account to tell you what documentation is needed.
Until the required documentation is received, reviewed, and entered into the system, this will be the situation. Do not anticipate receiving updates right away after submitting; this may take some time.
If you are an independent applicant with an online account this is what you can see for any missing documents.
Waiting to provide travel documentation: This typically means the travel documentation to support your application has not been submitted.
It is crucial to remember that because there are many different processing methods, a temporary mechanism has been put in place wherein applicants for temporary visas are simply asked to submit high-quality scans of their passports rather than their actual passports when asked to do so. Even if a physical passport is not needed in this instance, the status will still say "Waiting on you to provide travel documentation.”
Awaiting supporting partner: This indicates that your supportive partner must provide the immigration officers with their completed sponsorship paperwork.
Awaiting your sponsor: Your sponsor must provide their filled-out sponsorship form.
Let's move on to the other types of statuses you can expect.
Gathering information: Your application information and supporting materials are nearly prepared for review. If necessary, the consular will discuss your application with the health team and other organizations to verify your information. You might be contacted for a medical checkup at this point if they require any medical information.
Waiting on your medicals: If this status is shown, you must undergo a medical evaluation.
This will still be displayed until the immigration officers have received your information, checked and confirmed it has been entered into the system.If your status does not change after you submit your documents, don't panic, this may take some time.
Under assessment: The application and all the documents are ready to be evaluated, therefore, the decision making process is currently underway on whether to approve your visa or not.
You application will be reviewed, however it may take some time. The number of applications that have been received and are being evaluated determines how long it takes to assess applications.
Even during this stage, if needed, you will be contacted for more info.
Requires further information: This indicates that further details from you are required before any judgments regarding your application are made. For those with online access, a letter in your dashboard will outline what is needed.
Until a response is received and it is confirmed that no additional information is required, this status will remain visible. If it does not change after you submit your documents don't worry as it might take a while.
Approved / Declined: This will appear once the visa process is complete, to indicate the fate of your application.
If your country is not on the list of the visa waiver program, a typical New Zealand visa applied from Dubai can take 25 to 40 days or even longer depending on the type and submitted documents they have to verify.
However if you are a UAE national applying for an NZeTA, regardless of the processing type you chose, the maximum time taken is around 3 days.
Moreover, the type you chose also determines the cost as a quick processing time is more costly than the standard one. Let's move on to the options you can choose from.
If you are in a hurry or urgently need a New Zealand visa, the best pick is the Super rush processing categories. You will have your NZeTA in just 6 hours with enough time to spare to catch a quick flight.
The Rush process is also fast with your application being processed within 24 hours. Lastly, for those who can wait a little bit longer and don't want to spend extra for processing fees, the Standard option will take up to 3 days. Overall, the NZeTA processing time is still faster than a prepaid visitor visa
In summary, if you have applied through Arooha, you do not need to waste time going to the immigration webpage to figure out your application status.
All you have to do is contact us and our visa consultants will be happy to give you more information about your New Zealand visa and the processing time.
Regardless of how you have applied for your visa, hopefully you now have a good understanding on what your status means and the timing you can expect to receive the approval.
