AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

New Zealand Immigration: Pre-Purchased English Courses Extended

Wednesday, 9 April 2008

As from the 31st of March 2008, New Zealand Immigration has allowed an extension on the timeframe which in migrants have to take their English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition to five years.

Generally, migrants who were required to take ESOL training were secondary applicants under the Skilled Migrant Category, such as the spouse or other dependent.

As a condition for acceptance of their application, New Zealand immigration authorities were requiring these applicants to pre-purchase English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) tuition.

Before 31 March 2008, the pre-paid tuition allowed these migrants to take their ESOL courses anytime during the initial 3.5 years since they’ve entered the country.

This period of entitlement to receive ESOL training has now been extended to five years.

In addition to this, some applicants who have already pre-purchased ESOL courses under the previous rules have also had their period of entitlement for English language training extended to five years.

This includes immigrants who have paid for their tuition within the last three years from inside New Zealand, as well as those who have paid for their tuition within the last 3.5 years from outside the country.

If you are interested in working and living in New Zealand, find out which visa you qualify for by contacting us and speaking to one of our migration consultants.