Interviews for New Zealand Visas
What exactly is an interview?
An interview is essentially a well-structured conversation in which one participant, the interviewer, asks questions and the other, the interviewee, responds.
What exactly is a visa interview?
An immigration officer (representative of the country you want to visit) conducts a visa interview to determine whether the information you provided in support of your New Zealand visa application is correct and if your intentions are genuine, i.e., if you are a genuine applicant with a genuine intent to travel.
It is a difficult process to apply for a visa. To achieve a positive outcome and avoid disappointment, the appropriate information must be provided. Analysing the provided information is similar to putting together a jigsaw puzzle. There are frequently gaps in the information provided, or the information provided raises more questions than it answers. In such cases, an immigration officer may conduct an interview with the applicant to determine the credibility of the information provided and to gather additional information.
New Zealand Student visa interviews typically focus on academic qualifications, course and institute selection, financial availability, and future plans. Partnership-based New Zealand visa (i.e. Spousal visa) interviews include questions about relationship issues to determine whether the relationship is genuine and stable. Interviews for New Zealand Visitor Visas typically focus on the purpose of the visitor’s visit as well as their commitments in their home country.
How do Interviews for New Zealand Visas take place?
Interviews are crucial in the decision-making process. They can be conducted face-to-face in person, via video call, or over the phone. Telephone interviews are typically quick, making them the preferred method of interviewing by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
Telephone interviews are typically unplanned, and an applicant may receive a call from a visa officer at any time. Anyone who has applied for a visa, whether a student, a worker, or a partner, can be interviewed. Imagine you’re at work, out shopping, or waiting at a crowded train station when your phone rings or you’re driving and it’s an interview call for your visa. Answering questions, particularly probing ones, in a hurry or in close proximity to other people can be difficult.
Important points to remember:
1. When you get the call, don’t freak out. A call does not always indicate that something is wrong with your application. It is common for visa officers to speak with the applicant in order to aid in the decision-making process. Try to remain calm.
2. If you are unable to speak (for example, because phone reception is poor, you are not in a quiet place to concentrate on the call, you are ill and thus unable to speak, etc.), inform the interviewer immediately and request a call back at a more convenient time.
3. If you require an interpreter, notify the interviewer as soon as possible. Because not everyone speaks the same language as you, it is perfectly acceptable to seek assistance.
4. It is important to be prepared, but avoid memorising lines and instead try to be spontaneous. The visa interview relies heavily on spontaneity.
5. Give truthful responses. It is acceptable to be nervous and to experience a mental block, but do not lie, i.e. falsify information. Remember that if you are truthful, you have nothing to hide. Withholding important information or providing misleading information can have a negative impact on the outcome of your application. The best policy is to be truthful.
6. Answering questions you don’t understand is a bad idea. Instead, request that the interviewer rephrase the question.
7. Keep your responses brief, straightforward, and to the point. Don’t be a squeaky wheel.
Visa officers will record your responses verbatim or by summarising the information you have provided, and in some cases, they will electronically record the interview.
Interviews are frequently a deciding factor in whether or not a case is won or lost. Based on the information you provide, a fair and just decision will be made. As a result, it is critical to keep the aforementioned considerations in mind when giving an interview.
Please contact us if you want to learn more about New Zealand Immigration interviews.
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