Sonny Lam: Queen City Law Immigration Expert on the potential changes to the immigration settings in the India FTA

The Foreign Affairs Minister's claims around our trade deal with India have an immigration expert warning the settings could be more tough than usual. 

Winston Peters let loose accusations last week National was covertly changing immigration settings in bad faith.  

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford now says initial decisions consistent with the FTA have been sent to ministers for feedback. 

Queen City Law's Sonny Lam told Ryan Bridge the proposed restrictions will likely be more extreme than previous examples – like Chinese special policy and Thai chef visas. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Still a bit of confusion this morning about what exactly
is and isn't happening re immigration in the India. FTA
Modi is expected to visit here this month. Winston's been
agitating about it.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
The National Party has just changed its course, no doubt
due to poor poling. Immigration policy settings are being made
more restrictive in a way that which targets India and
India alone.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Now Erica Stanford's office has confirmed there are changes out
for consultation at the moment. Sunny Lamb, immigration expert at
Queen's City Law former immigration officer, joins us this morning say.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Good morning, good morning, are yes good.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Thank you? So what changes are they actually looking at?
Do we know.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
At this stage not exactly sure, nothing is really reviewed
right now, but it does seem like there are going
to be specific restrictions targeted under the FDA with India.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
And is that to do with bringing your husband, your wife,
your kids along with you?

Speaker 3 (00:57):
Well yes, it seems like st On Winston anyway, it
will be restricting the ability to apply for a furtivisa
once you're in New Zealand, and there will be restrictions
on bringing family and also some sort of means testing,
which is a little bit different, but I wouldn't say

(01:18):
completely new.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
How common is it then just place restrictions or to
tag one particular country.

Speaker 3 (01:28):
The question is a matter of extent. Really, we do
have country specific policy, say for example, with Chinese special
policy visas or tai chefs or Japanese tour guides. These

(01:48):
currently do exist and are not well known, but the
proposed restrictions will be more extreme than previous examples. Certainly
having a restriction on a plank for a further visa
once you own New Zealand that's somewhat new, not completely new,

(02:10):
but will be similar to imposing automatic limited visa. Ultimately,
I think it depends on what the restricts are not
going to be.

Speaker 1 (02:20):
And we will find out in due course, I'm sure,
although the government apparently would like us to not know
before Mighty arrived. Sunny Lamb immigration expert Queen Said law
former immigration Offhasy. For more from earlier edition with Ryan Bridge,
Listen live to news Talks.

Speaker 3 (02:34):
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