Recently, Immigration New Zealand said that it is currently at the peak of student visa applications. With a 20% increase in student visa applications compared to the peak in 2022 and 2023, student visa applications are expected to be higher between February and March 2024 as students already in New Zealand apply for a second visa or renewal.
To address this issue, USCIS has increased the number of staff processing these applications and provided them with more efficient assessment tools and letter templates, improving the decision-making process for student visa applications, resulting in a clearer and more consistent decision-making communication process. This means that USCIS can process student visa applications faster and let applicants know the outcome of their application sooner.
USCIS also said that the higher number of applications being processed has been accompanied by an increase in applications that require longer processing times due to complex circumstances. To ensure that international students receive their visas in a timely manner, it is important to provide all the necessary information when applying.
The Department of Immigration regularly updates the Student Visa Information Form on its ** to provide information that supports international student visa applications.
International student visa processing time
The processing time for a student visa varies depending on the type of educational institution, based on applications in January 2024, the processing times are as follows:
Public Polytechnics – 80% 11 weeks.
Private institutions – 80% 11 weeks.
National University – 80% 8 weeks.
School – 80% 6 weeks.
The USCIS reminds that international students should at least before planning to enter the country8 weeksApply for a student visa; It is recommended before planning to enter the country4 monthsApplication.