Malcolm Pacific Immigration CEO and Director David Cooper chats to express about some of the current issues in immigration policy affecting Rainbow communities and the company’s commitment to care.
David Cooper and his team at Malcolm Pacific Immigration have perhaps never been busier.
Malcolm Pacific Immigration CEO and Director David Cooper has been in the immigration business for 40 years, initially spending five years as an immigration officer, before the last 35 with Malcolm Pacific Immigration. “It’s gone fast,” he tells us, “but it’s been a ball.”
David has no plans to slow down anytime soon, he tells us, quoting the old adage, “When you slow down, you die,” with a chuckle.
As gates to New Zealand’s borders have well and truly swung open post-pandemic, many couples are looking to swap long-distance relationships for living together.
“The number applying for visas has exceeded any government forecasts,” David tells us, adding that he expects to see some changes to current partnership visa laws with the number of applications continuing to increase steadily.
Under the current system, people can qualify for partnership visas after just 12 months of living with a Kiwi partner. In the UK, an equivalent visa is only granted after five years, “so there’s a school of thought that 12 months living together probably isn’t enough,” David tells us.
The government has indicated its intentions to change the current arrangement and extend the current waiting period, which will likely come into effect before the election.
The likely changes will follow the introduction of employer accreditation rules. These now require all employers in NZ who intend to bring in foreign nationals to take on local roles to have accreditation status. David calls this the biggest change to immigration policy in
recent years.
Those looking to bring an overseas partner to Aotearoa would be sensible to take legal advice. Malcolm Pacific Immigration has long been the immigration firm of choice for NZ’s LGBTQ+ community, and David believes that the company’s values are at the core of that.
“We care about our clients. We care about the communities we live in, and we care about each other,” David explains.
“Immigration is such a personal journey, and it’s important that people understand that we care about them and helping them succeed on their journey,” he tells us.
David is proud of Malcolm Pacific Immigration’s long history of advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.
Malcolm Pacific Immigration has worked together with the Burnett Foundation Aotearoa (formerly the New Zealand AIDS Foundation) and Body Positive to lobby the Government to remove barriers for HIV+ people wanting to apply for New Zealand visas.
That work led to Immigration NZ removing HIV from the list of medical conditions deemed likely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand’s health services in 2021.
David says that decision took “a lot of lobbying” but, with a smile, reflects that the result was “quite the coup!”
“In 90% of the cases, Malcolm Pacific Immigration could still have gotten the application through [under previous rules], but it was a battle, and that battle no longer needs to be had.”
David recommends that those needing immigration advice shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch with his team at Malcolm Pacific Immigration.
The firm has successfully assisted more than 75,000 people and families with New Zealand visas and immigration advice since it was founded in 1985.
“There is no cost in having an initial talk to us,” he explains.
“In any visa situation, planning is 99% of what is involved to make sure you get a 100% outcome.”
For more information, visit malcolmpacific.com
