Families deserve certainty on Parent Resident Visas

Over recent months I have heard from many families who have lived and worked in New Zealand for years, contributed to the economy, and met every requirement to sponsor their parents’ immigration, yet remain stuck in an uncertain ballot. For many in our Indian community and other migrant communities, this is not an abstract policy issue. It is deeply personal. That’s why I have written to the Minister for Immigration calling for the Parent Resident Visa selection process to be reviewed.
Under the current system, sponsors first submit an expression of interest, which is then entered into a ballot. Only those randomly selected can move forward. In practice, this means families who applied years ago can still miss out draw after draw, with no clear sense of when their turn might come.
I regularly hear from people who have built successful lives in New Zealand – working hard, paying taxes, and putting down roots – but who remain unable to give their parents any certainty about the future. Many are trying to plan around ageing parents, health needs, and long-term care arrangements. The randomness of the current system makes that planning extremely difficult.
To be clear, this is not about increasing the number of parent resident visas. Residence planning levels and caps must be managed carefully to ensure the immigration system remains sustainable. The issue I am raising is about fairness and transparency in how the available places are allocated.
A ballot is random by design. It allows someone who applied recently to be selected ahead of a family that has already been waiting for years, even when both meet the same criteria. For families who have followed every rule and met every threshold, that can feel discouraging and arbitrary.
I believe Immigration New Zealand should consider moving to a queue-based system, where applications are processed in the order they are submitted while keeping the existing cap in place. This would not increase the number of visas granted each year, but it would give families much-sought-after predictability.
Knowing that your place in line reflects the time you have already waited would allow families to plan with greater confidence. It would also strengthen trust in the system by making the process more transparent and easier to understand.
I have also heard ongoing concerns about the two-year expiry of expressions of interest. In some cases, families must reapply and pay further fees simply to remain in contention. For people who have already waited patiently for years, this can add to the sense of uncertainty and frustration.
Family reunification is deeply important to many migrant families, including within New Zealand’s vibrant Indian community. Parents often play a central role in family life: supporting childcare, strengthening cultural connections, and providing emotional support across generations.
New Zealand benefits enormously from migrants who choose to build their futures here. When people work hard, contribute to their communities, and follow the rules, they deserve an immigration system that is clear, fair, and predictable in return.
I will continue advocating for practical improvements to the Parent Resident Visa process so that waiting families are treated fairly and can plan their futures with confidence. -Dr Parmjeet Parmar, ACT Party Member of Parliament.