The Consul-General of Samoa in Auckland has clarified his office and the Samoa Government has no powers over the approval of visas for Samoans to visit New Zealand.

In an interview with Radio Samoa on their Breakfast show, Afemata Palusalue Faapo Lemalu emphasised that the only role his office plays when it comes to Samoans' visa applications to visit New Zealand is to provide support letters. 

"The only thing that should be clarified to the country is we (Office of the Consulate-General) don't have the power to maneuver some ways to easily grant a visa as this is the role of the New Zealand government which Samoa does not intervene in," he said. "The only thing we can do is provide a support letter and this is what the office is trying to push for.

"I call upon those who are trying to sponsor visas to have a look at the list on the form of things required to be provided and things needed for the sponsor to make it easier for them and the New Zealand immigration."

Afemata also made a comparison of the difference between the immigration application process before, when immigration officers in New Zealand would have to face the applicant in person, whereas today everything is done online.

The Consul-General also repeatedly emphasised that the only way to be granted a visiting visa quickly is to make sure all immigration requirements are met.

Earlier this month Samoa's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Leatinu'u Wayne So'oialo again criticised New Zealand's visa application process for Samoans keen on visiting family in Aotearoa.

He said that a review of a new draft policy on the New Zealand-run Recognised Seasonal Employment (R.S.E.) scheme also raised questions about the fairness in the visa application process for ordinary Samoans planning to visit Aotearoa. 

He said there is a big difference in the processing times for the R.S.E. working visas for Samoans joining the seasonal work program in New Zealand compared to those applying for the visitors' visas to travel to Aotearoa.

The Samoa Government's review of the R.S.E. scheme provided an opportunity for the local authorities to review other forms of visas including the visitor visa category, according to the Samoan Minister. 

"Another thing our policy is trying to address is there are only two days of wait for an R.S.E. working visa but for a visitor's visa, it takes two months so how fair is that?" Leatinu'u said. "This is because they issue their visa under their program because they need it.

"But when your mother or father applies for a visa to visit relatives or go to a funeral, they'll have to wait for two months and it's up to the New Zealand Immigration if it's granted or not so why is it that this visa (R.S.E.) is easily granted and this visa (visitor's visa) is delayed and it goes to Australia as well and so these are the issues that the policy is trying to address."