Afghan woman not in priority group: Faafoi

WELLINGTON: Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi says an Afghan woman at risk from the Taliban can apply again for a visa, though she is not in a priority group.

The woman was close to getting a refugee family support visa in 2019 but was blocked due to Immigration Department delays.

Afghan authorities have held her passport for three years, so she cannot leave the country, even though they stopped issuing such visas due to Covid early last year.

Minister Kris Faafoi said she was welcome to apply again on humanitarian grounds, which she tried and failed in August.

‘‘But as I said, we’ve prioritised those who had some kind of connection to working with agencies,’’ he said.

‘‘And in the last two or three weeks again we’ve also said we are looking at other ways we might be able to increase our support.’’

The woman is not linked to any New Zealand agency, but has family here settled under the refugee scheme.

People with links to the likes of the New Zealand Defence Force are receiving priority.

Mr Faafoi said he had already approved 1300 visas, and brought close to 500 people back since the Taliban swept to power in August.

But for others ‘‘there are delays’’.

‘‘‘Obviously the border settings have meant that we haven’t been able to process any of those types of ... refugee family support category.’’

Community Law lawyers are taking Immigration to court for refusing to issue these visas.

As for officials holding on to someone’s passport, this was ‘‘pretty standard’’, so that it was on hand to stamp a visa in, Mr Faafoi said.

He understood the woman had asked for her passport back, something Immigration said it was arranging.

But her lawyer and her family in New Zealand said they had not asked for it back while there might still be a chance of getting a visa for her.

Mr Faafoi said, in a statement, 70 individuals had left Afghanistan whom New Zealand officials were helping in the next stage of their travel.

A special representative to the Middle East is arranging support for New Zealand citizens, permanent residents and other visa holders wanting to leave Afghanistan.

Mr Faafoi will head to Doha this week to lead discussions with the Qatari Government on further assistance.

The Government was aware of about 900 visa holders still in Afghanistan eligible to come to New Zealand.

‘‘Assisting them remains complex and challenging,’’ he said. — RNZ