[MB]

Just out of interest, anyone know anything about how a case officer's colleague does the 'sanity check' on an application (i.e., the double check to make sure the CO has made the right decision)?

Is it just a glance over? A long look taking hours? Or what?

Maybe it varies.

Cheers,
Matt.

[heimatseeker]

We're in that stage right now and were told that it can take up to 4 weeks for that second check - no idea why. However, the case officer also said that she has never yet had a case where the second person check resulted in the case *not* being approved. So it seems that once your case officer recommends that your application be approved, it's mostly a matter of time to get the final OK. :hopeso

[MB]

Thanks. Yes, I have noticed that no-one here has been pulled up short at the sanity-check stage.
Maybe it does happen (but we haven't heard of any examples) which is why the policy is in place, or it is just a nice (and understandable) 'safety step' for the first CO, or it is a policy that might want reviewing (i.e., if the sanity check rarely or never finds a mistake, why have it?)

Cheers,
Matt.

[veronica]

It may be a result of a few case officers from other parts of the world just putting their family/friends and those who paid through. This I think happened about 18 months or perhaps longer ago. Its also why a time is now taken to check qualifications, apparently a lot of people were putting in certificates they got over the internet through!!!
Unfortunately every time someone breaks the rules in this way they then have to put in more safeguards which costs the rest of the lawabiding public more time and money. (Not to say stress)

[MB]

Think you might have hit the nail (at least largely) on the head there, Veronica.
Another point is that the policy probably helps the NZIS at any appeals stage, 'cos it reinforces the idea of the systematic nature of their decision-making process.

Cheers,
Matt.