A few days ago, I received an email from Immigration New Zealand inviting me to complete a “customer experience survey” for the chance to win $100 NZD.
Yes, really. I thought it was as weird as you probably do, but it’s legit. There’s a brief page about it on INZ’s website explaining that they arbitrarily choose a selection of applicants and invite them to share their feedback. The email said that the survey was conducted by a “third party independent research company” called Gravitas OPG Limited, and assured me that Pfffft, of course none of my responses would make their way back to them, Immigration NZ, the ones who are currently in the process of determining if I should be granted a Resident Visa that would allow me to continue to live and work in their country.
It seems like…not the right time to be asking me to give honest feedback.
After I have completed the process and gotten all the visas I need? Giiiirl, hit me up and I’ll spill the tea. ☕️💅🏻
But during the visa process? Like, as someone is actively reviewing my application for residency, and then my survey comes in to Immigration NZ “third party independent research company Gravitas OPG Limited,” and there’s a company-wide email sent around asking whomever has been assigned to Hilary Emerson Lay’s case to please report to their supervisor’s office immediately?
As they say here in New Zealand: Yeah, nah.
And it’s not anonymous, since you have to enter your name and contact details to be eligible to win the $100 NZD (which, by the way, is a smidge over 1% of what I will have paid Immigration to complete the entire visa process).
I considered not doing the survey, but then I thought maybe Immigration would see that I hadn’t responded, which would either mean that I’m irresponsible and/or had nasty things to say about them. So I completed the survey, giving them ten out of ten stars across the board. In all honesty, I was mostly truthful in my answers: Yes, I’ve found the process to be fairly straightforward. Yes, I have found the anticipated wait times to be accurate. However, No, (keep this between us), I did not find that the INZ representatives were always helpful, since on a few different occasions while speaking to a few different immigration people I have received a few different answers to what I considered to be pretty straightforward questions, such as “My current visa expires April 1st. When should I submit my next application?” and the answers were “As soon as possible,” “Mid-March is probably the best time,” and “A day or two ahead of time is fine.”
Also, the fact that they dangled $100 NZD–or any prize at all?–as an incentive to take their survey seems weird. Like sure, Verizon, I’ll take your stupid survey in hopes of winning a hundred bucks, but a government agency? If you’re going to dangle any carrot here, how about, I don’t know, full citizenship?
Don’t get me wrong, though: I will gladly take your $100 NZD because you guys are the BEST!!! 😍 (😬)