Section 72 — Immigration Act 2009: Decisions on applications for residence class visa

72 Decisions on applications for residence class visa (1) Where the Minister or an immigration officer makes any decision in relation to an application for a residence class visa, that decision must be made in terms of the residence instructions applicable at the time the application was made and any discretion exercised must be in terms of those instructions. (2) No application for a residence class visa that is received by an immigration officer may be referred to the Minister for decision at first instance, unless the Minister gives a special direction to that effect. (3) Nothing in this section prevents the Minister, in his or her absolute discretion, from making any decision to grant a residence class visa as an exception to residence instructions in any particular case. Compare: 1987 No 74 ss 13C , 17A(2)