Even though they have plenty of family, the actual family sponsorship system is much like the lottery. There are only 250 spaces available per year for worldwide applications, so chances of getting selected can be pretty slim on times.

It could be many years before they get picked, and then it takes up to 12 months to be assigned a case officer.. after that, up to another 12 months for the application to be processed.

The family category does still exist, but was on a temporary hold (and may still be) due to the volume of other applications the NZIS had to handle.

Fisheress, if your brother is going to sponsor your parents, he may as well put the application in right now! There is only a draw once every year, so chances of them being selected is pretty remote until at least 2006.