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Migrants warned to avoid unlicensed immigration advisers
24 December 2013
Migrants warned to avoid unlicensed immigration advisers
Unlicensed immigration advisers have similar methods when dealing with migrants, warned the Immigration Advisers Authority.
The Registrar of Immigration Advisers, Barry Smedts, said the Authority had investigated several such advisers in 2013.
Some operated from home like Mt Roskill-based Khadijah Lolohea (also known as Khadijah Piu) who offended against 13 mainly Tongan migrants. Others operated from rented office space like Tengyu (Nick) Yuan who obtained more than $100,000 from migrants after advertising his services in a Chinese newspaper.
Ashneel Nand and Sunita Devi face 42 charges and eight charges respectively after receiving more than $50,000 from migrants.
Mr Smedts said: “What we have learned is that those operating unlawfully tend to use similar methods. They may ask you to sign a blank visa application form or tell you they are on close terms with Immigration New Zealand workers. Whatever you are told, it pays to follow our five tips when choosing an immigration adviser.”
The Authority’s five tips when choosing an immigration adviser
1. Choose someone who is
licensed by the Authority or exempt.
Licensed
advisers are listed on the Authority’s online register at
www.iaa.govt.nz. Exempt people include
New Zealand lawyers who can be found at www.nzls.org.nz.
2. Stay away from
anyone who encourages you to lie on your visa application
form.
Lying to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is a
criminal offence and dishonesty may affect your future visas
or jobs.
3. Avoid anyone who refuses to put their name
on your visa application.
Your visa application form
has a section at the end that must be completed and signed
by any person who has assisted you. Genuine immigration
professionals will always complete this part of the form.
People acting unlawfully will avoid including their name
because Immigration New Zealand will not accept applications
from unlicensed individuals.
4. Do not sign a visa
application form before it has been filled out.
You
should never sign a document you don’t
understand.
5. Be wary of anyone who claims they have
personal contacts at INZ.
Bogus immigration
consultants often make false claims that they work with
personal contacts at INZ.
Mr Smedts warned, even those who mean well such as pastors, teachers or community leaders, frequently put individuals at risk and damage migrants’ chances of legitimately gaining a visa.
He said: “Having good intentions is not the same as giving good immigration advice.”
The Immigration Advisers Authority is a government regulator set up to protect people receiving immigration advice. The Authority forms part of Consumer Protection and Standards within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Unlicensed advisers before
the courts in 2013
| Richard Martin of Richard Martin Immigration Limited North Shore | three charges of
providing immigration advice when neither licensed nor
exempt one charge of receiving a fee or reward for providing immigration advice when neither licensed nor exempt | Charges before the Court |
| Khadijah Lolohea (Khadijah Piu) | nine charges of providing immigration advice without a licence following a widespread immigration scam in the Tongan community | convicted |
| Tengyu Yuan (Nick Yuan) of Noahark Consultant Limited | six charges of providing immigration advice without a licence and one charge of holding out as an immigration adviser after amassing more than $100,000 from six migrants | convicted |
| Hakaoro Hakaoro of Hakaoro Immigration Consultancy | six charges of providing immigration advice without a licence and one charge of holding himself out as an immigration adviser | Charges before the Court |
| Ashneel Nand of Universal Immigration Services (NZ) | 42 charges including
holding himself out as a licensed immigration adviser
knowing he was not licensed, asking for or receiving a fee
for the provision of immigration advice, and providing immigration advice without a licence. | Charges before the Court |
| Sunita Devi of Universal Immigration Services (NZ) | Eight charges including providing immigration advice without a licence and asking for or receiving a fee for the provision of immigration advice. | Charges before the Court |
The Immigration Advisers Authority
was set up to protect people receiving New Zealand
immigration advice.
It does this by:
• issuing licences to people who are fit and
competent to give immigration advice
• maintaining competency standards and a code of conduct for immigration
advisers
• receiving complaints against licensed immigration
advisers
• investigating people giving immigration
advice without a licence or exemption.
Under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 anyone giving immigration advice must have a licence unless they are exempt. Exempt people include lawyers with a current New Zealand practising certificate and Citizens Advice Bureaux staff among others.
The Authority is independent of Immigration New Zealand and cannot give immigration advice or influence a visa application. Watch a video about us to find out more.
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