[topcat83]

Even immigration agents need to be checked out!

From the New Zealand Herald...

'An Auckland immigration adviser's actions have been labelled "disgraceful" by the industry's watchdog after he reportedly conned a vulnerable woman out of $3000 and made disparaging comments about people based on their ethnicity.'

Immigration adviser's 'disgraceful' actions - National - NZ Herald News

 

[biancatallis]

Thanks for sharing nice information here. We need to check out about immigration agents. Meet them after all investigation and then apply.

clap2::clap2:

 

[Song_Si]

This man Hakaoro was a licensed Immigration Adviser (now cancelled 2 yrs) which makes it worse, I think, and a pity he wasn't banned permanently.

The Immigration Advisers Authority offers advice and guidelines, as well as a search function to ensure an Adviser is in fact licensed.

There's a simple checklist of items to consider before signing with an adviser - here

There's also a list of median/average fees from June 2011 - May 2012 as a general guideline for costs involved: Cost of an adviser

 

[Song_Si]

Immigration adviser stripped of licence

another one in today's news; disappointing - but at least they are prosecuting.

Immigration adviser stripped of licence

An immigration adviser has been stripped of her licence and ordered to pay more than $20,000 after what amounted to "systematic exploitation of a vulnerable migrant".

The Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal upheld complaints that Marion Chase-Seymour had dishonestly charged a client excessive fees and asked her to work without pay.

But the Tauranga-based adviser is defending her actions and insists: "I have done nothing wrong."
_________

The woman initially paid Chase-Seymour $2500 and was dishonestly charged an additional $4000. When the adviser demanded a further $3000 for a financial analysis of her own practice, the woman refused.

The tribunal found Chase-Seymour's conduct "amounted to systematic exploitation of a vulnerable migrant" and ordered her to pay $15,331 in compensation and refunds, and a $5000 penalty.

Chase-Seymour voluntarily surrendered her licence on June 26 and the tribunal cancelled her licence for two years, effective July 12.

Her former clients are advised to deal directly with Immigration New Zealand or find another licensed immigration adviser or exempt person.
_________

The complaint is the third to be upheld against Chase-Seymour. The other two were upheld on the grounds of failure to provide appropriate and professional immigration advice, proceeding with an application that could not succeed, and failure to provide a written agreement.

full article NZ Herald