Either Licensed Immigration agents are lying – or INZ are corrupt.

January 12, 2010 by
Filed under: Immigration Advisers, NZIS & Immigration issues 

In the past two weeks I have seen forum posts and heard from immigrants that they are being told by “Licensed” immigration agents that using their services will result in their application being dealt with quicker.

The INZ Website on the other hand clearly states:

About dealing with Immigration New Zealand

Whatever category or policy you are applying under, your application will be treated fairly and equally, and we will process your application as quickly as we can.

Asking someone to help with your application

We treat all applications equally – whether you apply yourself or through an agent or representative.

So, who is lying through their back teeth?

Oddly enough – although these wonderful Immigration Agents are supposed to follow a code of conduct – nowhere does the code specifically prohibit them from claiming an advantage over applications not being processed via an agent. I guess the people in charge think that no agent would ever lie to a potential client! The nearest the Code Of Conduct gets is the following:

5. Misrepresentation

5.1 Advisers

A licensed immigration adviser must not, in a false, fraudulent or deceptive manner, misrepresent or promote:
himself or herself; or
his or her business; or
his or her clients or the clients’ immigration opportunities; or
New Zealand’s immigration requirements.

Now – I’m not supposed to write about this – because it could be construed as giving advice. But that’s the problem with the IALA – if the Licensed advisers are lying, and it’s illegal for anyone who isn’t licensed to do 2 minutes of research to tell people about what is going on – how are Immigrants protected from the liars?

Now I don’t know the truth here. I don’t know if Immigration New Zealand are breaking their own rules and pushing applications to the front of the queue if they come from an agent. I suspect not – because in all the research I’ve done over the years – having an agent involved generally did not protect the migrant or help in any way.

So if you have been fed this line by a Licensed immigration agent – make a complaint to the IAA. Because you are being lied to – and any agent that is trying to get your business by inferring an advantage they don’t have should be struck off.

By the way – this is also the case with Licensed agents who tell you they can guarantee that you will get a Visa or Permit. At the end of the day – only a warranted Immigration Officer can make that call – and Agents cannot guarantee the outcome.

Anyone who does – ask them for it in writing – and see if they will sign a document to that effect – and then send it to the IAA and INZ for comment. Should be interesting.

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Related posts:

  1. Immigration agents still claiming that INZ gives them an advantage.
  2. Why are Licenced Immigration Agents STILL guaranteeing visas?
  3. Does the IAA have INZ in it’s pocket?
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Comments

2 Comments on Either Licensed Immigration agents are lying – or INZ are corrupt.

  1. Hubby on Wed, 13th Jan 2010 10:13 pm

    2. There’s a whole load of FUD that ‘some’ licensed agents put out about this.
    Yes it’s true, if your form is incomplete, not signed, you didn’t include a valid in date Police Certificate, it’ll get kicked back by INZ and take longer.
    However, if you double check your info, ensure everything is valid and up to date – and use the check list on the form – it’s simple.

    Sure it may be handy to have someone fill in the form for you if you are too busy, have messy handwriting (that’s me!) or don’t like forms that much.. It’s not rocket science though.

    Good luck all

  2. Avalon on Thu, 14th Jan 2010 12:10 pm

    3. Also bear in mind that YOU will still have to do all the donkey work of getting all your information together: getting medicals; organising birth cerificates and police certificates. Agents can’t physically go through your paperwork at home and pull out all the documents you need – and that is the time consuming bit.

    And with agents charging typically between $5000 and a whopping $15,000 to represent you – well – just take care out there – OK.

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