So, what are the IAA doing to protect migrants?
Not a lot funnily enough. In their February newsletter there is no mention of the number of complaints they are dealing with and what they are doing about it. In fact the whole newsletter is about the “Marketing Message” the IAA are using to promote its members.
Thats actually not what they are there for – as I am reminded by the Minister for Immigration.
It also seems that, as it now renewal time for licensed members, that some of them can’t even get their own applications correct. Which begs the question: how can you be sure that these people will not screw up your application.
So, how many Immigration Agents are now licensed?
At the start of the newsletter it says:
There are currently 352 licensed immigration advisers. Of these, 269 advisers are based in New Zealand and 83 are offshore advisers.
At the bottom of the News letter, we find out that only 296 of those 352 people have full licenses. I think we are supposed to ignore that fact and focus on 352!
As at 27 January 2010, there were:
296 full licence holders
29 limited licence holders
27 provisional licence holders
26 initial applications in progress
31 renewal applications in progress
Nine people have been refused a licence
Funny, there were supposed to be 1000 licensed advisers by April 2009. Think they’ve cocked up a bit there. One of the reasons for this is that the IAA is supposed to be self funding. The point of this was that the fees from the Licensed Agents ($2000 a year) is supposed to cover the cost of running the IAA, so it wouldn’t use Tax Payer funds. Hmmm – I foresee a bit of a shortfall there.
I also looked at the latest Reference Group Minutes. This is something else that concerns me: the reference group is made up solely if Immigration agents – and yet the IAA is supposed to be independent. It is NOT supposed to be the mouthpiece of the Agents – it’s supposed to protect Migrants.
One of the things these agents want to do is get the IAA to work on their behalf to get the preferential treatment with Immigration New Zealand:
- The group stressed that the main message, that advisers improve INZ efficiency is not yet realised at branch level. Advisers want more from INZ – including feedback on the issues they raise and preferential treatment. Preferential treatment is already given in other schemes such as with DHBs and universities. INZ needs to support licensing (IAA to follow up)
- INZ should create an adviser relationship manager (IAA to follow up)
- One member suggested that INZ fees should be decreased for licensed advisers in light of the efficiency gains they create (IAA to follow up)
Now this tells me two things:
Firstly – the IAA and its members know full well that Agents are lying to immigrants when they calim they already get preferential treatment at INZ and that their application get dealt with quicker.
Secondly, no matter what they claim, INZ is NOT working at the behest of Immigration Agents – and I personally hope it stays that way. Your ability to immigrate to New Zealand should be based on merit, not on who fills in your form. What these agents are asking for is against every policy that Immigration New Zealand and the New Zealand government has created. Talk about corruption!
One way or another – the IAA is not working in YOUR interests.
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Related posts:
- Does the IAA have INZ in it’s pocket?
- Either Licensed Immigration agents are lying – or INZ are corrupt.
- At what point has the IAA failed?
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