In any country you get idiots working in Immigration

June 6, 2010 by
Filed under: NZIS & Immigration issues 

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when i saw Nadene Ghouri’s story come up on my Google news alert this morning. Nadene was born and raised in Britain, and want to bring in her Kiwi husband to live with her there. They married in New Zealand a few months ago, but are planning a church blessing in the UK in a few weeks. Only her husband Sam has been refused a visa to live in the UK. Despite Sam having already lived in the UK for 5 years previously (and – as demanded of all long-suffering legal immigrants everywhere) left the UK when his previous visa expired.

Why, you ask? Is he a Terrorist? A repeat drink driver with a criminal record as long as your arm?  Un-educated?

Nope.  among the reasons given were that they have an overdraft, and are thus likely to try bludging off the state.

‘I am not satisfied that you or your sponsor will be able to maintain you or any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds,’ declared the immigration officer.

She said she’d reached her conclusion because my bank statements show an average overdraft of £1,000 to £2,000 each month. Sam’s accounts also show a small overdraft.

Well, I demand that forthwith – everyone with an overdraft be summarily removed from the shores of Britain – especially anyone in the immigration department (and especially especially anyone working for INZ in the UK who doesn’t have a spotless bank record).

Then theres there blindingly stupid assertion that

‘Given your history of working overseas I am not satisfied you intend to live permanently with your spouse.’

Well, it seems that what the silly bint at immigration failed to grasp was that these two people work in Journalism, and it seems they often travel abroad reporting for such fly-by-night outfits as SkyNews and the BBC. So if they had switched their brains on (assuming they had any) I think its not too far a stretch to realise that while they may both work abroad a lot, their marriage is no more false then that of a pilot, air hostess, soldier or a host of other professions.

I have actually heard of people coming to New Zealand being asked to prove thier relationship was real – despite having been married 40 years. You just cant make it up.

Besides – you cant have it both ways – refuse them because they work for a living at the same time as refusing them for being probable bludgers on the state????

Thankfully Nadene and Sam have lawyered up and are appealing the decision. They have also done what we did, and starting getting letters of support and help off other people who know them and support their decision.

I also hope that the person responsible for this blindingly stupid decision is sacked for being so thick. It offends me immeasurably that people this stupid are given jobs that are so vitally important. These are the people supposed to be protecting our borders from undesirable immigrants – not keeping out a newly married couple who can earn money, pay taxes and make a successful life together.  I hope their lawyer wipes the floor with the UK immigration Department, and the case officer goes and get a less demanding job – flipping burgers for instance.

Id also be tempted to say scratch the UK and come here instead – except you might get just as unlucky and get a case officer just as stupid. It’s still pure luck. Most people get decent case officers, who treat them as people and take time to use a bit of common sense. But without doubt, some of get robots with no ability to make sensible decisions. I guess you are as likely to meet the problem going from New Zealand as you are coming in.

Finally – good on Nadene for using the fact that she is a journalist to highlight this issue. If I was the UK Immigration Department I would be asking  some pointed questions as to why my staff made such a huge balls-up with the case of a BBC / Daily Mail journalist.

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Related posts:

  1. The Auditor General’s Report on Immigration New Zealand is out.
  2. Customs and Immigration – a dodgy mix.
  3. Finally – something goes right for us at Immigration.
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Comments

9 Comments on In any country you get idiots working in Immigration

  1. Hubby on Sun, 6th Jun 2010 7:31 pm

    2. I can find no words to describe how monumentally stupid this brainless moron at UK Immigration must be.
    Oh yes, lets offend someone who works for the Daily Mail, SkyNews & allege that a reporter for the BBC is going to sponge off the state..

    Does drawing a BBC salary now count as sponging?

  2. Aura Lee on Mon, 7th Jun 2010 12:42 am

    3. Hi,

    I am just browsing through the web to look for advice regarding my situation. I was given an LPV when I was still in the Philippines but I originally applied for Student Visa as my course is 1 year Graduate Diploma in Business. Inasmuch as I was declining the LPV, I had no choice but to accept because I was running out of time and school was about to start. I have checked all things even NZIS’s operation manual that I have passed all requirements for Student Visa and must be given what I paid for. The VO took time to reply to my reasons on why I am declining the LPV in the first place and still offered me the LPV.

    In this regard, can I make a complain or can contest the VO’s decision? The LPV is gonna make me spend a lot if I don’t have a Student Visa.

    Thanks,
    Aura

  3. Sophie on Mon, 7th Jun 2010 4:36 am

    4. Mad. We applied for hubby’s UK visa in 2004, also shortly after our marriage in NZ. We planned to support ourselves by working for my family’s small business and had a letter from my dad, the managing director. Of all the things they could have latched onto (like a minor road rage conviction in 2003 and next to no savings at all), that was what nearly turned the decision into a “no”.

    Thankfully his visa was granted and we have been living here ever since. And are moving to NZ this year. If the numpties give *me* a visa.

  4. Sophie on Mon, 7th Jun 2010 4:41 am

    5. Oh, and our NZ marriage certificate still has JAYDE scribbled across the back in green crayon, courtesy of hubby’s then-5 year old niece (who wanted be a witness, just like my gran and his dad).

    It will be displayed at her 18th… and possibly her own wedding :)

  5. Avalon on Thu, 10th Jun 2010 6:55 pm

    6. Aura,

    Firstly – my apologies for the length of time it took to reply – I am having a lot of problems getting into WordPress this week.

    Unfortunately – I am not allowed to help you, as the Immigration Advisors Licensing Act makes it illegal for me to give you any information or advice, except to suggest a Licensed Advisor for you, and I wont do that.

    What I am allowed to suggest – and think is preferable to using a paid agent – is to have a chat with Citizens Advice Bureau if you are in New Zealand.
    http://www.cab.org.nz/

    There services are free, independent, and they can put you in touch with a lawyer if you need one.

    I am really sorry I cannot be of more help :(

  6. nadene on Tue, 6th Jul 2010 4:24 am

    7. Hello

    Thanks for the note of support. And good news for us. We did indeed get them to over-turn the decision in what our lawyer said was a complete U turn.
    Sam got back to the UK in the nick of time and 5 days before our wedding blessing.

    We’ve since learned things like an overdraft are ‘standard’ procedures to decline people. But for goodness sake whatever happened to things like critical analysis based on a person’s individual circumstance?
    We were lucky because I was able to highlight the case. Since I wrote the article I have had around a dozen letters from people in similar situations to ourselves. so clearly this is a big problem. I’ll write a follow up story if I can find enough different cases to base it on.

    Best regards
    Nadene

  7. Avalon on Tue, 6th Jul 2010 10:28 am

    8. Wow – thank you so much for popping in to comment Nadene :) I am thrilled that Sam made it in time and you get to be together again.

    How on earth can an overdraft be a standard reason to decline? The mind truly boggles.

    I think the reason for lack of critical analysis comes down to the people being given jobs in Immigration. We wrote a blog on the skills needed to be a Visa Officer in Immigration New Zealand:
    http://www.avalonsguide.com/anab/2009/08/do-you-have-the-skills-to-be-an-nzis-customer-service-officer/

    It’s quite a read :)

    Well done :)

  8. Paola Brett on Mon, 12th Jul 2010 1:59 pm

    9. Hi,
    Have you seen this article? Interesting!! http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10658182

  9. Avalon on Thu, 15th Jul 2010 2:42 pm

    10. Cheers Paola – blogged :)

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