Immigration scams that involve taking money from migrants in exchange for jobs are repugnant and illegal in this country.
As a leading professional association for immigration specialists, we welcome exposure of such scams and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Such people have no place in our industry. Unfortunately, there will always be a marginal few rotting the system where the stakes are high.
Job offers have become increasingly important for gaining residence.
Only 6% of skilled migrant applicants last year were able to get through the system without a job offer.
For some, buying a job may seem to be the only way. However, the selling of jobs, whilst abhorrent, is not a majority experience.
Most visa applications involve genuine applicants and genuine employers.
Quality checks
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has policies and processes in place to check whether a particular job offer is genuine.
NZAMI supports initiatives to clamp down on exploitation of migrants.
There is a need for tighter controls over advice being given to international students. Currently, offshore education agents are not regulated and can give misleading advice without being accountable.
Some students are encouraged to come to New Zealand to study based on false promises of easy employment leading to easy residence. This creates a situation where students are vulnerable to exploitation whether through selling of jobs or otherwise.
The education agents, meanwhile, clip the ticket on student fees.
The message to migrants is that paying any money in exchange for a job offer is illegal in New Zealand and that includes paying money to cover one’s own salary.
Legally tenable
If the job has been secured illegally, it can lead to the decline of a visa and deportation of the migrant. It is, therefore, extremely important that migrants accept only genuine, legal job offers and work only with reputable professionals.
Among NZAMI members are lawyers and licensed immigration advisers who must uphold professional standards and comply with the Association’s strict Code of Ethics. This Code requires them to uphold the integrity of the New Zealand immigration system and respect the vulnerability of migrants at all times.
Katy Armstrong is a Director of the New Zealand Association for Migration & Investment. For more information about the Association, please call (09) 3608949. Email: secretary@nzami.org.nz; Website: www.nzami.co.nz
