1 September 2008

Leaders of the Chinese community in New Zealand are being asked to ensure their people know of new immigration licensing laws which will have a major impact on their migrant community.

As from 4 May 2009, anyone using an immigration adviser for visa or residency applications to Immigration New Zealand, or seeking any specialist immigration advice, will have to use a Licensed Immigration Adviser.

The Chinese community is the second largest ethnic group to migrate to New Zealand in the past decade and, as such, one of the most exposed ethnic groups to the new adviser licensing requirement.

Immigration New Zealand says 5846 Chinese were granted permanent residence in New Zealand in 2006/07 making China the second biggest migrant ethnicity coming to New Zealand for that year – as it has been in recent years.

The Registrar of Licensed Immigration Advisers, Barry Smedts, says it’s important for the Chinese community to know that they need to use a Licensed Immigration Adviser if they are seeking professional immigration advice.

“This could leave members of the Chinese community in difficulty in having visas extended or having their relatives enter New Zealand if they are not dealing with a licensed immigration adviser after 4 May next year”.

Mr Smedts says it’s important for anyone dealing with an adviser now, to ask if they will be licensed by 4 May 2009 – and that message needs to be communicated by leaders of the Chinese community throughout New Zealand.

He says it is fortunate that three members the Chinese community specialising in immigration have become licensed.

“In fact, our very first licensee was Chinese and we have since had two other Chinese become licensed,” says Mr Smedts.

Tony Tse of A & P Investments, who was the first Licensed Immigration Adviser in New Zealand, is encouraging other Chinese advisers to become licensed.

“It is an excellent move by the Government to regulate the industry and to have some control over the standard of immigration advice by having licensed advisers,” he says.

“There have been too many instances of ‘cowboys’ ripping people off and getting away with it over the years. If people use a Licensed Immigration Adviser they will be getting a certain professional level of information and advice.”

The Immigration Advisers Authority has a register of Licensed Immigration Advisers on its website www.iaa.govt.nz.