Immigration Authority (IAA) looks into passport scam

Gerard Otimi’s passport and visa activities looks set to run foul of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act and he may risk prosecution for giving unlicensed immigration advice.

Mr Otimi is currently under investigation for selling fake passports and visas to overstayers from the Pacific Islands.

“These activities may involve his giving immigration advice without being a licensed immigration adviser. It all depends on the evidence gathered by the Police. If there is evidence, we’ll certainly be taking a good hard look at it,” says, Barry Smedts, registrar, Immigration Advisers Authority.

To give immigration advice in New Zealand, you have to be licensed by the Immigration Advisers Authority. Advisers operating without a licence can be prosecuted and depending on the severity of the offence can incur fines of up to $100,000 and/ or seven years imprisonment.

“Migrants are a vulnerable community and we are here to protect them from this sort of exploitation. Otimi’s passport activities appear to be in breach of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act. We are cooperating with the police who are leading the investigation,” says Mr Smedts.

Immigration licensing became mandatory for New Zealand-based advisers on 4 May this year. It becomes mandatory for offshore advisers providing New Zealand immigration advice from 4 May 2010. From that date Immigration New Zealand will not accept applications lodged by unlicensed advisers.

New Zealand is the first country to extend its licensing regime offshore and Mr Smedts says this will help migrants in markets like China and India. “Migrants in markets like these are particularly vulnerable and the extension of licensing offshore will help cut out the shonky operators at source,” says Mr Smedts.

Licensed advisers are required to meet stringent competency standards, participate in continuing professional development programmes and comply with a rigorous code of conduct.

(Source IAA)