NZ migration agents held in illegal rubber-stamping

New Zealand migration agents have been held in a scam involving illegal rubber stamping for bulk applications made by unlicensed overseas advisers. More than ten agents that include even a former migration officer have been reprimanded by the disciplinary panel. The panel said that it had several complaints regarding the illegal practice by migration agents.

Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal termed the illegal practice by migration agents as one of the worst so far. The ex- Immigration New Zealand officer Howard Levarko set up the operation for rubber stamping. This was along with a Canadian recruitment company, as quoted by the Radionz Co NZ.

Levarko signed for the visa applications of the company as a licensed adviser. However, he was fixed when he spoke lie to one of the aspiring immigrants regarding the case details. The immigrant was Andrej Stanimirovic.

IACDT said that the lie was aimed at deceiving the immigrant. It was also to fabricate that the immigration case was being dealt by Levarko. On the other hand, the fact was that the migration agent had no idea at all regarding the same. The tribunal said that the behavior was misleading and dishonest. It added that criminal offense has been committed by Levarko through the illegal rubber stamping.

Stanimirovic finally arrived in New Zealand through a Visitor Visa. He was held up by the officials at the border as they suspected that he arrived for searching a job and was not a tourist.

The tribunal said that Stanimirovic had the option of making an informed choice of arriving in New Zealand. This is very well outlined in the 2014 Code and the provisions of the necessary migration services.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to New Zealand, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.