New Zealand immigration suspends processing of overseas students’ applications

New Zealand, 13th August: New Zealand immigration has issued suspension orders for processing applications of foreign students wanting to study at Auckland institute.

This has been done after an immigration fraud concerning the institute came to the knowledge of New Zealand immigration authorities.

As per officials, two men alleged to be involved in the immigration fraud have been taken into custody by the police.

The arrests were made after two students who were seeking admission in Kingsland Institute in Auckland complained against the two men alleging their involvement in immigration scam.

Out of the two involved in the immigration fraud, one happens to be manager at this institute which offers study courses in English, business, cookery and IT. The other person arrested on charges of immigration fraud is a registered immigration advisor.

After the alleged New Zealand immigration scam, the immigration officials are making reviews of the New Zealand student visa applications already approved by them.

As per the Immigration Act 1987, Chheogyal Jah Om Sandyang Lepcha, the immigration advisor involved in Auckland’s Kingsland Institute, is facing two charges.

The manager at Auckland institute, Donald Han faces three charges for giving misleading and wrong information under the Immigration Act 1987 while two charges under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 since he gave advice regarding immigration without being authorized to do so. This was revealed by officials of New Zealand immigration department.

The two arrested have been remanded to police custody till August 17.

Reacting to the recent incident of immigration fraud at Kingsland Institute in Auckland, Niger Bickle, Head of Immigration, said that although it is not clear at this point of time whether the issue involves the two people already in custody or more, however, the department needs to investigate the matter to maintain the integrity of New Zealand immigration system.

Meanwhile, foreign students whose applications have been halted by New Zealand immigration department are being asked to seek admission at another institute in New Zealand in order to get their applications processed.

The incident has put a big question mark on the future of hundreds of foreign students on New Zealand student visas since they already have spent huge sums as fees for studying in New Zealand.