• If you are looking for a specific decision with a forward slash in the title (eg, 123/2014), you will need to replace the forward slash with a space (eg, 123 2014), as the website cannot pick up on forward slashes (/) or any other characters.
  • If you are doing a keyword search (eg, sanction), please note that this search will only produce decisions where the keyword appears in the title or decision description. If you want to search the entire decision document for certain keywords, you will need to use full website search located in the top right hand corner of this page.

  • If you want to search for a specific section of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 or clause of the Code of Conduct 2014, you must search it as one word with no spaces or brackets. For example, if searching for section 44(2)(a) of the Act, you should enter ‘s442a’ into the keyword search and if searching for clause 19(k) of the Code of Conduct, you should enter ‘cl19k’.

If you want to search for a decision from a particular jurisdiction using the full website search, put both the jurisdiction name and the keyword in the search field (eg, Immigration Advisors Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal sanction).

Search results

798 items matching your search terms

  1. INZ (Calder) v Tian [2019] NZIACDT 48 (19 July 2019) [PDF, 387 KB]

    Breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 / lack of professionalism / refusal to provide English language (IELTS) certificates to INZ / residence visas declined / adviser believed IELTS certificates not necessary because clients met skilled migrant pathway / adviser made serious allegations against named INZ officers / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl3c, cl 10b,  and cl26e / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442, s50, s51 and s57 / immigration officers entitled to insist on IELTS certificates / reasons for requiring certificates compelling / clients did not meet skilled migrant pathway / adviser failed to assess and apply instructions with due care and professionalism / adviser misunderstood criteria where it was clear standard not met / correspondence amounted to unjustified personal attacks on named officers / complaint upheld
  2. INZ (Calder) v Ji [2019] NZIACDT 50 (19 July 2019) [PDF, 246 KB]

    Rubber stamping / breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 / permitting unlicensed staff to engage with client / filing false documents / false or misleading declaration on applications / work and residence visa applications / adviser signed applications stating he assisted and provided immigration advice / immigration advice provided through company / company contracted partner company to communicate with clients and obtain documents / company filed false information / visas declined / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl2e, cl3c, cl 18a, cl31a / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442, s50 and s51 / no direct contact with clients / failure to obtain instructions / work of staff beyond clerical work / adviser not required to be party to client agreement or sign it / documents supplied false / adviser not professional or diligent / recording information on client’s form is providing assistance / no breach of adviser’s declaration / complaint upheld.
  3. HES v Parekh [2019] NZIACDT 47 sanctions (19 July 2019) [PDF, 124 KB]

    Sanctions decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / negligence / failure to advise application had no realistic chance of succeeding / partnership visitor visa declined / insufficient evidence partnership genuine and stable / complainant travelled to Pakistan to live with partner / complainant sought to recover fees, lost wages and expenses from living in Pakistan / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / isolated incident / censure not justified / adviser willing to pay compensation / refund of fees / claim for compensation excessive / expenses and lost wages largely would have been incurred anyway and not caused by adviser’s negligence / $2,500 compensation awarded for wasted return airfare and contribution to other expenses and losses.
  4. XN v Ji [2019] NZIACDT 49 (19 July 2019) [PDF, 176 KB]

    Rubber stamping / breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 / application for residence visa / adviser did not directly engage with client / adviser allowed unlicensed staff to do work of licensed adviser/ agreement between client and company / adviser an employee of company / all client’s communications with employees of another company in different countries / residence visa declined / adviser sent decline letter to employee / client’s IPT appeal out of time / date of INZ decline letter sent to client had been changed / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl2e, cl3c, cl 18a / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442, s50 and s51 / work of employees fell within definition of immigration advice / adviser failed to directly obtain instructions from client / Code does not require adviser to be a party to the agreement or to sign it / Code only requires adviser to be named / complaint upheld.
  5. KIT v Zhu [2019] NZIACDT 46 sanctions (8 July 2019) [PDF, 126 KB]

    Sanctions decision / allowing unlicensed  person to engage with client / no written agreement / inadequate written record of communications / student visa application declined / complainant’s status became unlawful / complainant sought recovery of lawful status and compensation for legal costs / Code of Conduct 2014, cl2e, cl18, cl26a, cl26c / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / obligation to engage personally with client and have written agreement important / violation lower end of spectrum because adviser engaged with client at later stage / adviser had a strong commitment to professional development and offered to pay some compensation / not appropriate to refund all costs as not attributable to adviser’s professional violations / doubtful Tribunal has power to award costs in disciplinary process / adviser censured / adviser directed to complete refresher course and ordered to pay some compensation
  6. Suresh v Elizabeth [2019] NZIACDT 45 - Sanctions (3 July 2019) [PDF, 196 KB]

    Sanctions decision / rubber stamping / breach of professional obligations / lodging expression of interest under skilled migrant category / policy changed and client no longer eligible / complaint about delay and request for refund / adviser failed to engage with client and carry out instructions / advisor failed to have written agreement  tailored to client’s circumstances / no refund policy in agreement / delay negligent / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl2e, cl3c, cl19e, cl19K, cl24c / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / adviser had no involvement with complainant / adviser and staff primarily responsible for delays / an Australian registered adviser who obtains New Zealand registration has a professional duty to familiarise themselves with New Zealand law / age and inexperience not mitigating factors / adviser only an employee / complaint upheld / adviser censured / adviser ordered to pay penalty and partly refund complainant
  7. INZ (Calder) v Wong [2019] NZIACDT 44 (27 June 2019) [PDF, 158 KB]

    Breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 / procuring and providing false information to INZ / entering further information after client signed blank application form / failure to provide copy of client files for inspection / adviser acquitted in a criminal prosecution / licence suspended and then expired / whether Tribunal can uphold complaint / failure to attend hearing / providing false evidence to IACDT / Code of Conduct 2014, cl3c, cl26e / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s44, s49, s51 / insufficient evidence to prove adviser knowingly produced false documents / adviser permitted client to sign blank form / adviser failed to keep a copy of client’s files after they were uplifted by INZ / complaint partially upheld.
  8. Khan (Appeal) [2019] NZIACDT 43 (24 June 2019) [PDF, 147 KB]

    Appeal against registrar’s decision not to pursue complaint / application for entrepreneur work visa / appellant paid adviser to assist cousin with application / business plan not completed / refusal to refund fees / fabrication  of emails and service agreement / registrar found business plan not provided because cousin did not respond to requests for further information / adviser found to have undertaken a reasonable amount of work / no evidence of fabrication / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1 / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442, s451, s54 / no evidence of impropriety by adviser / adviser understood on reasonable grounds that cousin was his client / cousin made no complaint against adviser / evidence did not disclose any wrongdoing / appeal rejected.
  9. Shadforth (Appeal) [2019] NZIACDT 42 (20 June 2019) [PDF, 176 KB]

    Appeal against registrar’s decision not to pursue complaint / dispute between two competing professionals who had acted for same client / allegation adviser misrepresented client’s character issues to INZ and unlicensed employees provided immigration advice / client issued with deportation notice / client’s passport name not full name / client’s passport name used to obtain overseas police certificate / certificate produced to INZ disclosed no convictions / client arrested overseas but not convicted / alleged unlicensed employee advised client to omit middle name / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442, s451, s54 / insufficient evidence of misleading conduct / no evidence employee’s advice went beyond “clerical work” / advice did not cross threshold warranting disciplinary action / “clerical work” could involve direct dealings with clients / allegations did not warrant referring complaint to Tribunal / threshold as to gravity not met / appeal rejected.
  10. INZ (Calder) v Shearer [2019] NZIACDT 41 (19 June 2019) [PDF, 286 KB]

    Rubber stamping / breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 / unlicensed staff performed immigration work on adviser’s behalf / adviser did not have a written agreement directly with clients / adviser had no meaningful engagement with clients / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl2e, cl3c, cl10b, cl18a, cl26b, cl26e / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s7, s442, s50 and s51 / adviser found to be negligent and incompetent / high level of negligence / adviser did not understand who client was / standard of care not dependent on experience / complaint upheld.
  13. INZ (Calder) v Cleland [2019] NZIACDT 38 (10 June 2019) [PDF, 158 KB]

    Sanctions decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / Immigration New Zealand (Calder) v Cleland [2019] NZIADCT 25 / allowing unlicensed  person to give immigration advice / rubber stamping / failed to explain the agreement to clients / agreement did not describe the services to be provided / failed to advise clients of application status / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl2e, cl3c, cl18b, cl19e, cl19f and cl26b / HELD / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / power to award sanctions / adviser’s actions serious / misunderstanding of “clerical work” exception / Immigration New Zealand (Foley) v Niland [2019] NZIACDT 16 / s511a / adviser censured / s511b / required to complete training / s511f / fined
  14. EQE v ICQ [2019] NZIACDT 37 (6 June 2019) [PDF, 189 KB]

    Breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) / essential skills work visa application / whether failure to provide written agreement to client / whether full description of services / whether unlicensed staff providing immigration services / rubber stamping / whether failure to assess client’s visa eligibility / negligence / s442a and s442e of the Act  / breach of Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl22, cl3c, cl18a, cl26b and cl26c / Sparks v Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal [2017] NZHC 376 / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / complaint dismissed.
  15. HES v Parekh [2019] NZIACDT 36 (29 May 2019 [PDF, 176 KB]

    Breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) / partnership and cultural marriage visitor visa applications / failure to provide written agreement to client / failure to provide appropriate advice / failure to keep notes of meetings / negligence / s442a and s442e of the Act  / breach of Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl18a, cl19a and cl26c / Sparks v Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal [2017] NZHC 376 / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / immigration adviser not named / adviser failed to take due care in assessing complainant’s circumstances / failed to keep records of advice given / adviser negligent  / complaint upheld.
  16. INZ Calder v Ahmed [2019] NZIACDT 35 (23 May 2019) sanctions [PDF, 161 KB]

    Sanctions decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / Immigration New Zealand (Calder) v Ahmed [2019] NZIADCT 18 / allowing unlicensed  person to give immigration advice / rubber stamping / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl2e and cl3c / HELD / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / power to award sanctions / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / Dentice v Valuers Registration Board [1992] 1 NZLR 720 (HC) / Liston v Director of Proceedings [2018] NZHC 2981 / professional disciplinary proceedings focused on protection of the public and profession, not punishment / Patel v Complaints Assessment Committee HC Auckland CIV-2007-404-1818, 13 August 2007 / advisor’s actions serious / adviser did have involvement with clients / misunderstanding of “clerical work” exception / Immigration New Zealand (Foley) v Niland [2019] NZIACDT 16 / s511a / advisor censured / s511b / required to complete training / s511f / fined
  17. KIT v Zhu [2019] NZIACDT 34 (20 May 2019) [PDF, 176 KB]

    Breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) / student and visitor visa applications / failure to provide written agreement to client / adviser did not engage with client / adviser did not keep complete file notes / s442e of the Act  / breach of Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl2e, cl18a, cl26aiii and cl26c / Sparks v Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal [2017] NZHC 376 / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / unlicensed staff processed application / adviser did not personally obtain client’s instructions / no written agreement / adviser failed to keep file notes / complaint upheld.
  18. MG v Hu [2019] NZIACDT 33 (17 May 2019) [PDF, 118 KB]

    Sanctions decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / MG v Hu [2019] NZIACDT 20 / long term business vis / conflict of interest / advisor acted for vendor of business and client / party to providing false information to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) / Code of Conduct 2014, cl11b / cl15a and cl3a / HELD / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / power to award sanctions / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / Dentice v Valuers Registration Board [1992] 1 NZLR 720 (HC) / Liston v Director of Proceedings [2018] NZHC 2981 / professional disciplinary proceedings focused on protection of the public and profession, not punishment / Patel v Complaints Assessment Committee HC Auclkand CVI-2007-404-1818, 13 August 2007 / advisor accepts responsibility for breaches of the Code of Conduct / further breaches unlikely / advisor has taken steps to ensure compliance with obligations/ s51a / advisor cautioned.
  19. Hahn v Walke [2019] NZIACDT 32 (14 May 2019) Sanctions [PDF, 238 KB]

    Sanctions decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / Hahn v Walke [2019] NZIADCT 19 / seminars / allowing unlicensed  person to give immigration advice / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1 and cl3c / HELD / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / power to award sanctions / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / Dentice v Valuers Registration Board [1992] 1 NZLR 720 (HC) / Liston v Director of Proceedings [2018] NZHC 2981 / professional disciplinary proceedings focused on protection of the public and profession, not punishment / Patel v Complaints Assessment Committee HC Auckland CIV-2007-404-1818, 13 August 2007 / advisor’s actions serious / s511a / advisor censured / s511e / prohibited from reapplying for licence  for two years / required to complete training before reapplying for licence / s511f / fined
  20. Abellera v Elizabeth [2019] NZIACDT 31 (13 May 2019) [PDF, 94 KB]

    Final decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / interim decision Abellera v Elizabeth [2017] NZIACDT 17 / breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) / failure to tailor written agreement to client / failure to issue refund / demand to withdraw complaint in exchange for refund / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl19e cl24a and cl24e / adviser apologised and accepted responsibility / refund issued / no further sanction appropriate / complaint upheld.
  21. Suresh v Elizabeth [2019] NZIACDT 30 (10 May 2019) [PDF, 197 KB]

    Rubber stamping / breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) / failure to tailor written agreement to client / delays in preparing EOI / lack of refund policy / failure to refund / s442a of the Act  / negligence / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl3c, cl19e, cl19k and cl24 / Sparks v Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal [2017] NZHC 376 / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / adviser did not have any involvement with file / unlicensed staff processed application / obligations cannot be delegated / agreement not tailored to client’s circumstances  / delay in preparing EOI unreasonable and negligent / advisor failed to offer a fair and reasonable refund / complaint upheld
  22. Singh v Patel [2019] NZIACDT 29 (9 May 2019) [PDF, 98 KB]

    Sanctions decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / Singh v Patel [2019] NZIADCT 17 / failed to make a record of meetings and discussions with client / failed to confirm material discussions in writing / Code of Conduct 2014, cl26aiii and cl26c / HELD / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / power to award sanctions / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / Dentice v Valuers Registration Board [1992] 1 NZLR 720 (HC) / Liston v Director of Proceedings [2018] NZHC 2981 / professional disciplinary proceedings focused on protection of the public and profession, not punishment / Patel v Complaints Assessment Committee HC Auckland CIV-2007-404-1818, 13 August 2007 / advisor aware of need to improve file management / advisor has taken steps to ensure compliance with obligations / s50b / no further sanctions are warranted
  23. Van Zyl v McNeil [2019] NZIACDT 27 (8 May 2019) [PDF, 109 KB]

    Immigration adviser in breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) / four heads of complaint alleged / misleading or dishonest conduct / s442d of the Act / failure to pay refund promised / failure to maintain all communications in required manner / failure to provide written communications for inspection / Code of Conduct 2014, cl24b & cl24c, cl26aiii and cl26e / Sparks v Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal [2017] NZHC 376 / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / insufficient evidence of dishonest or misleading conduct / adviser failed to promptly provide promised refund / adviser breached written agreement with complainant / sufficient record of communications with clients existed / complaint upheld.
  24. WQ v Emberson [2019] NZIACDT 28 (8 May 2019) [PDF, 186 KB]

    Breach of professional obligations and Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 (the Act) / delays in lodging EOI and communicating with complainant / failure to maintain and make available client file for inspection / s571c of the Act  / lack of professionalism, due care and diligence / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1 and cl26e / Sparks v Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal [2017] NZHC 376 / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / EOI lodgement delays resulted in complainant missing automatic selection / communication delays were unreasonable / client file retained by adviser’s former employer / adviser must make reasonable efforts to obtain file / Jiang v Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal [2018] NZHC 3152 / file was that of the firm and not the adviser / advisers obligation under cl26e to provide file to Authority must be consistent with s571c / complaint upheld.
  25. GZ v Ke (Luke) Lu [2019] NZIACDT 26 (6 May 2019) [PDF, 113 KB]

    Sanctions decision / complaint upheld by Tribunal / GZ v Lu [2019] NZIADCT 15 / rubber stamping / adviser allowed unlicensed people to provide immigration advice / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1 and cl3c / HELD / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s50 and s51 / power to award sanctions / Z v Dental Complaints Assessment Committee [2008] NZSC 55, [2009] 1 NZLR 1 / Dentice v Valuers Registration Board [1992] 1 NZLR 720 (HC) / Liston v Director of Proceedings [2018] NZHC 2981 / professional disciplinary proceedings focused on protection of the public and profession, not punishment / Patel v Complaints Assessment Committee HC Auckland CIV-2007-404-1818, 13 August 2007 / issues of punishment and deterrence also considered / adviser’s actions were isolated and at lower end of disciplinary spectrum / acts not intentional / adviser was proactive in resolving complaint and correcting business practices / adviser cautioned / additional (online) training ordered.