Jagjeet Singh Sidhu, president of New Zealand Forum for Immigration Professionals Photo: Supplied
An immigration advisory body hopes a local government order in India - banning travel agents from offering help with overseas employment - will help curb immigration fraud in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Forum for Immigration Professionals welcomed the recent state government's advisory in the Indian state of Punjab, directing local authorities to monitor travel agents in the region and ensure they don't offer or advertise any recruitment-related services.
Local authorities in Punjab were also directed to obtain self-declarations from travel agents each month that state they were not engaged in any recruitment services.
Enforcement drives against illegal travel agents and awareness campaign on legal migration would also be carried out, the directive said.
The advisory follows a missive sent by the Indian government to Punjab's state government that highlighted repeated violations of India's Emigration Act (which bans travel agents from advertising assistance in securing jobs overseas) by travel agents in the state.
The issue assumes significance after several cases of alleged exploitation, in which workers were brought to New Zealand through the accredited employer work visa scheme, could be traced to Punjab.
"This decisive move is a positive step in combating illegal migration and immigration fraud," said Jagjeet Singh Sidhu, president of New Zealand Forum for Immigration Professionals.
"We acknowledge that many individuals invest their hard-earned money in dubious agents in India with the hope of a better life abroad, only to be misled and disappointed," he said.
"Such practices undermine the integrity of New Zealand's immigration system. ... [It] is a crucial step toward safeguarding the interests of genuine applicants."
Narinder Singla, chairman of the Indian Association of New Zealand Manukau's crime group Photo: Supplied
Narinder Singla, chairman of the Indian Association of New Zealand Manukau's crime group, hoped the move would be a deterrent for travel agents who sent people from India with dubious or fake job offers.
"We believe it will have some sort of impact," Singla said. "[Travel agents] who were indulging in such things will at least be scared now."
Arunjeev Singh, an immigration lawyer based in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe, was sceptical the directive would make a difference.
"I don't think it will make any difference unless the New Zealand government stops education agents [in India] from doing student visas," Singh said.
Sidhu agreed.
"The current laxity within the New Zealand Immigration Act 2009 permits offshore agents to act on behalf of applicants for student visas only," he said. "This situation often leads to confusion among applicants, who, due to a lack of knowledge, are unaware whether their representatives are authorized by the New Zealand government.
"We believe that legislative reforms are necessary to prohibit offshore agents from lodging student visa applications, ensuring that only authorized, licensed immigration advisers manage these processes."
Sidhu advised migrants who wished to relocate to New Zealand to exercise due diligence.
"We encourage prospective migrants to consult New Zealand lawyers or licensed professionals listed on www.iaa.govt.nz, where they can find qualified immigration advisers to assist them in lodging their applications securely and legitimately," he said.
