Immigration adviser copied, pasted signature

AUCKLAND: A complaint against an immigration adviser who copied and pasted a work visa applicant’s signature on to an agreement has been upheld by the Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal.

Victoria Adele Broadway was a licensed immigration adviser based in Victoria, Australia, and was acting for the applicant, who was a citizen of the United States and living in New Zealand on a work visa.

The applicant wanted to renew her work visa and had been recommended to Broadway by her employer. A written agreement for immigration services was entered between Broadway and the employer but not the applicant.

After filing the work visa application on behalf of the applicant, both were informed by Immigration New Zealand that the employer was included on the Labour Inspectorate’s list of noncompliant employers and not able to support the application.

Broadway then told INZ the applicant had a new job offer from a different employer and filed a new employment contract, but issues in relation to this fresh employment were raised by INZ.

The applicant advised Broadway that rather than pursue the new job offer, she would return to the US.

When Broadway applied to the Immigration Advisers Authority to renew her licence three months later, she was informed that this file had been selected by the authority for review.

Broadway emailed to the applicant asking her to sign ‘‘the last page on the form’’ and write a short email how she found working with her as her adviser. But the applicant said she did not feel comfortable signing the form.

Two weeks later, Broadway sent a copy of the written agreement, purportedlywith the applicant’s signature, which was found to have been falsely inserted.

The applicant lodged a complaint against Broadway with the authority, which was referred to the tribunal.

Tribunal chair David Plunkett said he regarded Broadway’s conduct in belatedly seeking a signature on the services agreement as unprofessional.

The complaint against her was upheld. The registrar, complainant and Broadway have until October 29 to make their submissions. — The New Zealand Herald