Immigration adviser role covered by authority
With more than 120 people in New Zealand each week dying from heart disease, the Heart Foundation is calling for people to show their big heart and donate to its Big Heart Appeal street collections on February 21 and 22.
Heart Foundation medical director Gerry Devlin says every year around 6300 New Zealanders die of heart disease and the Heart Foundation funds research to save lives and improve the quality of life for the 180,000 New Zealanders living with heart disease.
Devlin continued that the number of deaths is the size of the entire population of Matamata.
■ Find a location near you at heartfoundation.org.nz/getinvolved/big-heart-appeal/streetcollection
A licensed immigration adviser can help you work out your visa options, prepare your visa application, and assess whether you might have grounds to appeal an Immigration New Zealand decision.
You can find a licensed immigration adviser by searching the Immigration Advisers Authority’s register — all licensed immigration advisers must be registered. Under New Zealand law, “immigration advice” specifically refers to advice given by a person who has the knowledge or experience in immigration, to tailor their advice to your particular circumstances. It is illegal for someone to provide immigration advice without a licence unless they are exempt. If you believe that someone without a licence is giving immigration advice, and they are not exempt from the licence requirement, you can report it to the Immigration Advisers Authority (IAA).
Immigration advisers’ fees vary depending on how complex your immigration query is, what kind of visa they are helping you with and the level of the adviser’s qualifications and experience. An immigration adviser must ensure that the fees they charge are fair and reasonable. The adviser must give you a written agreement to sign, which fully describes the work they will do for you and how much they will charge you. When your adviser asks you for payment they must provide you with an invoice describing what work they are charging you for. You can also ask the adviser what their refund policy is, in case you change your mind about using them.
Anyone can make a complaint about a licensed immigration adviser; for example you can make a complaint about one on behalf of someone else who received immigration advice. The IAA can’t accept complaints about Immigration New Zealand decisions. More information about immigration advisers is on the IAA website. You can contact IAA (info@iaa.govt.nz or 0508 422 422).
For free and confidential advice and information on this or any other matter visit the Palmerston North Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in Hancock Community House, 77 King St. Opening hours, MondayFriday from 9am-4.30pm, call 357 0647 or 0800 367 222. We have a free legal advice service by qualified lawyers most Thursday evenings at 7.30pm, and a JP is available on Tuesdays from noon-2.30pm.