New Zealand suspends processing of foreign students’ applications
By Amandeep Kaur, IANSWednesday, August 4, 2010
AUCKLAND - Authorities in New Zealand have suspended the processing of applications for international students to study at Auckland’s Kingsland Institute, after the arrest of two men for alleged immigration fraud, an official statement here said.
Immigration authorities now are reviewing some approved applications, after the arrest of two men, including a manager at the institute, the statement said Tuesday.
The arrests were the result of complaints by two prospective students at the institute, which provides courses in business, IT, cookery and English.
Donald Han, the manager at the institute, is facing three charges under the Immigration Act 1987 relating to providing false and misleading information and two under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 relating to providing immigration advice when not licensed to do so, said Immigration New Zealand.
Chheogyal Jah Om Sandyang Lepcha from Kingsland Institute and a licensed immigration adviser, faced two charges under the Immigration Act.
The offences are alleged to have been committed in October 2009 and March 2010.
Head of Immigration Nigel Bickle says: “At this stage we do not know whether the matter goes wider than these two complainants or this Institute, but we need to check, for the sake of the integrity of our immigration system.”
Both defendants were remanded without plea until Aug 17.
Applicants affected by the suspension of processing are being advised that they may make arrangements with another training provider and those applications will be processed.
