Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is introducing a new policy that will allow immigration officers to reject visa applications that contain false or misleading information, even if the applicant did not intentionally provide the false information. This has raised concerns that the policy could penalize victims of visa fraud and exploitation.
For example, if an applicant is scammed by an immigration agent who provides false information on their visa application, the applicant could still be denied a visa under the new policy. This is because the policy does not require immigration officers to prove that the applicant intentionally provided false information.Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont has expressed concerns about the new policy, saying that it “puts the responsibility solely on you for hiring this agent, despite the widespread understanding that much of this fraud is agent-driven.”
INZ has said that it will take into account individual circumstances when making decisions on visa applications, including whether the applicant was a victim of fraud. However, some critics argue that the policy is still too harsh and could deter victims of fraud from coming forward.
The new policy is due to come into effect on September 25th.