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Survey of New Zealand visa and permit applicants who have used an immigration adviser
Background and Research Objectives
The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007 came into effect in New Zealand on 4 May 2007. The Immigration Advisers Licensing Act’s stated purpose is
“to promote and protect the interests of consumers receiving immigration advice, and to enhance the reputation of New Zealand as a migration destination, by providing for the regulation of persons who give immigration advice.”
The Act requires immigration advisers to be licensed. It also established the Immigration Advisers Authority (“the Authority”) to manage the licensing process for immigration advisers, both in New Zealand and offshore. Implementation of licensing for advisers is staggered as follows:
- Immigration advisers in New Zealand could make a voluntary request for licensing from 4 May 2008
- Immigration advisers in New Zealand must have a licence from 4 May 2009
- Offshore advisers giving advice on New Zealand immigration matters must have a licence by 4 May 2010.
IAA required a survey of clients who have used an immigration adviser to provide the IAA with benchmark measures of the performance of advisers (from the perspective of their clients).
The overall aim of the research was:
To provide benchmark measures of the performance of immigration advisers (from the perspective of their clients) to help measure the effects over time of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007.
The specific objectives for the 2009 survey were to:
- Provide benchmark measures of adviser performance prior to licensing become compulsory in New Zealand (i.e. prior to 4 May 2009)
- Profile applicant behaviour to understand the context of adviser use
- Provide specific measures of adviser performance and identify areas for improvement.