The group of eight Indian international students who are facing deportation for immigration fraud and have sought refuge in the Unitarian Church in New Zealand have now asked for Ombudsman’s help to review their cases.
These eight students have agreed to leave New Zealand by Monday after Immigration New Zealand found that they had used fake documents to gain student visa for studying in NZ.
Their lawyer Alastair McClymont told that a large group of students including those facing deportation have asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Immigration New Zealand’s interpretation of the character waiver process.
‘If the Ombudsman finds in their favour then they will have a strong case to make for their deportation status to be re-examined,” he said.
If the Ombudsman finds that the students were unaware about the fake bank documents filed by their education agents to gain student visas, they may hope to re-apply for visas to return to New Zealand.
Eight Indian students facing deportation have agreed to leave New Zealand by Monday.
"Eight of these students have agreed to depart New Zealand on or before either Sunday, February 26, or Monday, February 27 [depending on flights and travel documents].
"Immigration NZ has undertaken not to detain the students for deportation as long as they depart voluntarily prior to midnight either Sunday, February 26, or Monday, February 27."
McClymont said the students will await Ombudsman’s decision before they apply for visas to return to New Zealand.
Immigration NZ’s assistant general manager Stephen Vaughan told those students who have been issued deportation notices would still be subject to the usual five-year ban on returning to New Zealand.
He also said Immigration NZ would consider any future applications on a case-by-case basis as was normal practice.
