Dodgy applicants create a market for dodgy immigration agents
Sunday 15 February 2009 - Filed under Life Outside Work
Hundreds of Koreans who hope to become New Zealand citizens have been caught up in a messy dispute involving police and Korean government officials.
Court appointed liquidators called police to remove Wasan International’s owner, Edward Kang, and to shut down the company’s Auckland offices.
Kang has been an immigration consultant for almost 20 years.
The liquidators say he has charged potential migrants up to $40,000 often for unsuccessful residency applications.
They say they are investigating debts which could exceed $2 million.
“A lot of people have lost a lot of money dealing with Mr Kang and hopefully as a result of this, there wont be too many more,” says Wasan International Liquidator, Damien Grant.
It is sad that hundreds of people, many of whom must have put in a tremendous amount of effort into the dream of having a new home, life, and career, may have fallen victim of an immigration consulting company that faces liquidation. While there is no doubt that the majority of those affected are innocent victims, let me be the bearer of bad tidings and say what the news report won’t say: Ultimately, it is the small percentage of unqualified applicants of all sorts of diverse backgrounds who seek loopholes and subject themselves to the equally dishonest practices of some immigration agents who choose to take advantage of their situations, that has led to this unfortunate revelation.
Having said that, I do not at all hold an anti-immigration view; on the contrary, I believe that, on average, first-generation immigrants and potential immigrants contribute far more towards the GDP (including exorbitant immigration consulting fees, that is) than those who aren’t. Beyond the economy, I’d like to see more immigrants actively take part in all corners and levels of society, including centre-stage politics. It’s just that the authorities and immigration agents must fairly, ethically, and thoroughly distinguish between those who should and can be helped, and those who shouldn’t. Only then will there be less of news headlines like this, this, and this.
2009-02-15 » JK