Иммиграционный советник в Новой Зеландии лишена лицензии на пять лет за хищение средств клиентов и мошенничество

An immigration adviser who fleeced at least nine clients cannot practice for five years. The licensing regime's tribunal heard Qian Yu carried on as an adviser even after being suspended, racked up 123 breaches of the code and kept $8000 of a client's student fees. "She refused to refund it to him, instead using it for her own purposes," said the decision. "The public would call such conduct theft. Her contempt for the licensing regime and pocketing her client's money are grave breaches of professional standards. "It is clear to the tribunal that the public need extended protection from Ms Yu. Her dishonesty and non-compliance with professional obligations are systemic." Changes to legislation last year means there is no limit on how long an adviser can be suspended for. The immigration advisers complaints and disciplinary tribunal said Yu, also known as Heidi Castelucci, had an "appalling" record, including an earlier finding that she set up an immigration scam. RNZ revealed in 2024 that she was caught on tape setting up a fake job with her husband's Auckland company Liberty Consulting, and coaching the client as to how to hide other employment from Immigration New Zealand. "Ms Yu's misconduct was prolonged, deliberate and financially harmful," said the tribunal. "She did not engage with the disciplinary process. She does not accept responsibility and has offered no explanation, apology or repayment. "The tribunal cannot be confident she has learned any lesson. Ms Yu asks the tribunal to consider the possibility of rehabilitation, but her repeated acknowledgement of wrongdoing in sanctions submissions made to the tribunal is seen in the context of her failure to make any payment towards the penalties directed or any payment to the complainant here." The tribunal heard she falsified the date of an INZ visa decision, which prompted her client to get legal assistance for a reconsideration of the decision, when it was already too late to do so. He became an overstayer. "Becoming unlawful and facing the risk of being required to leave New Zealand caused substantial anxiety, uncertainty and disruption." Yu apologised, and said she had suffered substantial stress. When she became overwhelmed, her response was to avoid difficult matters and procrastinate, she said. She was ordered to repay her client $8960 within a month, and was ordered to pay a penalty of $4000. The registrar of immigration advisers told the tribunal that Yu had not made any payment towards the financial penalties imposed since her first disciplinary case was decided in March.