Filipinos offered second chance after New Zealand visa scam probe

The New Zealand government on Tuesday announced new rules to allow Filipinos caught up in a visa scam to continue working in the dairy industry.

The rule change would apply to Filipino dairy workers who might have provided incorrect information relating to their qualifications and experience with their original work visa applications, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said.

"Today I approved amendments to immigration instructions to allow further work visas to be granted to those workers who admit to previously providing incorrect information," Woodhouse said in a statement.

Those who were compliant in all other respects with the regulations would be eligible to be granted a further work visa.

"This approach acknowledges that many of these workers are making a significant contribution to their employers and their communities and are well-settled in New Zealand. It also accepts the admission of having provided incorrect information by workers who come forward," he said.

"The changes minimize the disruption that would have been caused by a significant number of workers having their visas declined."

Last month, law enforcement officials arrested a woman with dual Filipino-New Zealand nationality on charges of helping Filipinos fraudulently acquire visas to work in New Zealand's dairy industry.

Immigration New Zealand launched an investigation after becoming aware of potential issues with applications from some Filipino nationals working on dairy farms in the South Island in February.

The agency uncovered more widespread concerns of false or misleading information being provided in work visa applications submitted by Filipino nationals. Endit