Minimising risk

Agent numbers

Many New Zealand education providers consolidate the number of agents they work with, enabling them to better manage and monitor agent behaviour, including student marketing and recruitment processes. Many providers review their agreements with agents to clearly set out their expectations, including:

• Counselling prospective students to ensure they are recommended a course best suited to their prior study, work experience, and career aspirations.
• Verifying all documentation before submission to INZ.
• Not using sub-agents, or acquiring offers of place on behalf of other agents unknown to the provider.
• Only requesting an offer of place if there is a genuine prospect that the student will actually apply with INZ to study at that provider.
• Terminating agent agreements should fraudulent or false documentation be identified in an application.
  
  

Fraud notification emails

INZ Mumbai notifies providers when fraud is identified in an application to study with them. No agent permission is required for INZ to do this.

This information allows providers to review their relationships with agents involved in fraud. If fraud is identified in a visa application, the agent that submitted it will be subject to higher levels of scrutiny by INZ.

Agent performance data

INZ can give providers the agent’s complete performance data, with the agent’s written permission. This helps providers vet new agents seeking to work with them, or understand the conduct of an agent they work with.

We suggest education providers include a waiver in their agent application form, authorising them to request (and for INZ to provide) the following information about the agent:

• Performance data, including student visa application volumes and approval rates. This data can be global or market specific, and can cover any date range.
• Reasons for decline decisions (where possible/relevant).
• Any instances of fraud or misrepresentation by the agent.

Education providers can request this information by emailing INZ Mumbai, and including the agent's written permission.

AgentVettingRequest-INZMumbai@mbie.govt.nz

Agents on offer of place

INZ strongly recommends providers include the name of the agent on all offers of place. This:

• allows INZ to more accurately record the agent involved in each application;
• compels the agent to declare themselves in the visa application form;
• allows each provider to monitor and record the agent they have issued offers of place to;
• places the onus on the agent for the quality of the student and documentation in the application; and
• lessens the ability for the agent to shift blame to a sub-agent if any concerns are identified in the application.
  
  

Verify documentation

Many documents can be verified by the provider or their agent before the visa application is submitted to INZ. Where possible, documentation should be verified from two separate sources - particularly if there are concerns regarding its genuineness.

Evidence of English language

INZ regularly identifies IELTS certificates as false or altered. IELTS and many other English language tests can be verified online, and providers or their agents are expected to undertake this check before the application is submitted to INZ.

Evidence of educational history

Providers should take all reasonable steps to verify educational history rather than accepting qualifications at face value. This is especially important if the qualification is being presented as evidence of meeting programme entry requirements.

INZ Mumbai recommends providers source their own contact details for the education provider in India, rather than relying on the contact phone numbers provided in the documentation.

In-person visits

Regular visits to India are invaluable. INZ Mumbai encourages providers to visit India and meet with their agents regularly. INZ Mumbai is always welcome to meet with providers when they are in India.

Interview potential students

Education providers and their agents should prepare applicants for the possibility of an interview with INZ Mumbai. The interview will always cover the Statement of Purpose submitted with the application. It may also cover finances and study/employment history claims.

Due to fraud and misrepresentation, INZ Mumbai will continue to interview applicants to gauge their genuine intention to study in New Zealand. It remains the responsibility of the applicant to satisfy INZ of their genuine intention to study in New Zealand.