2015-Oct 02: Citizens Advice Bureau advice to visa applicants

Visa Pak 231 - Advice to staff about Citizens Advice Bureau providing advice to visa applicants.

Visa Paks

2 October 2015

Citizens Advice Bureau advice to visa applicants

Context

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) provides free advice and help to visa applicants in New Zealand. There are 85 service locations around the country, each mostly staffed by local volunteers. A list of all CAB locations is available on the CAB website here:
www.cab.org.nz/acabnearyou/Pages/home.aspx

The full names, phone numbers and addresses of CAB volunteers and staff are withheld from public display. As such, any CAB volunteer or staff member who advises a visa applicant will state only their first name or initials in the declaration section of a visa application form. To comply with applicable legislation, CAB staff who only state their first name or initials must also stamp the application form with a stamp identifying the CAB office they advised the client from.

Action

Please discuss with your team(s) to ensure they are aware that when CAB staff advise visa applicants, it is acceptable for them to state only their first name or initials and stamp the application form with a stamp identifying the CAB office from which they have advised the visa applicant.