Membership Year

The membership year is from 1 April - 31 March.
The Board of Directors is elected in July and remains in office from August - July. 

General Requirements for Membership

1. Membership of the NZAMI is open to all individuals and organizations who have complementary aims and objects to the NZAMI

2. To operate in accordance with the NZAMI Rules and Code of Ethics

3. Practising members must provide clients with a copy of the NZAMI Code of Ethics at the time of contract

4. The applicant may nominate the class of membership to which he/she wishes to be admitted, but the Board may offer the applicant the opportunity to become a member of another class of membership if that class is more suitable

Classification and Requirements for NZAMI Membership

The term ‘organization’ is used to include companies and law firms

1. Member

Classification 

A Member must be in business, or employed, as an Immigration Adviser 

A Member can be a company, legal practice or an individual

Requirements/Criteria

An applicant must:

(i) Provide proof that he/she has been in business or employed as an Immigration Adviser for a period of no less than 12 months

(ii) Provide evidence of having made at least 10 successful immigration applications under any immigration category

(iii) Demonstrate competency in all categories of immigration (with the exception of the refugee category) by achieving at least 33 points out of 35 on a written 'open book' Questionnaire. (If the applicant is located outside of Auckland, the Questionnaire is conducted telephonically)

(iv) Demonstrate at an on-site (or telephonic) interview, conducted by an agent appointed by the Board of Directors, that he/she:

• Is sufficiently competent in the use of the English language to fulfil his/her duties as an Immigration Adviser
• Has developed sufficient administrative infra-structure in order to fulfil all professional obligations as an Immigration Adviser
• Has access to electronic/paper copies of all the policy and procedure documents listed on the application form

(v) Meet Continuing Professional Development requirements as stipulated by the Board from time to time

(vi) Testify that he/she is not disqualified from registration as an Immigration Adviser (other than as excluded or exempted by the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act). 

Company Applicants

The Directors of a Company or the Principal of a Legal Practice:

(i) Must nominate a representative who meets the criteria to qualify as a NZAMI Member

(ii) Are considered to be responsible for the actions of their employees and/or partners.

Offshore Applicants must additionally provide proof of one of the following:

(i) Registration from the New Zealand Immigration Advisers Authority

(ii) Registration granted by an overseas migration agents’ registration body

(iv) Having held ‘Existing’ or ‘Full’ membership of NZAMI prior to 1 January 2006


2. Provisional Member

Classification

If the applicant does not meet all the requirements for membership as set out above, Provisional Membership may be granted for a period of 12 months

Requirements/Criteria

The applicant must:

(i) Be (or intend to be) in business, or employed, as an Immigration Adviser

(ii) Demonstrate at an on-site (or telephonic) interview, conducted by an agent appointed by the Board of Directors, that he/she:

• Is sufficiently competent in the use of the English language to fulfil his/her duties as an Immigration Adviser
• Has developed sufficient administrative infra-structure in order to fulfil all professional obligations as an Immigration Adviser
• Has access to electronic/paper copies of all the policy and procedure documents listed on the application form 

(iii) Attend seminars and CPD activities as stipulated by the Board from time to time. (If located away from Auckland, the member must study the notes and material from such courses, as made available by the Board) 

(iv) Meet the criteria and apply for Membership within 12 months of becoming a Provisional Member. Failure to do so could lead to the lapsing of membership

 (v) Testify that he/she is not disqualified from registration as an Immigration Adviser (other than as excluded or exempted by the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act)

3. Employee Member

Classification

Employee Membership is available to any individual who is employed as an Immigration Adviser by a NZAMI Member

The Employee Member has access to all the benefits of NZAMI membership, but is not entitled to vote at NZAMI meetings 

Any disciplinary issues must be conducted wth the employer

Requirements/Criteria

The applicant must:

  (i) Be nominated and supported by a NZAMI member within the same organization

(ii) Demonstrate at an on-site (or telephonic) interview, conducted by an agent appointed by the Board of Directors, that he/she is sufficiently competent in the use of the English language to fulfil his/her duties as an Immigration Adviser

(iii) Meet CPD requirements as stipulated by the Board from time to time

 (iv) Testify that he/she is not disqualified from registration as an Immigration Adviser (other than as excluded or exempted by the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act) 

Responsibilities of the NZAMI support member:

  (i) A complaint against an Employee Member will be considered to be a complaint against the Member who supports that Employee Membership 

 (ii) Findings in a complaint against a Member may be held against the Employee Member as well as the Member. 

(iii) If an Employee Member leaves the employ of the organisation, the nominated NZAMI Member of that organisation must advise the Secretary of the NZAMI at the earliest practical opportunity

4. Associate Member

Classification

Associate Membership is available to individuals or organisations that have an interest and/or investment in migration, but are not in business or employed as Immigration Advisers

The applicant may be operating commercially or in the not-for-profit sector

Requirements/Criteria 

  (i) The applicant must have complementary aims and objects to the NZAMI 

 (ii) Membership criteria will be identified by the Board on a case by case basis

5. Affiliate to the NZAMI

Classification

Affiliate Membership is available to associations or organisations of Immigration Advisers which have complementary aims and objects to the NZAMI.

They may be based in New Zealand or overseas

Requirements/Criteria

(i) Membership criteria will be identified by the Board on a case by case basis

(ii) Affiliate Members have access to all the benefits of NZAMI membership, but are not entitled to vote at NZAMI meetings 
 

Application Procedure

1. The applicant submits the Application Form with required supporting documents and the application fee. Receipt of the application is acknowledged in writing.

2. The secretary notifies NZAMI members of the application and they are given the right of objection which must be  lodged within 10 days.

3. The application is sent to an appointed agent who checks it and conducts an interview with the applicant, which includes a written competency Questionnaire on immigration policy and procedures (for practising members). If the applicant is located away from Auckland, the interview is conducted telephonically

4. The agent reports to the Membership Committee and the application is presented to the Board for approval

5. The applicant is informed of the outcome in writing as follows:

   • Approvals – on receipt of the membership fee a formal letter of approval is sent, with the Membership Certificate and Code of Ethics

   • Provisional Membership - if the applicant does not meet the full criteria, provisional membership is recommended. On receipt of the membership fee a Certificate for Provisional Membership and the Code of Ethics are sent to the applicant

   • Declined – in accordance with Rule 4.6 of the Association’s rules, the Board of Directors are entitled to decline any application for membership without assigning any reason

6. The processing of an application takes up to 6 weeks. 

Fees
Application Fees	NZ$
Member/Provisional Member	350.00
Employee Member	50.00
Associate Member	50.00
Membership Fees
Member/Provisional Member	500.00
Employee Member	100.00
Associate Member	300.00
Levies
Weblink	25.00

NOTE:

Fees are quoted excluding GST. 
Overseas members are not charged GST. 

Resources for Practising Members

Extramural Study

‘Immigration Law and Practice in New Zealand’. Paper No 155.222. This course is available extramurally from February to November each year through the School of Accountancy at Massey University, Private Bag, Palmerston North. Go on-line at www.massey.ac.nz to find out more.

This course is highly recommended by the Association for intending members and others associated with immigration consultancy work. Following the successful completion of one year, students are issued with a Massey qualification.

Immigration Act & Regulations

Bennetts Government Bookshop, AUT Campus, Auckland
P.O. Box 5513, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone 64-9-921 9801
Fax     64-9-921 9986
Website www.bennetts.co.nz
(or any other recognised Government Book retail outlet).


NZ Immigration Service Operational Manual & Amendments

NZIS Publications, P.O. Box 920, Dunedin
(This company is also called Southern Colour Print)
Phone 64-3-455 0554
Fax 64-3-455 0599
Website www.gsponline.co.nz


Forms and Leaflets

Download from www.immigration.govt.nz or lodge the appropriate order form with NZIS Publications