[2025] NZIACDT 36 — BL v Schoeller (Doris Schoeller)

Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal · decided 17 July 2025 · adviser: Doris Schoeller

The tribunal's published summary

Professional responsibilities and professional practice / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s442 / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl15b, cl18, cl26b / Immigration Instructions, I1.5 / adviser dilatory in sending authority form and terms of engagement in urgent immigration circumstances / failed to explain terms of engagement / erroneously advised complainant to await whether interim visa issued, contrary to immigration instructions / could not delegate responsibility to provide accurate advice to INZ contact centre / no evidence of circumstances justifying intervention of Minister in favour of complainant / not required to explain proposed solution following complainant’s termination / fee charged for work undertaken prior to termination was reasonable / discourteous written communications, hanging up on phone call and failure to reply unprofessional / internal complaint process not followed / alternative negligence heads dismissed / complaint partially upheld / sanctions to follow

Read the full decision (PDF, Ministry of Justice)

This page reproduces the tribunal's own published summary as a fair report of public tribunal proceedings; the linked decision is the authoritative record. A decision is not itself a finding of wrongdoing — some complaints are dismissed. Complainants are anonymised by the tribunal. Complaints about advisers go to the Immigration Advisers Authority.