[2025] NZIACDT 43 — BL v Schoeller (Doris Schoeller)

Immigration Advisers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal · decided 27 August 2025 · adviser: Doris Schoeller

The tribunal's published summary

Sanctions / adviser dilatory in sending authority form and terms of engagement in urgent immigration circumstances, erroneously advised complainant to await whether interim visa issued, and communicated unprofessionally with complainant / Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007, s3, s50, s51 / Code of Conduct 2014, cl1, cl15b, cl18, cl26b / five heads of complainant upheld, involving breach of three professional obligations / gravity of wrongdoing at lower end of moderate level misconduct / adviser apologised to complainant for unprofessional communications albeit did not acknowledge nor apologise for incorrect advice / incorrect advice did not prejudice complainant’s immigration status / no prior disciplinary history / adviser cautioned / censure and training orders not warranted / ordered to pay $2,000 financial penalty

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.