A Philippine national has been sentenced after providing false and misleading information — including the names and credentials of three Filipino civil engineers — on five work visa applications to Immigration New Zealand.
Between April 3 and 23, 2024, Julia Pearl Buaquina De Los Santos submitted five work visa applications using fabricated Certificates of Employment, falsely claiming the applicants had relevant work experience in the Philippines, according to INZ.
She created RealMe identity accounts for each applicant, making it appear the applications were submitted by the individuals themselves. The names and professional credentials of three Filipino civil engineers were used to create the fake certificates.
De Los Santos also arranged the payment of the visa application fees and embassy requirements, using her own credit card for two of the submissions.
Each applicant was charged NZ$11,000 for De Los Santos’ services, which also included the promise of full-time work in New Zealand.
All five visa applications were approved, based on false and misleading information, INZ said.
On arrival in New Zealand, the applicants were put up in accommodation arranged by De Los Santos, alongside other migrants who had used her services. Many of the individuals did not receive the employment they were promised and were forced to leave New Zealand.
De Los Santos had also set up RDS Wonders Contract Limited, a company that became accredited under the Accredited Employer Work Visa scheme. Following the investigation into other Immigration related offending by De Los Santos, the company’s accreditation was revoked by INZ and the company has since gone into liquidation.
Sixteen migrant workers under RDS Wonders have been granted Migrant Exploitation Protection Visas based on claims of unpaid wages, wages deductions, and breaches under the Holidays Act 2003.
De Los Santos was sentenced in the Manukau District Court to seven months’ home detention and $25,000 in reparations.
In addition, 12 known associates of De Los Santos faced deportation proceedings for various breaches of immigration regulations.
INZ’s general manager Immigration Investigations and Compliance, Steve Watson, said the case “was more than just deceiving Immigration New Zealand, but also part of a broader scheme targeting vulnerable and trusting migrant workers”.
“These individuals paid significant amounts of money to De Los Santos, who posed as a legitimate agent and recruiter from the Philippines, promising them employment opportunities in New Zealand.
“We are committed to protecting the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system by holding individuals accountable when they deliberately mislead authorities and exploit vulnerable migrants.”
Anyone with information on immigration-related offences could file a report through the Immigration New Zealand website.
