A9.20 Immigration status of complainants to be preserved (29/11/2010)

Where the Office of the Ombudsmen notifies INZ that an investigation is being made into a complaint against INZ, the complainant's immigration status will be preserved pending the outcome of the investigation and in particular:

1. if the complainant is the holder of a temporary class visa, INZ will grant a further temporary class visa of the same type (subject to receipt of formal application and payment of the appropriate fee);
2. if the complainant is not the holder of a temporary class visa and has not already been served with a deportation order, INZ will not serve one before the investigation has been completed, (and then only if appropriate);
3. if the complainant has already been served with a deportation order, INZ will not complete deportation action before the investigation has been completed (and then only if appropriate), unless the complainant is in Police custody pending deportation, in which case deportation processes may continue.

Nothing in (b) or (c) prevents INZ from proceeding to assemble appropriate travel documentation and make contingent travel arrangements.

Effective 29/11/2010