Given the continuing efforts of the AKLnzPINOYS group to provide settlement information to Filipino migrants in line with the priority of the Philippine Embassy in Wellington and the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland to reach out and engage with the Filipino community throughout New Zealand and provide them with relevant and current legal and settlement information, Mr. Mauro “Ka Uro” Oreta of AKLnzPINOYS organised the Second Immigration Seminar for Student Visa holders on 5 December 2014 at the Philippine Consulate General in Auckland. Honorary Consul General Paulo Garcia and Atty. Gene Bagsic conducted the Seminar attended by more than 50 Filipino student visa holders. The Seminar was intended to enlighten participants on the basic legal information, requirements, procedures, difficulties and problems encountered in pursuing the Student Visa pathway to gain residency in New Zealand.

Honorary Consul General Garcia and Atty. Bagsic discussed and interacted extensively with the participants on the various aspects and steps related to securing a Student Visa as well as those covered by the Skilled Migrant Category. Throughout the seminar, the speakers referred to the relevant pages and documents found in the Immigration New Zealand website.

AKLnzPINOYS also invited Ms. Cheng Goh, Employer Migrant Liaison from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to also speak about the services and assistance being provided to migrants such as drawing up of curriculum vitae (CV), preparation for interviews and CV-employment matching. Guest speakers from ANZ Bank and Western Union, namely, Ms. Rosalie Caguiat and Mr. Gene Orejana, respectively, also talked about the services their respective companies offer providing guidance on how to access them.

It is envisaged that those who attended the Seminar will be enabled to assess themselves through their own respective process and avoid pitfalls and problems arising from erroneous and unmeritorious immigration applications and help others who may be in similar situations. With the information obtained from the Seminar, it is hoped that the participants will be in a better position to guide others who are considering to migrate to New Zealand find proper information on the Immigration New Zealand website and somehow assess and protect themselves as best they can.

Given the positive feedback from the participants and the usefulness and importance of the Seminar, more sessions are being lined up in the near future.