Indian students told to leave New Zealand by Feb 22

The New Zealand's  immigration department put their deportation on hold temporarily and set February 22 as the deadline for them to leave.

Earlier, the immigration department issued deportation orders after it found that education agents in India allegedly submitted fraudulent bank loan documents of some students for admissions into universities. The department asked the students to leave immediately or face deportation.

Radio NZ — New Zealand’s public service radio broadcaster — quoted Alastair McClymont, the lawyer for the students, as saying the Immigration Department told him that it was willing to negotiate with the students and would allow them to reapply for student visas after they return to



India. He also said the students would not get a black mark against their name for future entry into New Zealand.

At the same time, as per Radio NZ’s report, Immigration New Zealand denied a deal with the students. Authorities said they were considering a request from the students’ lawyer to allow time for the students to leave the country voluntarily.About 10 people, including students and their relatives, are staying in the Ponsonby’s Unitarian Church for the last few weeks after the deportation issue cropped up.

Meanwhile, one of the students — Sujath Ullah Baig Mirza from Hyderabad — reportedly arrested and jailed for the last two days, was put on a flight to India on Friday.