Everyone’s An Expert
I have written recently about the fact that immigration has taken centre stage as of late and largely based on the fact that we are now just five months from our national elections. Immigration is one of those topics that gets good headlines and soundbites, so we can expect more news to surface before the polling booths open.
However along with the political commentary, largely to drive votes, there is also the gradual rise of the armchair experts, many of of whom surface to add their weight to that commentary. It’s not only elections that surface these individuals and more recently, we have seen plenty of these folks popping up in relation to the active investor visa - particularly in terms of where the money should be flowing.
The common theme among these very vocal folks is that they generally have no idea as to how the process actually works, the motivations that drive migrants or how much of our system relies on how we market our offering to the world. These commentators also tend to voice an often negative view of the migrant eco-system, which is fuelled by that lack of understanding.
The danger for us as a country is that the louder these voices are, and the more airtime they get, the stronger the signal we send to the world that we might not be that migrant-friendly. These commentators often forget that we are in competition with other countries for talent and investment.
Of course for those who are not quite so prominent, the impacts they can have are more directly relevant to applicants. Armchair experts who then advise applicants on what to do or how to do it, having no real clue as to whether that advice might be accurate or completely off base.
This week we take a look at both of these types of immigration chatter and explain why getting good, qualified advice is crucial and how you can filter out the noise from the facts, when it comes to the process involved with making the big move.
But My Friend Told Me…
For my fellow advisers, reading this article, they will probably nod in agreement, that the one thing we loathe to hear from a client or potential client is the “but my friend told me…”. You can swap friend out for colleague, aunty, next-door neighbour or that guy who posted on Facebook once. Migrants for some reason are particularly susceptible to following advice from complete strangers, which when you are are contemplating a move to the other side of the world, navigating a very complex legal process, seems somewhat bizarre.
The issue, at least in my view is that when you are tackling something so important and so complicated, its very tempting to look for positive reinforcement. You just want someone or anyone to tell you, that the path you are on is the right one and the steps you are taking are going to get you there. It is human nature to want that positive feedback and if you are panicking about something the faster you can get it, the better.
The Rumour Mill
The migrant rumour mill can be a very dangerous way of planning your move. How each person experiences the process will be unique to them.
Enter the social media armchair experts, often well-intentioned but poorly equipped folks who like to offer their advice. Often migrants themselves who have made the move, who then think they have mastered the process and are ready to spread the good word to the next folks in the queue.
The obvious problem here, is that the process one person went through five years ago to secure visas and make the move, will differ greatly to the process involved now. Even for those applying under the same, current set of requirements, the process will work differently because, people are different. Remember that great video game Lemmings? This is just like that. Unfortunately for those looking to do this on a budget, needing that advice and positive reinforcement, it is all too easy to become a victim to terrible advice.
To make things worse, the information you read in these social media groups, is often second, third or fourth hand - like a series of Chinese whispers. We see this a lot when it comes to policy changes. By the time it has run through every social media platform on earth, the result is far from reality.
My advice to anyone considering this move or those who might have made it half-way and now need advice on how to finish the process is to think about whether the advice that Bob from Timaru is dispensing via Facebook is going to steer you down the right path or not. When it comes to a process as important as migrating, you need to perhaps invest in the right advice from someone who knows what they are doing.
Armchair Commentators
I bumped into a really interesting conversation on social media earlier in the week, one of a fair few I have seen with a pretty common thread. The original post was produced by a fairly prominent figure in NZ finance, who had some opinions on investor migrants and how they should have to navigate the tax system (tax is a big consideration for most investor applicants, particularly those out of the US).
As a starter, the comments referred to Peter Thiel as an example, only Peter Thiel never applied as an investor and was granted citizenship as an exception by a completely different Minister (that has raised some controversy in recent years). The post went on to essentially talk about how NZ should be extracting and deriving as much benefit as possible and basically we shouldn’t be giving investors any special considerations.
Opinions Without Substance
Immigration has a habit of bringing out a lot of uneducated opinion, which unfortunately often creates a negative sentiment towards the process and applicants.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, but it helps if that opinion is supported by some facts and perhaps a better understanding of the issue being commented on.
Migrants, including investors do get a significant benefit by being able to live in this great little country, but on the other side of that equation, this great little country, gets a significant amount of benefit from the migrants that chose to live here.
It is the fact that these applicants have a choice that escapes these armchair masterminds. Some of us seem to have held on to the belief that everyone is lining up to live here, and while that might have been true a few years back, when the Lord of the Rings movies rolled out, it isn’t quite the same now. Demand is still high, but we are increasingly finding ourselves competing with other countries (our neighbours across the Tasman being the biggest) for that talent and investment.
There is a very real danger when prominent New Zealanders decide to voice their opinions about migrants, because migrants listen - particularly those looking to invest here. If the signals are negative or pushing only one side of the equation (what’s in it for us), then that doesn’t bode well for our overall marketing. It becomes even more problematic when those commentators have little to no understanding as to the longer-term benefits migrants bring.
New Zealand tends to think about migrants in the here and now, e.g. what value they bring immediately, usually measured by the criteria they are applying under. For skilled migrants, that is what need they meet in the current labour market, and for investors its what we can do with the money they need to invest for the visa.
The reality however is that these applicants provide much greater benefit over the longer-term. Skilled migrants, go on to run companies, build businesses and have children who then go on to do the same. Investors place a set sum in to the economy for the visa process, but if we welcome and support them, go on to invest far more money in to the economy longer term.
Even those coming here initially on short term visas to study or work, may go on to become key components in our labour market. Over the years we have fallen in to the trap of commoditising migrants, treating them like short-term fixes, instead of valuing them for what they bring today and what they can do for us in the years to come. Our more prominent figures in politics, finance and all aspects of life, should think a little harder about that value before they take to social media.
Single Source Of Truth
Immigration advice is too important to be left to guesswork, social media commentary, or well-meaning opinions from people who are simply not qualified to give it. While there are plenty of “experts” out there willing to offer views, the only advice that should be relied on is advice from someone properly qualified and licensed to provide it. Someone who has taken the time and effort to understand your situation, ask the right questions and provide a clear, plain-English explanation of the pathway that might exist for you.
Good immigration advice is not just about knowing the rules or how to fill in the forms. It is about understanding how policy applies to real people, real businesses, and real consequences. A small mistake, an outdated assumption, or advice taken from the wrong source can create delays, refusals, or long-term immigration problems.
That is why your single source of truth should always be a licensed immigration professional. We are accountable, trained, regulated, and required to provide advice based on current policy and your specific circumstances.
When the outcome matters as much as it does for migrants, you need to get the right advice from the right people.
Until next week!
