Umesh Patel Sentenced For Immigration Fraud

A 59-year-old man has been sentenced to nine months of home detention and six months of post-detention conditions after a major investigation uncovered a long-running immigration fraud scheme, RNZ reported.

Umesh Patel appeared at the Waitākere District Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to several charges related to falsifying employment arrangements used to support visa applications for foreign nationals.

According to RNZ, Patel charged applicants between $10,000 and $30,000 for his services. The applicants were told to deposit money into company accounts under the pretence of business income, which Patel later returned to them as wages, minus PAYE deductions. This process was designed to create the false appearance of genuine employment.

The falsified transactions were used to deceive Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and obtain visa approvals. While some of Patel’s businesses initially operated legitimately, RNZ reported that he later used them to fabricate jobs and submit fraudulent documents to INZ.

RNZ cited INZ general manager of Immigration Compliance and Investigations Steve Watson as saying that the scheme was calculated and exploitative, undermining the integrity of New Zealand’s immigration system. Watson noted that although a few individuals may have carried out limited work, most cases involved no genuine intention to provide employment. He described the offending as serious and unacceptable.

Patel also involved associates and individuals who had previously obtained residence through his operations, registering them as company directors. However, RNZ reported that these individuals had little or no control over the companies, while Patel retained full operational oversight and authority.

INZ stated that this arrangement enabled Patel to obscure his role and broaden the extent of the fraud. The agency is continuing to assess the immigration status of people affected by the scheme.

Watson told RNZ that INZ remains committed to maintaining the integrity of the immigration system and ensuring it functions fairly for everyone. He added that those who deliberately mislead immigration authorities or exploit the system for personal gain would be identified and held accountable.