King's Bench Chambers combines formidable strengths in immigration law advice with a friendly and open approach to client service. We are exclusively providing Immigration Law Advice.

Since lawyers in New Zealand are not required to hold, and often do not hold, any formal qualifications in immigration law advice and do not need to complete annual Continued Professional Development exclusive to immigration law, we only admit to our Chambers: Licensed Immigration Advisers and Enrolled Barristers/Solicitors who are also Licensed Immigration Advisers. Therefore we do not admit lawyers, and we do not provide any legal services reserved for lawyers. We are happy to refer you to employment lawyers in connection with work visa applications, or to Kings Counsel barristers for defence of any criminal charges before a Court.

We pride ourselves on our ability to assess a client's immigration needs quickly; we appreciate and understand how the pressures of serious immigration matters weigh on our clients, and we work with clients to provide the most suitable solution for the issues at hand.

King's Bench Chambers combines formidable strengths in immigration law advice with a friendly and open approach to client service. We are exclusively providing Immigration Law Advice.

Since lawyers in New Zealand are not required to hold, and often do not hold, any formal qualifications in immigration law advice and do not need to complete annual Continued Professional Development exclusive to immigration law, we only admit to our Chambers: Licensed Immigration Advisers and Enrolled Barristers/Solicitors who are also Licensed Immigration Advisers. Therefore we do not admit lawyers, and we do not provide any legal services reserved for lawyers. We are happy to refer you to employment lawyers in connection with work visa applications, or to Kings Counsel barristers for defence of any criminal charges before a Court.

We pride ourselves on our ability to assess a client's immigration needs quickly; we appreciate and understand how the pressures of serious immigration matters weigh on our clients, and we work with clients to provide the most suitable solution for the issues at hand.

This opportunity starts in November 2025 and allows for New Zealand residence after an investment of $1 Million or $2 Million. Talk to us if you wish to fast-track your residence or when you are a NZ business seeking investors.

This is a superb example of success when Licensed Immigration Advisers and Enrolled Barristers/Solicitors with specialised knowledge can 'rescue' a residence application that was horribly mis-managed.

Within weeks of our team becoming involved, this client and her family received their Residence visa.

Carefully check whether you are dealing with proven experts in immigration law advice - or someone who just tells you they are...

A fabulous outcome for a client who had to return to the Philippines empty-handed after he had qualified for the 'scarce' category of the 2021 Residence visa - but was poorly advised to include a partner who was not eligible.

Immigration New Zealand failed to process the application properly and declined his own residence application. He now is jobless in the Philippines and had given up hope to ever come to New Zealand again.

His luck just changed - he will be coming!

We supported a complaint to the Immigration Advisers Authority that will hopefully see the client receive a significant refund for the previous poor advice.

We will never leave you to the expertise of only one adviser, but will assemble a group of specialist advisers suitable for your immigration matter. You will always deal with at least two Principal Officers of our Chambers, there will never be juniors or clerks involved in dealing with your immigration case. If you wish to make an appointment to discuss a new matter with us, book in for an initial consultation with TWO Principal Officers of our Chambers here. We do not offer free appointments, but we charge a reasonable fee to review your matter with you. Any initial consultation fee will be credited back to you, should we accept you as a new client. We do not accept all matters.

Immigration New Zealand sometimes cancels visas before the travel has begun, often based on new information that came to light post-issuance. We can help to represent clients for a review of the cancellation or for a new application. There is no prohibition against applying again.

It is very distressing when visas for family members issue much later than those for the principal applicant, or when family members are stranded overseas. We can help by making compelling arguments to issue dependents' visas quickly, and we assess the visa chances for dependents.

When visa applications were poorly presented previously, sometimes through Do-It-Yourself applications or unqualified agents, declines can occur. We can help with requests for reconsideration or new-and-better repeat applications.

Not infrequently, migrants end up being unlawful in New Zealand, sometimes just for a few days - sometimes much longer. Being unlawful is a serious issue because it makes clients deportable. We can help by requesting interventions by the Immigration Minister to make the client lawful again, possibly only for just one day, so that a new application can be submitted.

An 'Acceptable Standard of Health' is a requirement for most visas that allow a stay in New Zealand for longer than 12 months. The 'Health Assessment Team' at Immigration New Zealand makes this determination, based on medical opinions from contracted general practitioners. We can help with specialist medical opinions to argue against visa declines on medical grounds.

Immigration New Zealand often sends warning letters about Potentially Prejudicial Information or for Requests of Further Information. These notifications are critical to respond to, because the next step can be a decline of the application. We can help with responding to Immigration New Zealand with comprehensive replies.

Declines happen, especially for applications from specific countries or for specific types of visas, such as student visa applications or visitor visa applications. Often, the declines are based on incomplete and poorly structured applications. We can help with requests for reconsideration or new-and-better applications.

Deportation notifications or Deportation Orders from the Compliance Team at Immigration New Zealand are the last steps before a migrant must leave New Zealand. We can help by discussing with the Compliance Officers alternatives to deportations.

New Zealand allows applicants for residence the opportunity to appeal against a declined application, or to appeal against a deportation liability. An appreciable number of appeals are successful. The hurdles before the Tribunal are high, and we can help with expert representation. Tribunal appeals are exclusively dealt with on the papers.

For all other immigration matters (student, work, residence, visitor visas, etc.) we refer you to one of our instructing Licensed Immigration Adviser firms: Barclays & Lloyds  As one of the largest immigration law advice firms in New Zealand they handle several thousand visas each year with 30+ Licensed immigration Advisers and Enrolled Barristers/Solicitors.

We accept instructions from barristers and solicitors in New Zealand, agents and counsellors offshore, Licensed Immigration Advisers and Licensed Education Counsellors, and self-referrals for any of the serious immigration matters listed above. New matters are referred to us here by email. For the booking of an initial consultation with TWO Principal Officers, click here.

Immigration New Zealand refused to issue resident visas to a Burundi family who had not seen their father in New Zealand for several years. The Minister disagreed and immediately issued permanent residence visas. 5 years of separation was just too much to let linger further!

The Minister can override a decline from Immigration New Zealand when there are the correct reasons advanced. It is important to note that Minister's decisions are completely discretionary; there is no obligation to even consider a request. But - compelling reasons can absolutely result in a positive outcome.

When you are unlawful you cannot apply for a new visa. The Minister of Immigration must first make you lawful again, and then you can apply for a new visa. This migrant ultimately received residence.

Many Do-It-Yourself applicants do not understand what 'compelling' evidence to return home, Immigration New Zealand wants to see in a Visitor Visa application.

When it is important to accelerate a decision by the immigration and protection Tribunal, they often allow an escalation of the case, to be heard quickly.

The correct process is a s61 request, to make the migrant lawful again. Only when lawful, can you apply for further visas. This client was unlawful for NINE years in New Zealand.

In some cases applicants do not meet requirements but present compelling cases to allow a Minister to override INZ

A Deportation Liability Notice is the penultimate step to remove a migrant from New Zealand. In this case the DLN was replaced with a 6-month work visa.

A deportation can be suspended to give the applicant the chance to establish a lawful life in New Zealand

Each visa application stands on its own and is considered on its own merit