Immigration queue tension rises

By ALAN PERROTT

Paranoia and anger are rising in the queues outside the Queen St, Auckland, branch of the Immigration Service over the Government's tighter language requirements for immigrants.

Almost all prospective immigrants approached by the Herald yesterday declined to comment on the new policy, which came into effect at midnight on Tuesday. Some said they were afraid to attract attention from immigration officials or were suspicious about the purpose behind our questions.

One middle-aged Asian women simply recited "no speak the English" to every inquiry.

Staffan Ljunggren, who works at the coffee stand outside the Immigration Service office, said it had been a difficult morning since news of the policy change began filtering through the queue.

"A lot of Asian people have been getting a bit upset this morning," he said. "There's even been a few immigration staff coming out complaining about getting a lot of grief."

Dr Naz Qazi, 48, from the United Arab Emirates, who had been waiting at the office for almost six hours, was more upset about the standard of service than the English test.

She felt that all Asians were being punished for the language failures of Chinese immigrants.

"Most of these people don't speak any English at all and I don't think it's fair on a lot of other Asians, like Indians, who are being made to take the tougher tests as well."

Dr Qazi says she writes English better than she speaks it after completing her thesis in zoology at an English university. "I did one English course in Dubai before leaving, but it was run by a Taiwanese man who couldn't speak English at all. But I would have no problem doing the test."

Although her English is excellent, she said she still had problems understanding New Zealand slang. "You don't learn that in a language class."

Helma Dalton, from the Netherlands, supported the language test. Mrs Dalton was most worried about how teachers cope with pupils who speak no English.

Further reading
Feature: Immigration