A de-registered Immigration Adviser who illegally gave immigration advice has received a suspended prison sentence.
Mrs Alina Dyer, 46, a businesswoman of Tersha Street, Richmond, was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Southwark Crown Court on 10 April 2019, after she was found guilty of one charge of providing unregulated immigration advice. Mrs Dyer was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation.
Alina Dyer was an OISC registered immigration adviser until she withdrew from regulation in May 2015. In court, Mrs Dyer stated that she set up a business in Cyprus providing immigration advice with her husband; he moved to Cyprus to manage the company while she remained in the UK.
Mrs Dyer gave immigration advice to the victim while in London, between August 2015 - January 2017, which as she was un-registered, was illegal.
In sentencing, HHJ Korner QC said, "You have been convicted on what in my view was overwhelming evidence that you were giving advice in respect of immigration matters. You told such obvious lies in the witness box that it was clear that you decided whatever happened you were not going to admit that you had been so advising.
"You utterly failed to tell her (the victim), and lied about that in the witness box, that you were not permitted to provide the services which in the past you had been so able to do and you knew that she was a vulnerable witness or person.
"You knew and simply didn't care. That is in my view an aggravating feature of your behaviour. It was and you knew full well a fraudulent enterprise and criminal conduct in order to obtain money. This is far too serious a case for anything other than a sentence of imprisonment."
Speaking about the decision, the Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner, Ian Leigh, said, "We have very clear standards outlining what we expect in terms of the fitness and competence of regulated advisers. Alina Dyer chose to operate outside these standards and outside the law. I am delighted with the outcome of this case, and I hope this sends a clear message to other people considering providing immigration advice - act within the law; or find yourself in court."
Notes to the Editor
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The OISC is an independent public body, established under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, to regulate the provision of immigration advice and services in the UK.
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The regulation concerning the provision of immigration advice only applies when it is given by a person in the UK
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For further information contact Victoria Bovill-Lamb, Investigations and Intelligence Team Manager at the OISC on 0207 211 1571.
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For media enquiries, please contact Cornelius Alexander, Corporate Communications Officer at the OISC on 0207 211 1617.
