Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
Mr Gurjit James-Moore, 48, of James Moore Immigration Consulting Ltd, Lynton Avenue, Smethwick, West Midlands, pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court on 3 February 2016, to 10 charges of providing unregulated immigration advice or services committed since September 2013.
He asked for one further offence to be taken into consideration. The offences were considered so serious that he was committed to Southwark Crown Court for sentencing.
On 3 March 2016 he was sentenced by Judge Pitts at Southwark Crown Court to 9 months imprisonment, suspended for 2 years and ordered to work 200 hours unpaid community work within the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of 1,881.20 and to repay all his victims the monies he had charged them.
Judge Pitts describing his actions as:
The deliberate and dishonest targeting of vulnerable victims.
Speaking about the decision, Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner, Dr Ian Leigh, said:
The OISC is here to ensure that people seeking immigration advice are treated fairly by people they can trust to be fit and competent. James-Moore chose to operate outside the law.
I hope this sends a clear message to other people considering providing immigration advice act within the law or you will find yourself in court.