Press release: Moldovan accountant admits providing unregulated immigration advice.

Tatiana Balan, aged 36 years, a Moldovan national living in Kingsmead Avenue, Hendon, London NW9 7NP, pleaded guilty at City of London Magistrates’ Court to eight charges of providing unregulated immigration advice and was today fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,430 costs.

The offences related to applicants obtaining work and residents permits. She traded as Quickbook Taxation , Hendon.

Between January 2011 and September 2013, she submitted over 400 work permit applications to the Home Office mainly for Romanian and Moldovian nationals. This was prior to the change in January 2014 of the immigration rules, allowing Romanian and Bulgarian citizens to exercise their Treaty Rights.

Sentencing her, the Magistrate commented that whilst he accepted she had not profited financially, nor had she prejudiced the lives of the applicants, at the time she was involved in these activities it was against the law.

Speaking about the decision, the Immigration Services Commissioner, Suzanne McCarthy said, “ We have clear standards outlining what we expect in terms of the fitness and competence of regulated advisers. Ms Balan chose to operate outside the law. I am delighted with the outcome of this case, and I hope it sends a clear message to other people considering providing immigration advice – either act within the law or you will find yourself in court.”