The short version of how a visa scam got people into New Zealand - and into massive debt.

Seventeen people received permanent residency through a deregistered company at the heart of an alleged visa and residency scam.

A Stuff investigation included accusations from Indian migrant Karamjeet Singh that he got a visa from a "paper company" in Wellington, owned by his immigration adviser, but never did any work for it.

Karamjeet said while BC International Ltd, which traded as Bite Consulting, paid him a a wage, he was expected to then return the money. He instead worked under-the-table in Auckland.

Michael Carley, manager of Operations Support at Immigration NZ said 17 "predominantly Indian nationals" were given permanent residency through BC International between the company's incorporation in May 2012 and its dissolution in May this year.

The company's director and majority shareholder was Peter Ryan, a licensed immigration adviser, who also acted as Karamjeet's immigration adviser.

Carley's figures indicated Karamjeet was one of 20 people who successfully received work visas from BC International Ltd after the company was set-up.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF Immigration adviser Peter Ryan has denied any involvement in alleged visa fraud.

The window in which those visas were granted would appear to be small as a founding shareholder of the company, Richard Alexander, said the company was a "PO Box" while he owned it and he then handed it on to Ryan for no fee, saying it wasn't trading during his ownership.

Ryan has denied any part in an immigration fraud.

Charles Cameron, CEO of the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association of Australia and New Zealand said the RCSA would refer any complaints received about Ryan and Gurpreet to the Immigration Advisers Authority if they received them.

The Immigration Advisers Authority, which licenses immigration advisers, refused to say whether they were currently investigating Ryan.