The lawyer representing eight Indian students facing deportation says they'll leave voluntarily in the hope of returning on a valid visa.
They'll leave New Zealand by Monday next week, but are asking the Ombudsman to review their cases and remove their deportation status.
The students were caught up in a visa scam, but Immigration NZ has refused to see them as victims.
Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont says the students have high hopes of returning.
"The students are pretty confident the Ombudsman is going to agree with [them] and disagree with the process which Immigration NZ has undertaken," he told Newshub.
Mr McClymont says it's positive to see them take a stand against a corrupt system, and their ordeal is a symptom of a growing problem.
"These students have taken a stand, and a lot of people are now aware that there's a very rotten and corrupt system out there, and there's a lot of people who are motivated to do something to change it."
The students took sanctuary in a Ponsonby church in early February in an attempt to stave off deportation.
"The government is merciless," one told Newshub.
"Leaders from different groups and leaders from churches appealed to them for compassion, but they are still doing the same thing. I guess they don't understand the meaning of mercy."
"Immigration have failed," supporter and Mt Albert by-election candidate Joe Carolan told Newshub.
"The Government have failed and the agents system and the education system here have failed."
Newshub.
