Fake Gay Claims Used to Game Immigration System

An investigation by BBC reporters has exposed a clandestine network operating in the UK, where immigration advisers are allegedly charging migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh hefty sums to falsely assert their homosexuality in order to secure asylum.

Undercover journalists, posing as students from the aforementioned countries, approached immigration advisers as their visas neared expiration. Despite lacking legitimate asylum grounds, they were offered 'packages' costing up to £7,000 to construct a fabricated case based on sexual orientation. The advisers reportedly offered to provide a letter and staged photographs as evidence, emphasizing that personal testimony and supporting documents could be manipulated to create a convincing claim.

Furthermore, they pitched the prospective long-term benefits of a successful claim, including the ability to live, work, and claim benefits in the UK. The investigation also revealed the alleged end-to-end fabrication process, from scripting personal histories to arranging visual proof such as attending LGBTQ+ events and being photographed at clubs to support their claims.

Additionally, the report shed light on meetings organized by Worcester LGBT, a group that supports asylum seekers, where several attendees privately admitted they were not gay. The rise in asylum applications from Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals in the UK, particularly among students and work visa holders, has raised questions, especially as data cited in the report indicates a surge in asylum claims based on sexual orientation from these countries.

Pakistan recorded the highest number of such claims, followed by Bangladesh in 2023.