A global network has been exploiting students by swindling them out of tens of thousands of pounds for fraudulent visa documents they believed would allow them to work in the UK.
A BBC investigation uncovered that middlemen, pretending to be recruitment agents, targeted international students seeking jobs in the care sector.
These students paid up to £17,000 each for sponsorship certificates that were supposed to be free. When they applied for skilled worker visas, the Home Office denied their applications due to invalid documentation.
Nadia, a 21-year-old from India, shared her experience of paying £10,000 to an agent for the correct documents to work in a care home. After months of waiting, she discovered the care home had no record of her sponsorship.
The investigation also highlighted the case of Taimoor Raza, a Pakistani national accused of selling 141 mostly invalid visa documents, earning nearly £1.2 million. Operating from the West Midlands, Raza posed as a legitimate recruitment agent, promising students jobs in care homes.
Initially, Raza provided some legitimate documents but quickly turned to selling fraudulent ones. While some students did receive valid visas and jobs, many others lost their life savings.
Ajay Thind, who paid £16,000 for a care worker visa and worked for Raza processing paperwork, became suspicious when multiple applications were rejected by the Home Office. Despite his concerns, he felt financially trapped in the job, suggesting that the total fraud could exceed £1.2 million.
Luke Piper, Head of Immigration at the Work Rights Centre, said, “Many people don’t report to the police because they’re terrified of the Home Office and the consequences of coming forward.”
Experts are calling on the UK government to take stronger action against these fraudulent practices and to support victims in reporting these crimes without fear. A Home Office spokesperson acknowledged the need for more action but assured that stringent systems are in place to identify and prevent fraudulent visa applications.
In 2022, the UK’s care sector, including care homes and agencies, faced a record shortage of workers, with 165,000 positions unfilled.
To address this, the government expanded recruitment options to include international applicants, leading to increased interest from countries like India, Nigeria, and the Philippines.
