A BBC investigation has uncovered evidence that some immigration advisers are coaching migrants to fabricate domestic abuse allegations to secure permanent residency in the UK, exploiting a fast-track system designed to protect genuine victims.
Undercover reporters posing as clients recorded an immigration adviser, Eli Ciswaka of Corporate Immigration UK, offering to create false domestic abuse stories for £900 to help clients obtain indefinite leave to remain. Ciswaka, who is neither a registered solicitor nor a regulated immigration adviser, claimed a 100% success rate with such applications and showed reporters a Home Office approval letter for a client.
"What evidence are you going to use because she doesn't hit me or anything so there's no domestic violence," our reporter asked. "Orally," Ciswaka replied. "You two have been having an argument and she's been telling you things like: 'Remember, I'm the one who brought you here' - those kind of things."
He later described his approach as presenting cases as "psychological domestic abuse" where "someone is playing with your mind," assuring clients their partners would not be questioned or affected by the false allegations.
The domestic abuse concession allows migrants on temporary partner visas who experience abuse to apply for three months' leave to remain with benefits, after which they can seek indefinite leave—a significantly faster route than the typical five-year wait for permanent residency.
Official figures reveal 5,596 migrants applied for indefinite leave to remain as domestic abuse victims in the year to September 2025, a 50% increase over three years. Approximately 1,424 applications came from men, representing a 66% rise over two years, while women's applications increased by 47%.
Victims of false allegations report that partners have made baseless police reports to generate crime reference numbers used as Home Office evidence, despite investigations resulting in no action. The Home Office states that crime reference numbers alone are not treated as proof of abuse.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips condemned the exploitation: "The unacceptable abuse of this route, which protects genuine victims from the devastation of domestic abuse, is utterly shameful. I have personally seen the deplorable impact of this type of underhanded tactic."
The Immigration Advice Authority has pledged to investigate and "take robust enforcement action" against those involved in wrongdoing, while Immigration Services Commissioner Gaon Hart warned the public to "only use registered advisers, anything else puts you at serious risk."