A clandestine network of legal firms and advisers is charging migrants thousands of pounds to fabricate LGBTQ+ identities and secure asylum in the UK, according to an undercover investigation.
Reporters posing as international students from Pakistan and Bangladesh with expiring visas discovered a systematic scheme where advisers provide fabricated evidence, coaching, and cover stories to support false asylum claims based on sexual orientation.
"Anyone found trying to exploit the system will face the full force of the law, including removal from the UK," a Home Office spokesperson stated in response to the findings.
While UK asylum law protects individuals facing persecution in countries where same-sex relationships are criminalized, investigators found the system being manipulated by those seeking to remain after their legal visas expire.
Key findings from the investigation include:
- One law firm quoted £7,000 for a fabricated asylum claim, assuring clients the chance of refusal was "very low"
- Advisers coached clients to visit doctors pretending to have depression or even HIV to obtain medical evidence
- An immigration adviser with 17 years' experience offered to arrange fake sexual partners and photographic evidence
- Some schemes extended to bringing spouses to the UK who could then file additional false claims
At a community event organized by Worcester LGBT—a group claiming to support genuine gay asylum seekers—attendees revealed the deception.
"Most of the people here are not gays," one man admitted. Another stated bluntly: "Nobody is a gay here. Not even 1% are gay. Not even 0.01% are gay."
The investigation traced connections between Worcester LGBT and legal professionals, including Mazedul Hasan Shakil, a paralegal at Law & Justice Solicitors who founded the community group.
In a recorded consultation, adviser Tanisa Khan explained the process to an undercover reporter in her bedroom, detailing how she would create "a comprehensive package" including:
- Photographs at LGBTQ+ clubs and events
- Fabricated organizational letters
- False testimonies from supposed sexual partners
- Tickets and other supporting documentation
"There is no check-up to find out if the person is a gay," Khan told the reporter. "The main thing is what you say. You just have to tell them that 'I am a gay and it is my reality.'"
Her services carried a £2,500 price tag, with additional costs if claims reached the appeals stage. The investigation reveals how sophisticated deception techniques make false claims difficult for immigration officials to detect, raising serious questions about asylum system integrity.