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Home Office opens probe into migrants ‘buying fake jobs to remain in UK illegally’
At least 250 cases of fake job records were used to secure UK skilled worker visas, with migrants paying up to £13,000, the Home Office said in its ongoing probe.
- The Home Office opened an urgent investigation following The Times' undercover findings after reporters documented contacts with 26 visa agents and over 250 fake jobs backing skilled worker visas.
- Tighter eligibility and scarce vacancies pushed demand into an immigration black market as last year the Labour Government raised the skilled worker visa salary floor from £38,700 to £41,700.
- Secret filming revealed the mechanics: forged CVs, bank and payroll records, and coached interviews; migrants paid up to £13,000 and lodged a 25% cash deposit for certificate of sponsorship.
- A Home Office spokesperson said it is investigating and pledged enforcement, warning migrants using bogus sponsorships face entry bans or deportation and sponsorship costs up to 20,000.
- With about 931,000 skilled workers and dependents in the scheme's early years, fraudulent sponsorship risks systemic harm, especially as workers can apply for permanent residency after five years.
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Fake job sponsorships fuel immigration black market: Report
VISA agents are selling fake jobs to migrants to help them stay in the UK, offering paperwork that appears legitimate but is linked to work that does not exist.In meetings secretly filmed by The Times, agents described how they arrange skilled worker visa sponsorships for migrants at risk of deportation.On paper, applicants are shown as working for licensed companies in skilled roles, supported by CVs, payroll records and bank statements indicat…
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Total News Sources4
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left, 50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 50%
C 50%
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