Migrants making false domestic abuse claims to stay in UK, BBC investigation finds
Migrants using false domestic abuse claims to remain in UK, BBC finds
A BBC investigation has uncovered that some migrants are fabricating stories of domestic abuse to secure permanent residency in the UK. These individuals exploit a policy introduced by government ministers to assist real victims of abuse, enabling them to bypass slower processes like asylum applications. Legal experts warn that insufficient scrutiny by the Home Office allows these claims to be accepted with minimal proof, often disrupting the lives of unsuspecting British partners.
Exploiting a fast-track pathway
The domestic abuse concession, designed to help migrants who are victims of violence, has become a target for abuse. Over the past three years, the number of annual claims under this scheme has surged by more than half, reaching over 5,500. Critics argue that the system’s speed makes it vulnerable to manipulation, especially when migrants rely on their partners for basic needs like shelter and sustenance.
“What evidence are you going to use because she doesn’t hit me or anything so there’s no domestic violence?”
During a meeting in London’s St Pancras hotel in late February, an immigration adviser named Eli Ciswaka revealed how he helps clients create false narratives. Working under the company Corporate Immigration UK, he boasted about his success in guiding migrants through the process. The undercover BBC reporter, posing as a new immigrant from Pakistan, was asked to pretend to be a victim of abuse to retain his visa.
Ciswaka outlined his strategy, explaining that fabricated claims often rely on verbal accounts. He suggested scenarios like partners accusing each other of emotional abuse, such as saying, “Remember, I’m the one who brought you here.” This method allows migrants to gain temporary residency and eventually apply for indefinite leave to remain, which grants them the right to live, work, and study in the UK permanently. In contrast, typical visa holders must wait five years for such a status.
In one case, a British mother was falsely accused of domestic abuse by her ex-partner after she left him for reporting rape. The accusation, she claims, was made to keep him in the UK. Though the allegations were never proven, she was forced to stay in Pakistan due to the claim. This highlights how the system can be weaponized, leaving genuine victims of abuse sidelined and partners caught in the crossfire.