Migrants making false domestic abuse claims to stay in UK, BBC investigation finds

Migrants Making False Domestic Abuse Claims to Stay in UK, BBC Investigation Finds

System Exploited as Partners Face Unintended Consequences

A BBC investigation has uncovered that some migrants are using fabricated domestic abuse allegations to secure permanent residency in the UK. These individuals are leveraging a special provision introduced by government officials, designed to assist real victims of abuse in obtaining residency faster than through traditional pathways like asylum. However, insufficient verification by the Home Office has enabled them to exploit the system, leaving unsuspecting British partners in turmoil.

The number of people applying for accelerated residency under domestic abuse claims has surged to over 5,500 annually, a rise of more than 50% in just three years. Lawyers warn that the lack of rigorous checks allows false accusations to be accepted without substantial proof, often disrupting the lives of those accused. In one instance, a British mother accused her male partner of domestic abuse after he claimed it to stay in the UK following her report of rape. She maintains the allegation is untrue, yet the partner used it to avoid deportation to Pakistan.

The BBC’s undercover reporter recently encountered an immigration adviser in London’s St Pancras hotel. The man, having recently arrived from Pakistan, explained his dilemma: he wanted to leave his British wife but couldn’t without risking his visa. The adviser, Eli Ciswaka, quickly proposed a solution—pretending to be a victim of domestic abuse. For £900, he promised to craft a narrative for the Home Office to secure the client’s residency status.

“What evidence are you going to use because she doesn’t hit me or anything so there’s no domestic violence?” the reporter asked during their meeting.

Ciswaka responded, “Orally. 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 outlined his plan to present the case as a legitimate abuse scenario, despite its fabricated nature.

Under Home Office regulations, partners of British citizens who are victims of domestic abuse can apply for a concession that grants them temporary residency. This allows them to stay in the UK for three months, during which they can claim benefits. Afterward, they may apply for indefinite leave to remain, offering permanent residency with no time limits. This process is significantly quicker than other routes, such as the five-year wait for asylum seekers.

Experts have expressed concern that these rules are being manipulated due to their speed and leniency. The BBC’s investigation into the immigration system highlights how legal advisers, including Ciswaka, are actively helping migrants create false stories to gain residency. His company, Corporate Immigration UK, frequently promotes the domestic abuse concession online, claiming success in securing residency for clients.