Peak season for UK visa application fraud
August 24 2009 by Rebekah Nahai
UK visa fraud on the rise this month
The UK Border Agency is tightening immigration controls as peak season for fraudulent UK visa applications arrives.
More applications using false and forged documents are made between August and December than in earlier months. But identification of fraudulent applications is also increasing, from 584 caught in 2007 to 657 in 2008.
Ed Mackie, UK Border Agency regional manager for northeast Asia and Australasia, said over 100 false applications have been discovered through the National Bureau of Investigation- Interpol Division, in operation since 2007.
Mackie’s office is pushing for the maximum sentence for offenders attempting to exploit the UK immigration system. An online application program has also been implemented in an attempt to discourage fraudsters.
Mackie said, “We have introduced state-of-the-art online visa application and payment technology which will dramatically aid our efforts to stamp out fraudulent and forged applications.”
The UK embassy says offenders may be arrested and will be banned for ten years from making further UK visa applications.
Mackie urges foreign nationals to either make visa applications personally or enlist the help of a legitimate, licensed visa and immigration organisation.
But he adds, “It is your responsibility to check your documents carefully and make sure they are genuine.”
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