UK visa system abused by gang members
July 19 2010 by Liam Clifford
gangs infiltrating uk visa system
A report from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) has suggested that criminal gangs are establishing phony companies in order to apply for UK work visas for their members.
The gangs are applying for the visas under the UK points based
system in order to ship in their members from abroad. The system allows
employers to ‘sponsor’ work visa applications, which has opened doors to abuse
of the system by criminals.
Before the new system was introduced, gang
members would go to extreme lengths to smuggle their foreign members into the
UK. Now, they are able to set up companies and bring them in almost legitimately
with their own UK work visa or student visa.
Sir Andrew Green of
Migrationwatch, claimed Soca is right to point out the flaws in the new system.
He said, "The points-based system turned the immigration system on its head.
Instead of granting a visa being a matter of judgment by immigration officers,
the initiative is almost entirely on the business or college making the
application on behalf of a foreign national."
"We now have a box-ticking
exercise, and the default position is to grant a visa," he explained.
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