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
A BBC probe has uncovered a growing trend where migrants are fabricating domestic abuse stories to secure residency in the UK. This practice is leveraging a special provision introduced by the Home Office to assist genuine victims of abuse in obtaining permanent status more swiftly than through traditional pathways like asylum applications.
Legal experts warn that the system’s leniency in verifying these claims is enabling migrants to exploit the process. British partners, often unsuspecting, face significant disruptions as false allegations are used to prolong their relationships or maintain their status. The BBC’s investigation highlights how this concession, designed to protect abuse survivors, is increasingly being manipulated.
According to the findings, the number of domestic abuse-based residency applications has now surpassed 5,500 annually—a figure that has surged by more than 50% in just three years. One notable case involved a British mother who was accused of abuse by her former partner after she reported him for rape. He claimed the allegation was fabricated to keep him in the country, despite no evidence supporting it.
Undercover Report Reveals Tactics
During an undercover operation, a BBC reporter met Eli Ciswaka, an immigration adviser associated with Corporate Immigration UK. Ciswaka had previously been contacted by a client from Pakistan who wanted to leave his British wife for a mistress but feared losing his residency. The adviser quickly suggested a strategy: pretending to be a victim of domestic abuse.
“What evidence are you going to use because she doesn’t hit me or anything so there’s no domestic violence?” the reporter asked. “Orally,” Ciswaka replied. “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.”
Ciswaka elaborated on his plan, explaining how he would present the case to the Home Office. The process allows migrants in abusive relationships with British citizens to apply for temporary residency, often using minimal proof. After a three-month period, they can then seek indefinite leave to remain, granting them the right to live, work, and study in the UK permanently.
Typically, foreign nationals require at least five years on a visa to apply for permanent residency. The concession, however, accelerates this timeline, creating an opportunity for exploitation. The BBC’s investigation sheds light on how some legal professionals are encouraging migrants to create false narratives, turning the system into a tool for extending their stay in the UK.
