UK visa applicants arrested for identity fraud

11 November 2011 07:50 am

Two Sri Lankan visa applicants have been arrested this week for using deception and false identities to apply for UK visas. They were referred by the UK Border Agency to the CID in Colombo.

The visa applicants were applying for Family visit and Tier 1 dependant visas. The two visa applications have been refused and the applicants will have a 10 year ban on travel to the UK. In addition they now face prosecution for their actions.

UK Border Agency Entry Clearance Manager, Claire Murray, said, “We will not tolerate abuse of the UK’s immigration rules. Where we see abuse, we will take action against those involved. I would strongly advise visa applicants not to submit false documents and not to use false identities or other forms of deception.”

The UK Border Agency uncovered this deception because it takes biometric data from customers as an integral part of the visa application process.

Two visa applicants were arrested previously in August for similar offences. (Source: British High Commission)