UK Cracks Down on Fake Visa Sponsorship Ads with New Criminal Law
New offence targets online adverts selling bogus job sponsorships to curb visa fraud.
The UK government will introduce a new standalone criminal offence next week, making it illegal to advertise the sale of false visa sponsorships online. This move directly responds to an undercover investigation by The Times, which exposed a thriving black market where agents offer fake jobs and “certificates of sponsorship” to help migrants fraudulently obtain skilled worker visas. These schemes involve complex financial arrangements where salaries appear on paper to meet Home Office thresholds but never materialise in reality.
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed the change takes effect from Monday, with convicted offenders facing unlimited fines. Authorities will investigate both the fraudulent adverts and any resulting illegal working. While selling fake sponsorships was already prohibited, the investigation revealed a “mushrooming economy” of middlemen charging high fees, with hundreds of non-existent jobs advertised across sectors like hospitality, social care, IT, logistics, finance, and marketing. Secret filming documented over 250 fake job offers from 26 agents and companies.
The skilled worker visa route, launched in 2020 and expanded to address shortages (notably in care), allows sponsorship by approved employers for roles meeting salary and skill criteria. Recent tightening—higher minimum salaries, restrictions on care workers, and removal of many medium-skilled jobs—has driven some applicants toward illegal shortcuts in pursuit of indefinite leave to remain. Charities note genuine job seekers struggle to find legitimate sponsors, pushing vulnerable people into risky networks.
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The Labour government, in power since July 2024, highlighted intensified enforcement: over 17,400 visits and 12,300 arrests since taking office, significant increases from prior levels. The Online Safety Act further obliges platforms to remove illegal immigration-related content, with hefty fines for non-compliance. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has prioritised tackling both legal and illegal migration surges, promising tougher visa and residency rules ahead.
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