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 investigation has uncovered that some migrants are falsely claiming domestic abuse to remain in the UK permanently. These individuals are taking advantage of a policy designed to assist real victims of abuse in securing residency faster than through traditional routes like asylum. According to legal experts, the Home Office’s current checks are insufficient, allowing these claims to be made with minimal evidence. British partners, often caught in the crossfire, have faced significant disruptions to their lives due to these fabricated allegations.
The concern over the misuse of the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession is the latest finding from a BBC probe into the UK’s immigration framework. The policy, intended to support victims of abuse who are partners of British citizens, has become a target for exploitation. In one instance, a British mother was falsely accused of domestic abuse by her ex-partner, who had previously been reported for rape. This false accusation enabled him to stay in the country, despite the allegations never being proven.
In a London hotel in late February, an immigration adviser met with a client who had recently arrived from Pakistan. The man’s issue was his desire to leave his British wife for his mistress, but his visa was tied to their marriage. If he separated, he would have to return to Pakistan. During their conversation, the adviser, Eli Ciswaka, proposed a solution: fabricating domestic abuse claims. He later confirmed this plan, offering to create a false narrative for a fee of £900.
Ciswaka, operating under the name Corporate Immigration UK, frequently promotes the domestic abuse concession on social media. He boasts of successes in helping clients secure residency through these claims. During the meeting, he explained how he would convince the Home Office by using oral evidence. This included statements like, “Remember, I’m the one who brought you here,” to simulate a relationship breakdown due to abuse. The process allows migrants to gain three months of temporary leave, which can then be extended to indefinite residency.
The number of applications under this concession has grown by over 50% in three years, reaching more than 5,500 annually. This rapid increase has raised alarms among experts, who worry about the ease with which individuals can exploit the system. Under current rules, migrants on temporary visas as partners of British citizens can apply for a special concession if they are victims of domestic abuse. If approved, they can stay in the UK indefinitely, with no time limit, compared to the usual five-year wait for other residency pathways.
“What evidence are you going to use because she doesn’t hit me or anything so there’s no domestic violence?” the BBC 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.”
Lawyers and immigration advisers are reportedly encouraging migrants to create abuse narratives, sometimes through online advertising. This highlights a growing trend where the policy intended to protect victims is being used as a tool for legal maneuvering. The Home Office’s reliance on self-reported evidence has made the system vulnerable to abuse, according to those involved in the investigation.