News

Several Sri Lankans smuggled to Britain by criminal gangs

26 May, 2023

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Several Sri Lankans have been smuggled to Britain by criminal gangs, a Sky News investigation has found.

According to Sky News, criminal gangs are using Britain’s need to fill jobs by using the skilled worker visa system as a route to move people to the UK. Under the scheme, someone who has been offered a job in the UK is allowed to bring dependents with them.

But Sky News has been told about multiple cases where the entitlement to bring dependents on a skilled worker visa is being abused.

Sky News has obtained false documents submitted by one Sri Lankan to a care agency in the UK with her job application. They include a nursing diploma and fake certificates for biology, physics and chemistry.

Her fake CV boasts she spent seven years “providing direct nursing care to patients in a busy hospital ward environment” – and two years providing care to patients in a home for the elderly.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are actively investigating the claims made.

“Abuse of our immigration system will not be tolerated. Anyone who has used false documents, misrepresented their personal circumstances or practiced deception by any other means will have their application refused and may face a ban on making further applications for up to 10 years.”

The Home Office is now reviewing its processes to try to prevent future abuse of the skilled worker visa system. (Colombo Gazette)

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