.svg)
A disturbing "cash-for-visas" racket is operating in East London, with allegations surfacing that corrupt immigration advisers and unscrupulous businesses are actively helping under-qualified foreign workers dupe the Home Office. The illicit scheme involves charging exorbitant fees, sometimes as high as £22,000 per person, to secure "skilled" jobs in the UK for individuals who may not meet the necessary criteria, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.
Concerns are mounting that this exploitation of the skilled worker visa route could be a significant immigration scandal, with some critics suggesting it could be "worse than the small boats crisis." The revelations also threaten to undermine Sir Keir Starmer's proposed immigration crackdown, which relies heavily on new restrictions on skilled visas to reduce the economy's dependence on cheap overseas labour.
One particularly brazen operation in Whitechapel, openly using "work permit" in its business name, has allegedly been a central player in the illegal trade of Certificates of Sponsorship (COS) for several years. Sources indicate that some individuals involved in the "Care visa" and "work permit" sectors, particularly of Bangladeshi origin, have become "millionaires overnight" in East London due to these fraudulent activities.
The modus operandi of the scam is deeply concerning. Businesses apply to the Home Office, claiming an inability to find suitable candidates within the UK, thereby securing special "sponsorship" licences to recruit workers from abroad. Immigration advisers then reportedly coach immigrants on how to deceive officials, encouraging them to inflate their educational qualifications and professional experience to secure the coveted visas.
A secret filming operation captured one such adviser, a partner in a government-regulated advice firm, admitting to taking substantial "bungs" to instruct foreigners on how to fraudulently apply. The Home Office has stated it is taking the matter seriously and is investigating.
The lucrative nature of this scam has led to the proliferation of shell companies, reportedly set up with the sole purpose of profiting from hiring foreign staff. These companies often shut down after approximately a year, having extorted migrants and exploited them for cheap labour.
In connection with these allegations, a Mr. Estibeiro has been named, though he denied involvement in any "illegal or unethical" activity. He stated he was "solely involved in student recruitment" and insisted he consistently informed anyone inquiring about Certificates of Sponsorship for skilled worker visas that "we do not deal with such matters." The Home Office has also stated that Mr. Estibeiro was not officially hired to work the UK end of the business.
As the investigation unfolds, the scale of this alleged deception and its potential impact on the UK's immigration system are becoming increasingly apparent, demanding urgent attention from authorities.
