Sham immigration lawyers to lose their cash in crackdown on visa abuses | Politics | News

Fake immigration lawyers who help immigrants obtain visas and fight deportations will have their money seized under new powers.

The Home Office said its Immigration Advisory Agency can trace and freeze assets, recover illicit gains and “bring criminals to justice without the need for police support”.

Officials say the money will be reinvested into frontline policing to “shut down the networks it once funded.”

In one case, a fake consultant made more than half a million pounds by preying on immigrants hoping to stay in Britain.

In another, three rogue immigration consultants pocketed more than £3 million by targeting victims online with advice on visa applications and how to fight deportations.

Fake immigration ‘lawyers’ often act as intermediaries for those who want to abuse the immigration system or make money by providing shoddy or outright fake immigration advice.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “Rogue immigration consultants who abuse our system will pay the price.

“By supporting the Immigration Agency with tough new powers, we are taking away criminals’ dirty money and using it to strengthen our borders and keep our streets safe.”

This comes on top of new powers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act under which people posing as immigration lawyers will face fines of up to £15,000.

Regulators could fine fraudulent firms and consultants who pose as immigration consultants to help illegal immigrants apply to stay in the country.

The changes would also close a loophole that allowed someone currently banned from giving immigration advice to continue doing so by claiming to be doing so under “supervision.”

Sukhwinder Singh Kang was given an 18-month suspended sentence for fraud at Southwark Crown Court after posing as a registered level 3 immigration consultant with false qualifications.

He targeted people despite having little knowledge of immigration.

Using Facebook support groups as sources, he claimed he could sort visa applications with “special access” to the Home Office, defraud his victims of thousands of pounds in upfront fees and obtain personal identification documents.

Kang even arranged weekly payments, faked staff to handle the applications, and provided a fake professional building address.