Pakistan, Bangladesh students ‘becoming’ gay to seek asylum in UK

An undercover investigation in the UK has uncovered a dark network in which immigration consultants allegedly charged migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh thousands of pounds to falsely claim to be gay in order to secure asylum. The investigation, carried out by BBC reporters, found consultants offered ready-made stories, faked evidence and conducted coaching sessions to help applicants pass official scrutiny.

Undercover reporters uncover pay-on-demand system

The journalists, posing as students from Pakistan and Bangladesh, contacted immigration consultants as their visas were about to expire. They were offered “packages” of up to £7,000 to create a false case based on sexual orientation, without any valid asylum grounds.

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“There is no check-up as to whether the person is gay or not. What matters is what you say. I will give you a letter from someone and we will take some photos together, and that person will write that he had physical sex with you.”

Interaction suggests that personal statements and supporting documents can be manipulated to create a persuasive argument.

‘A successful implementation is worth it’

Consultants didn’t just settle for paperwork. They also demonstrated the long-term benefits of a successful claim.
“A successful application will be worth the work,” said the consultant, a woman. “You can live here, work here, and you are also entitled to benefits.” In one example, the counselor suggested extending the strategy to family members and that a spouse might make a similar request.

Stories, photos and progressive evidence

The network is claimed to offer end-to-end production, from transcribing personal histories to editing visual evidence. Reporters were told they would be given tickets to LGBTQ+ events and photographed at clubs to support their claims.

Applicants would later claim that returning home would risk their lives because same-sex relationships remain illegal in both Pakistan and Bangladesh.

It’s a different story within support groups

The investigation also took reporters to meetings held by Worcester LGBT, a group that supports asylum seekers.

A few participants privately admitted that they were not gay. A man identified as Zeeshan said: “Nobody here is gay. Not even 1 percent of them are gay. Not even 0.01 percent of them are gay.”

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Another participant clearly described the interview process: “You have to be really shameless when you go for a home office interview.”

Increasing allegations raise questions

The findings come at a time when asylum applications from Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals in the UK have risen sharply, particularly among those on student or work visas.

The data cited in the report shows that in 2023, the highest number of asylum requests based on sexual orientation took place in Pakistan, followed by Bangladesh.