An undercover media investigation has claimed that migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh — both countries where homosexual relationships are outlawed — are being charged thousands of pounds by immigration advisors to pose as gay in order to remain in the UK.The BBC reported that its journalists uncovered how migrants nearing the end of their visas are being provided with fabricated cover stories and are being coached on creating false evidence. They can then apply for asylum on the grounds that they are gay and fear for their lives if returned to Pakistan or Bangladesh.“The UK’s asylum process offers protection to people who can’t return to their home countries because they would be in danger, for example, in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh where gay relationships are illegal,” the BBC report stated, according to PTI.“These are often people whose student, work, or tourist visas have expired, rather than those who have just arrived in the country on small boats or through other illegal routes. This group now makes up 35% of all asylum claims, which topped 100,000 in 2025,” it added.According to Home Office statistics, Pakistan recorded the highest number of such asylum claims in 2023, followed by Bangladesh. Nigeria, India, and Uganda completed the top five.
How BBC operation unfolded
Giving details of its operation, the BBC said it sent in undercover reporters posing as students from Pakistan and Bangladesh, with their “visas” set to expire, after gathering initial evidence to investigate how willing immigration advisers were to help people make up false asylum claims.They discovered fake news websites, staged political protests and bogus medical conditions being used to misuse the asylum system. Three routes for such bogus claims emerged as: someone who faced persecution for their sexual orientation, their religious beliefs or their political views.Labour MP Jo White, a member of the Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee, called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government to “crack down” on such law firms and advisors.White also urged the Home Office to stop issuing study visas to people from Pakistan – as it did last month for people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan over what it said was widespread visa abuse.“It is absolutely essential that the government cracks down on them. Evidence like this I hope will go straight to the police and the police will begin their activity and break it apart,” said White.“The whole system is rotten. The asylum system must be totally overhauled so only a very small number of people facing real personal persecution with real evidence to support it are given asylum. And illegal immigrants should be banned from seeking asylum at all,” added Chris Philp, Opposition Conservatives’ shadow home secretary.
