A BBC undercover investigation has alleged that a network of advisers and law firms is helping migrants fabricate asylum claims based on sexuality in exchange for thousands of pounds.
The investigation found that migrants whose visas are due to expire are being coached to claim they are gay and at risk of persecution if returned to countries such as Pakistan or Bangladesh, where same-sex relations are illegal.
Undercover reporters posing as international students were allegedly offered services including fabricated personal histories, staged photographs, supporting letters and medical evidence to support false asylum claims.
In one case, a law firm was said to have charged up to £7,000 for a claim, while another adviser offered to prepare a case for £2,500, including arranging for individuals to pose as sexual partners to provide supporting statements.
The investigation also alleges that some applicants were encouraged to obtain medical evidence by falsely presenting symptoms such as depression, with one case involving a false claim of being HIV positive.
According to Home Office data, people already in the UK on visas now account for around 35% of asylum claims, which exceeded 100,000 in 2025.
The BBC reported that advisers claimed refusal rates for such applications were low, with nearly two-thirds of asylum claims based on sexual orientation granted at the initial stage in 2023.
The investigation also highlighted the role of community groups, with one meeting in east London reportedly attended by more than 175 people, where individuals told undercover reporters that many attendees were not genuinely gay.
An adviser linked to one group allegedly said: “There is nobody who is real… this is the method everyone is adopting,” while outlining how applicants could memorise fabricated stories for Home Office interviews.
The Home Office said in response: “Anyone found trying to exploit the system will face the full force of the law, including removal from the UK.”
Campaigners and organisations working with genuine asylum seekers have warned that fraudulent claims risk undermining trust in the system and making it harder for those facing genuine persecution to receive protection.
Official figures show that Pakistani nationals account for a significant proportion of asylum claims based on sexual orientation, representing 42% of such claims in 2023, despite making up a smaller share of overall asylum applications.
The BBC said its investigation remains ongoing.