Legal advisers help migrants pose as gay to get asylum, undercover BBC investigation finds

Legal advisers help migrants pose as gay to get asylum, undercover BBC investigation finds

An underground network of law firms and advisors is generating significant revenue by assisting migrants in fabricating homosexual identities to secure asylum in the UK, according to a BBC investigation. The findings highlight how individuals facing expired visas are provided with fabricated narratives and coached on producing deceptive documentation, such as letters, photos, and medical records, to support their claims.

Our findings show that migrants applying for asylum often cite fears of persecution in Pakistan or Bangladesh as their reason for seeking refuge. The Home Office responded to the revelations, stating: “Anyone found trying to exploit the system will face the full force of the law, including removal from the UK.”

Asylum process under scrutiny

The UK’s asylum system, designed to protect those at risk in their home countries, is being increasingly manipulated by legal professionals. These advisers target individuals whose student, work, or tourist visas have lapsed, rather than those arriving via irregular routes. This group now constitutes 35% of all asylum applications, which surpassed 100,000 in 2025.

After collecting initial evidence through informants, BBC reporters conducted covert investigations into how immigration advisers facilitate false claims. Posing as international students from Pakistan and Bangladesh, they explored the methods used to secure asylum through fabricated sexual orientation.

Worcester LGBT meeting exposes the scheme

At a community centre in Beckton, east London, over 175 people attended a gathering organized by Worcester LGBT, a group claiming to support LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Despite the website’s insistence on welcoming genuine individuals, attendees openly admitted to the undercover reporter that the event’s purpose was not as straightforward.

“Most of the people here are not gays,” said Fahar, a man leaving the centre. “Nobody is a gay here. Not even 1% are gay. Not even 0.01% are gay.”

The reporter’s journey to the meeting began in late February when he contacted Mazedul Hasan Shakil, a paralegal at Law & Justice Solicitors in Birmingham and London. Shakil, also founder of Worcester LGBT, used the group’s platform to promote his legal services. During a call, he assured the reporter he had no grounds for asylum but later encouraged him to pursue a fabricated claim.

Hours later, the reporter received a call from Tanisa, who spoke in Urdu. She emphasized that all asylum seekers were essentially pretending to be gay, describing it as the “only way out.” After matching her WhatsApp profile to Tanisa Khan, an adviser for Worcester LGBT, the reporter arranged a meeting at her home in Forest Gate.

Tanisa outlined the process, explaining that the asylum visa was the sole viable option. “It is the asylum visa… it is on human rights and it is called gay case or same sex,” she said while seated on a bed. She noted the reporter would need to memorize a made-up story for his interview, but added: “Ultimately, it is you who has to go there.”