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

Legal Advisers Facilitate Gay Pretense for Asylum, BBC Uncover

The BBC has uncovered a hidden network of legal professionals and consultants who charge hefty fees to assist migrants in fabricating identities as gay individuals, enabling them to secure asylum in the UK. This revelation stems from the first phase of a comprehensive undercover probe, which exposed how individuals facing visa expiration are provided with concocted narratives and guidance on generating fabricated documentation, such as letters, photographs, and medical reports.

Asylum Claims Rise Amid Exploitation

The UK’s asylum system grants refuge to those at risk of harm in their home nations. However, the BBC’s investigation highlights its growing misuse by legal advisers who extract payments from migrants seeking to prolong their stay. Many of these individuals are not recent arrivals via small boats or other illicit methods but rather those whose student, work, or tourist visas have lapsed. Such cases now account for 35% of all asylum applications, surpassing 100,000 in 2025.

Undercover Insights into the Process

After accumulating initial proof through informants, the BBC deployed undercover reporters to examine how immigration consultants assist in crafting false asylum claims. The reporters presented themselves as international students from Pakistan and Bangladesh with expiring visas. Their journey led them to a meeting in Beckton, east London, where over 175 attendees gathered at a community center. Organized by Worcester LGBT, a group labeling itself as a support network for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, the event initially seemed genuine. Yet, participants quickly revealed the deception.

“Most of the people here are not gays,” said Fahar, a man exiting the center. Another attendee, Zeeshan, added, “Nobody is a gay here. Not even 1% are gay. Not even 0.01% are gay.”

The undercover reporter’s involvement began in late February when they approached Mazedul Hasan Shakil, a paralegal at Law & Justice Solicitors, a firm based in Birmingham and London. Shakil, also founder of Worcester LGBT, previously advertised his services via the group’s website. During a short call, he assured the reporter that asylum claims required proof of persecution, yet the conversation soon shifted to Urdu with Tanisa, an adviser linked to Worcester LGBT.

Tanisa, who later hosted the reporter at her residence in Forest Gate, east London, emphasized the necessity of memorizing a fabricated story for the Home Office interview. “You are the one who has to go and take the exam,” she stated, while preparing the documents. “I am here to set everything up, but it’s your responsibility to present it.”

Conspiracy Unveiled in a Bedroom

Within 45 minutes in Tanisa’s bedroom, the reporter gained insight into the meticulous methods used to exploit the asylum process. The scheme relies on a single pathway—claiming asylum based on sexual orientation, regardless of actual identity. Tanisa asserted that this was the sole viable route for visa renewal, leaving the reporter with no alternative but to comply with the plan.

Through this investigation, the BBC illuminated how the asylum system is being manipulated, with legal advisers orchestrating elaborate deceptions to ensure migrants’ continued stay in the UK. The Home Office has acknowledged the issue, warning that those found exploiting the system will face legal consequences, including deportation.