Unregulated immigration advisors are allegedly helping people make false claims of domestic abuse to secure their right to stay in the UK. That's according to a report released by the BBC this week (April 16). 

A video report shows an undercover reporter speaking to a person who is presenting himself as an immigration advisor. The male reporter, who is posing as a Pakistani migrant, states that he wants to leave his British wife for his girlfriend, but his residence permit is tied to his spousal visa. 

The immigration advisor suggests filing a case under the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession, which allows certain people on partner visas to remain in the UK temporarily.  

When the reporter says that his British partner does not physically abuse him, the person claiming to be an immigration advisor says they can file the case under "psychological domestic abuse." To further reassure him, the purported  immigration advisor shows him a letter from the UK Home Office that one of his supposed clients received, saying that his case under the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession had been approved.  

In a statement, British Minister for Safeguarding, Jess Phillips said, "The unacceptable abuse of this route, which protects genuine victims from the devastation of domestic abuse, is utterly shameful. I have personally seen the deplorable impact of this type of underhand tactic."

In a BBC report today (April 17), the government stated that it is investigating the claims made in the BBC report and putting in "robust safeguards" to make sure residence and asylum claims are "rigorously and fairly assessed".

Not a straightforward process

British government data shows that an estimated 3.8 million people were victims of domestic abuse in the year to March 2025. Of this number 2.2 mllion were women, and 1.5 million were men. 

Crystal Dias, a solicitor who has had 18 years of experience in immigration law has assisted people who have experienced intimate partner abuse and who have difficulty seeking recourse because their residence in the UK is tied to their spousal visa. In her experience, there are already robust safeguards in place, and it is not a straightforward process to prove that you are a victim of domestic violence or abuse.

Dias explained to InfoMigrants that the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession has a stringent checklist of requirements to meet the eligibility criteria. If approved, claimants are given temporary permission to stay and access financial support needed to leave an abusive home.

On paper, this includes proving the relationship and demonstrating that the breakdown was caused by domestic abuse. 

In reality, Dias said this involves months of securing documents such as police reports and doctor's reports, a process that adds to the tension and fear for the victim.

"And then, when you have submitted the documents to the authorities, it can take up to a year for them to review it and reach a decision. During this time, the complainant cannot leave the country or else the report is automatically dismissed." 

Dias says that anyone trying to scam the system and pose as an immigration advisor, who tries to make potential clients believe that is is easy to get a right to stay in the country via this route are not representing the reality of the situation. The Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession allows you to stay for another 90 days and access government funds to assist with costs related to housing and childcare.

Dias underlines: "This is a temporary fix meant to give the person enough time for a permanent right to stay. If they do not apply for the Indefinite Leave to Remain within the 90-day reprieve, they will no longer have the legal permission to stay in the country."

Migrants who are victims of intimate partner violence can file an application under the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession directly under the Home Office, but if they decide to appoint a legal representative, the complainants should make sure that they are qualified and regulated. 

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has a list of lawyers qualified to render legal services. Meanwhile, the Immigration Advice Authority has a list of over 3,700 individuals and 2,000 organizations that meet government regulations and standards and are therefore qualified to give immigration advice.  

Potential backlash 

Scammers posing as immigration advisors, consultants, and lawyers abound and rights groups warn against the potential backlash landing not on perpetrators but on migrants experiencing intimate partner abuse.  

Dias said that she has assisted both female and male migrants and has noted differences in the kind of abuse they experience. "For female migrants, it is more physical abuse. For men, it is more emotional abuse where the spouse threatens to withdraw their visa sponsorship and have them deported." 

The common denominator is the exploitation of the power dynamic where one spouse has control over the other’s right to stay in the UK.  

Dias and Susan Cueva, Chair of Trustees of the Southeast and East Asian Women‘s Association (SEEAWA) which provides support to victims of intimate partner violence, say that there are tell-tale signs of abuse that indicate that these are not made up stories. Victims are tearful and sometimes make excuses for the behavior of their partner, but always, they are afraid. 

Cueva told InfoMigrants that it takes a long time for a woman to seek help because for many, it means acknowledging that the abuse is happening.  

'Breaking point'

"In our experience, when these women even come forward, it is because they have already reached a breaking point. They have experienced controlling behavior where they are isolated from friends, prevented or limited from going out, and [are] sometimes [suffering from] economic abuse," said Cueva. 

Some cases have even become fatal. In one case SEEAWA handled, a migrant woman and her child were killed. "You cannot make these things up," said Cueva. 

Dias and Cueva warned against the possible backlash against migrants and specially migrant women experiencing domestic violence. 

"The Government should not use this as an excuse to make it even more difficult for migrants to access support when they experience domestic violence. The authorities should instead focus on cracking down on these scammers posing as lawyers and advisors."

"Sham lawyers facilitating this advice will be put behind bars and their dirty money seized will be reinvested to shut down the crime they once bankrolled," Jess Philipps, Safeguarding Minister said in a statement emailed to InfoMigrants.

Additionally, the Home Office reported new provisions under review in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration (BSAI) Act which will allow the Immigration Services Commissioner to issue fines of up to 15,000 British pounds (around 17,000 euros). Additionally, the revised Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse (VDA) guidance which was published in March 2026 strengthens evidence assessment and handling of counter‑allegations.

From victim to survivor to case worker

Lyn is now a case worker for SEEAWA, but from 2019 to 2021, she was a victim of intimate partner abuse.

Lyn met her partner in 2017, she explains, and when he went to visit her in the Philippines to meet her family and friends, everyone thought he was charming, friendly, and caring. They got married and Lyn moved to London in 2019.

"Here, it was his territory and he was in control. I was living in London. First class city. Beautiful tourist spots, Everything is here, but my life was hell," Lyn told InfoMigrants.

It began with small things like telling her what to wear, telling her who could and could not be her friends. Then it went on to other things.

"If I went to the grocery store without him, I needed to video call him to show him that it was just me. If he went out to work, I would have to video call him to show him that it's just me at home."

Matters worsened and became violent during the COVID pandemic, when people were under heavy lockdown restrictions and many lost their jobs.

"What triggered me was when he forbade me from watching TV during the England versus Italy game. I thought to myself, he won't even let me watch TV. What else will he prevent me from doing in my life."

Lyn made the difficult decision to leave. She accessed the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (the former name of the Migrant Victims Domestic Abuse Concession) and was able to access housing support and eventually leave that relationship.

"When you decide to flee from intimate partner violence, you are automatically homeless. And as a migrant who has no relatives, your immediate concern is where will I go? Who can take me in?" said Lyn.

Now, as a SEEAWA case worker, Lyn is helping other migrant women like her who have experienced violence from their partner. In her experience, deciding to come forward is such a huge step that it is difficult to imagine that someone would do so just to 'abuse' the system and gain a right to stay in the UK.

"What the government does not see is the cultural aspect. In Asian societies, there is such a premium on family and keeping the family together at all costs. It is a source of shame to come forward as a victim of intimate partner violence."