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Minister to make statement on student visa fraud Minister reveals scale of student visa fraud
(about 2 hours later)
An estimated 45,000 immigrants have fraudulently obtained English language certificates, ministers are set to say. An estimated 48,000 immigrants may have fraudulently obtained English language certificates despite being unable to speak English, the government has said.
Immigration Minister James Brokenshire will make an urgent Commons statement at about 13:30 BST to update MPs on the results of an inquiry into abuse of the student visa system. Immigration Minister James Brokenshire told the Commons that an inquiry into abuse of the student visa system had found evidence of criminal activity, which would now be investigated fully.
It is thought to relate to allegations that fraudsters were sitting language tests on behalf of migrants. The probe followed a BBC Panorama investigation earlier this year.
The probe follows a BBC Panorama investigation earlier this year. Of the 48,000 certificates, 29,000 were invalid and 19,000 were "questionable".
The Daily Telegraph suggests the minister will say around 45,000 people fraudulently obtained language certificates despite being unable to speak English. Mr Brokenshire continued: "It is likely that the true totals will be higher."
Undercover operation 'Astounding'
A Home Office spokesman said: "Immigration enforcement officers and UK Visas and Immigration officials have been carrying out a long-running investigation into possible abuse of the student visa route into Britain. "The government is not prepared to tolerate this abuse," he said.
"The Immigration and Security Minister will be updating Parliament on the results of that investigation and the measures that will be taken by immigration enforcement later today. "Since the start of February immigration enforcement officers, with the support of the National Crime Agency, together with officials from UK Visas and Immigration, have been conducting a detailed and wide-ranging investigation into actions by organised criminals to falsify English language tests for student visa applicants.
"They've also investigated a number of colleges and universities for their failure to ensure that their students meet the criteria set out in immigration rules."
The perpetrators would now face criminal investigations, Mr Brokenshire said.
Those found to be remaining in the country illegally would be removed, he added.
But Labour's shadow Home Office minister David Hanson said it was an "astounding" admission of "systematic abuse on this government's watch".
Each year, around 100,000 non-EU students get their visas to stay in the UK extended.Each year, around 100,000 non-EU students get their visas to stay in the UK extended.
The Panorama programme broadcast in February sent non-EU students - who were already in the UK legally - undercover.The Panorama programme broadcast in February sent non-EU students - who were already in the UK legally - undercover.
They posed as bogus students with poor English, who wanted to remain in the UK to work illegally.They posed as bogus students with poor English, who wanted to remain in the UK to work illegally.