BBC’s Newsnight were able to purchase two forged visa letters which would be accepted by Embassies across the world as genuine, from a college rated A by the UK Border Agency. Both documents were bought for £200 or less.
Whilst this is old news in terms of a criticism of the system – the electronic Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies replaced visa letters on Monday – it is shocking behaviour from the people deeply involved with the college.
Under the old system, all student migrants to the UK had to be sponsored. The details of this sponsorship were details in a student visa letter, containing personal details and course details, as well as details of all money paid. This invitation to study in the UK is worth 30 of the 40 points required to get a UK student visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. The remaining 10 points is awarded for adequate funds.
The Newsnight team were tipped off about a secret office run by people connected to Gateway2K Education in Wembley Park, London. It was from this office that forged visa letters were being openly sold for cash.
Following covert surveillance over several evenings, several deals were seen to take place in plain view outside the block of offices. Many people came and went; cash was counted in full view and people left with white A4 envelopes.
The Newsnight team went further and undertook an undercover operation. They were able to purchase the two documents, one from a former administrator from Gateway2UK Education.
Having been able to identify one of the men involved in the scam – the former administrator – he was traced to India, where he didn’t even deny his involvement. Newsnight reports him as bitterly regretting being involved in the fraud, but he played just a minor role. In fact, he accuses the owner of Gateway2UK Education – Indian entrepreneur Darpan Shah – as the brains behind the scam.
Predictably, Darpan Shah has made a statement denying these claims, through his solicitor. He said that during his time as owner of Gateway2UK Education he had little control or involvement in its day-to-day running. He would not comment on the accusations of the former administrator traced to India.
Darpan Shah’s solicitor told the Newsnight, “Mr Shah would like to make it abundantly clear that he has played no part in the sale of bogus visa letters.”
Principal Knows Nothing
Despite Darpan Shah’s denials, he was owner of Gateway2UK Education for 25 days in January and remained a director at the college until 5 February 2010. Newsnight purchased the forged documents on 2 and 4 February.
Newsnight took the forged documents they purchased to the Principal of Gateway2UK Education at their Hayes Campus. To say that Principal Jeremy Coulton was visibly shocked was an understatement; he looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights – couldn’t really get his words out! He said he had no idea visa letters were being forged.
After searching his own office, Jeremy Coulton found around 160 bogus applications; all received from a company in Baroda, India called Krish Immigration. This company is owned by Darpan Shah also.
Darpan Shah told Newsnight when asked about this coincidence, that he has “no operational control […] and no knowledge of fraud” at Krish Immigration. He said, “There has not been any allegation of wrong-doing previously,” adding that “Krish Immigration… prevents forgery and fraud”.
Darpan Shah claims that he has been unwittingly caught up in both the frauds in the UK and India. He argues that it is his business partners and former colleagues who have acted without his permission. He has now sold Gateway2UK Education to persons unknown.
Gateway2UK Education’s sponsor licence was rightly suspended when the scandal was uncovered. It was inspected on Tuesday, 24 February 2010.
Darpan Shah has close links to two other colleges in the UK, both of which have had their sponsor licences suspended pending a full and proper investigation by the UK Border Agency.
Whilst the UK Government has taken good steps to tighten up processes and restore control, in an industry worth over £8 billion a year, there will always be those trying to con and scam for a quick buck.
The Newsnight Report
please help me…..any can help me….how can we make sure that we aretrapped in scam (visa )..?
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Nevermind Wave not suspended
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Hi, my college is also suspended -
Wave Training does anyone know about them? http://www.nvq-care-training.co.uk/
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there are so many darpan shahs in uk,,and it is not possible to catch them,
they all have their solicitors in hand,,they have been charging about £2500 to £ 4500 per
student and have students from mostly all aisan countries such as pakistan, india, philipines, nepal, sri-lanka,
malasiya, singapore,,,, and have been doing this dodgy work for last few years,
it is expected that they earned about 89 millions in three years,, so,, can hire
any damn solicitors to tackle the system in uk,, fun right ????? poor students,,,
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too little too late i have been a student in the UK and can furnish all the information if needed by the home office .
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deasr sir;
Any comment in this person.
Mr. Asim Shabbir
ASK Education UK Limited
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Hi Daniel
One of your correspondents who says he is from ALBION COLLEGE wishes to know whether it is back on the list.
Yes, it is and if he was attending college he would know that by now! I suggest he starts attending lectures. I am not sure why it has not been updated to the list as yet.
I have a problem, Daniel! How is it possible that one college that was suspended from the Tier 4 list is now back on. The director is STILL engaged in shady deals – but he has again used “front-men” to get the accreditation. To whom can we turn to sort out this mess? I have mentioned another charlatan who is opening his new college in north London – he is one of the biggest crooks amongst them all! Please advise, Daniel!
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sir my file are still pending at 05-12-2009 for administration review.my college licence suspended.my college name albion college please help me about my case.
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Hello Mohsin,
You have two options for now..
(1) Withdraw you visa application
(2) Wait till your college comes in UKBA list.
But its sure that you will get refusal by waiting so do visa file withdrawl & after getting all original documents, you can proceed further.
All the best,
Dev
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Their suspension was resolved on 26 April 2010. I imagine there will still be delays with visa processing though.
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Hi
after winning my appeal, I have submitted my passport, visa letter from Gateway2uk college to uk embassy on January 27, 2010. Now I have received a refusal letter from the UK embassy in which they have mentioned that your concern college’s license revoked due to that they refused my visa but they also give me a right of appeal. So what can I do now ?
Is there any benefit of appeal
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Hi Asif
Their licence is currently suspended, so if the ECO has written exactly what their licence has been revoked, then that is an important development.
There’s no point to appeal if their licence has been withdrawn. You should get a refund from the college now.
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Hello Asif,
Yes, it’s beneficial to you to make an appeal & chances to get visa without paying visa fees again. But you can only do that if college comes in UKBA Sponsor List.
So for now, there is no meaning to make an appeal. I can recommend to withdraw your visa application for now & after getting all of your documents, you can proceed further.
But remember, by doing this, you can not get refund from college & college will answer you to wait till they come in UKBA sponser list again.
Let me know if anything further required from myside.
With best wishes for your career,
Dev
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hi sir i am worried about my visa extension i have applied my visa extension from gateway2uk college when i applied it has got licence now the college has suspended by home office my biometric is on monday that is tommarow should i give my biometric or should i apply new college visa letters to get the visa can u please guide me what i need to do sir
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Hi Khan
If you do not proceed with your visa application you will not be eligible for a refund, I’m sure. Check your terms and conditions.
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salam.
plz tell me about the latest news…!
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sir, what if the visa issued is not fraud. do you think my sister can still go in that school. because we pay almost 2000 pounds.thanks sir
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yes, sir, she is already been appearance in the embassy in the Philippines. She is waiting for the result but until now she is still waiting .. only last night we saw in the internet in BBC that Gateway2uk is a fraud… we are now freaking out!!!!
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from philippines: my sister had receive a for student visa in gateway2uk last feb 9,2010. the Administration officer was signature by Amit Patel.they are almost 15 are applying in that school. Do you think they are also a victims of fraud also?
thanks
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Hi Worried Brother
I’m afraid that there just is no way to tell which batches of visa letters have been issued fraudulently and which haven’t. This was the major problem with the old visa letter system and a problem that the CAS system was designed to tackle.
The only piece of reassurance I think there is is that the fraud seemed to be centered around the Indian sub-continent. Therefore, your sister may well have been issued with a valid visa letter. However, there is no way of knowing for sure.
Has she already submitted her visa application?
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dear sir,
i am an applicant from sri lanka and i applied for my visa on the 11th of Feb 2010. my visa letter was from gateway2uk which was taken legally before it’s licence was suspended. all i want to know is whether i will get my visa or not. please be kind enough to respond quick as possible. god bless you
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Hi theneedy
All visa applications will be placed on hold until the sponsor’s licence suspension is resolved.
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HI daniel can u tell me when did the Gateway2uk education was inspected by the UKBA and when they would give decision on their fate.plz let me know bruce too
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Hi Kashif
The college’s licence was suspended on February 16, so I doubt they have been inspected yet. They may well be inspected soon though.
I imagine we will hear some news in four to six weeks.
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Hi Daniel
The PAPER is complete – please let me have your email address.
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Fantastic! daniel@adviceforyou.org.uk
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Dear Daniel,
I forward my application to the British High Commission in Pakistan. I have Visa letter form Gateway2UK Education. I forward the application on 15th feb 2010 and the very next day the college’s license was suspended due to bogus visa letters issuance.
What should I do now?
What would be the status of my application?
Can I with draw my application or I should wait ?
I am very much worried.
Please send me a reply soon
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Hi Awais
You could leave your application and wait for the results of the UK Border Agency inspection or you could withdraw you application and change education provider.
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hi daniel
im in uk 4r 2 years.. i have applied for student visa extension through gateway 2 uk. i applied for pg diploma on 28th january and now im called 4r biometric by next week.. since i found that gateway 2 uk college is suspended whats the next step of my visa since my passport and documents r in the home office.. what about the biometric.. im a bit worried.. can u guide me out.. thank u
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Hi San
Your application will have been placed on hold pending the outcome of the suspension.
It can take schools and colleges anywhere from 3-6 weeks to several months to be inspected by the UK Border Agency, for a Sponsor Action Plan to be drafted if needed and to be re-included on the Register.
You should keep checking the master list of college suspensions to see when your colleges suspension is resolved.
Only the college and the UKBA will know for sure. After inspection, 32 days is set aside for correspondence, so it isn’t a quick process. Find out more on the timescales: what happens to my education provider if their licence is suspended?.
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hai this is patel, iam one of the woner of the college in London, as per u r thinking what type of actions u r going to take on them, not only darpan shah like this somany people doing like nigam shah, ketan patel, vepul shah and nallamothu kotswara rao and mahesh goud and shiva, now u kown the names wt type of actions u r going to take, because of them we are facing so many problems,plz do need full about this one and do good things to the uk education system, still if u need any information we are ready to give plz
thanks ——–patel sagar
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Hi Patel
I don’t know what action the authorities will be able to take against these individuals. The UK Border Agency can issue civil penalties and refer cases for prosecution, so I’ll guess we’ll have to see what news breaks.
I will be trying to see if there are enough genuine people who want to take action.
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Hi Daniel
There is one great concern with regard to the on-going debacle with the scum bags who cheat and steal in the education industry.
All the shysters who colleges that have been involved in scams were AUTHORISED BY UKBA and either BAC or ASIC. People are now losing confidence in the vetting system. We MUST improve in that area as well!
My Paper is nearly ready for your perusal.
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Looking forward to seeing your paper Bruce.
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I have submitted my case through VFS with my Admission letter of GATEWAY2UK EDUCATION and my appeal win call letter. But as you replied me that it will probably take several months. I am really confused now. I need your guideline. Should I withdraw my case and re-submit again with new admission letter.
Kindly let me know that If I withdraw my application then what is its procedure and how much time will it take to be withdrawn.
Is there any possibility that i submit new Visa letter to embassy of another institute without withdrawing my case. Because, you know, the policy is different now after 22 Feb 2010.
Wait for your positive and prompt reply
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Hi Tayyab
You will not be able to make a new application with this college as your sponsor. You could withdraw you application and apply with a new sponsor but you will have to make a new applciation and pay the appropriate fee again.
If you wish to cancel your visa application and withdraw your passport; a written request needs to be submitted to the visa application centre. You can download the UK visa withdrawal form here. The UK Border Agency aims to return your passport and supporting documents within 1 – 2 working days of receiving your application withdrawal request. The visa application fee is non-refundable if you have submitted your biometric data.
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hi..i took my IELTS last 2006? do i have to take a new exam before applying for the visa? thanks…hope to hear from u guys soon….
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Hi Aimee
If you plan to use your IELTS certificate as part of your application to a UK education provider you will not be able to; IELTS certificates are only valid for 2 years. Yours expired in 2008 and therefore you will need to sit the exam again.
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hi daniel i have got my refusal letter today.but i have chance to file administrative review against this refusal.can you tell that what should i do.
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Hi Shakil
What were you refused for?
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hi daniel an update for u gateway2uk education new principle has changed their name to (YVS Ltd.)yuvak vikas samitee limited.
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I think you will find that YVS is owned by the chap who sold gateway2uk in june last year and the reason he has changed it to yvs is because he does not want to be associated with the present owners of gateway2uk
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Thanks.
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Thanks Ali.
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