Firms Help Migrants Fake Art Portfolios for UK Global Talent Visas
An undercover investigation found London consultancies offering fake art portfolios and fabricated evidence for UK Global Talent visas. The Home Office is revoking two Nigerian men's visas and says one firm offering a £100,000 package is already under investigation.
Companies are offering to help migrants pose as talented artists and tech experts to make fraudulent applications for the UK's Global Talent visa, an undercover investigation has found. The Home Office is now revoking visas issued to two Nigerian men who claimed to be fine art photographers.
The department believes both visas were obtained by deception. It called the findings "extremely serious".
How the scheme works
The Global Talent visa launched in 2020 to attract the "brightest and best" scientists and researchers. It is also open to creative artists. Applicants are not interviewed, but must prove they are exceptionally talented or promising in their field.
Successful applicants can bring their families to the UK. They also get a potentially quick route to permanent residency, in three or five years.
Fake portfolios for a fee
The investigation found wealthy migrants being offered fake art portfolios to pass off as their own work, for a large fee. A consultant from a London company told an undercover reporter his firm could supply artwork produced in China. It could also arrange exhibitions, media coverage and letters of recommendation.
He said no client taking the "fully inclusive" package, which costs more than £100,000, had ever been refused a Global Talent visa.
The man said he worked for iCareer Consultancy UK, based in Canary Wharf. Its sister company, ADArt Global Ltd, is registered with the government regulator to offer immigration advice. Social media posts by iCareer employees pitch the visa to wealthy Chinese nationals, with no need to speak English.
The consultant told the reporter, who spoke in Mandarin, that at least four of his clients had obtained the visa this year. He suggested 10 more were in the process of applying. He said the company could supply an employee to pose as a client and network at gallery openings. For an extra £28,000, the reporter could win a Chinese art award sponsored magazine.
iCareer denied selling visa services. It claimed the consultant had left its employment before he spoke to the reporter. He remains listed on the company's website, and he provided a contract bearing the company's name and contact email.
Faked reviews and a tech-route claim
In the case of the two Nigerian men, investigators were alerted to apparently faked newspaper articles reviewing their work. Nigerian art critic Molara Wood said her name had been attached to online reviews praising the two seemingly obscure artists.
"There is a real problem whereupon fake articles are being implanted onto newspaper websites using bylines of reputable culture journalists," Wood said.
A woman who tried to get a talent visa through the tech route from India said a company she used fabricated evidence. It included a made-up mentoring award and material falsely suggesting she had spoken at an event. Her application was rejected.
The Home Office said the company offering the £100,000 package is already under investigation. The Global Talent route is under review, it added, and "the home secretary will take whatever action is needed to stop it being abused". A spokesperson said the government "will not tolerate anyone cheating the UK immigration system".
