UKCISA has recently been made aware of claims that an immigration adviser registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) has been operating a scam to obtain exorbitant fees (up to £13,000) to find jobs and make Tier 2 extension applications for students. Victims claim that the jobs do not exist and the applications have devastating impacts for the students, who are accused of deception by the Home Office when their applications are refused.

UKCISA advises any student considering making an application for Tier 2 to be aware that scams do operate in this field, and to be particularly suspicious of immigration advisers who offer to find them jobs. Students should seek advice from their institution’s careers service about how to identify genuine employers, and should explore any concerns with them before proceeding.

International students should be cautious about any company that charges money to obtain a visa for them.  The Careers Service does not recommend any services that charge to obtain UK visas or internships in the UK.  If you have concerns about a particular organisation, please contact us for help.