Law Centre NI responds to reports of “sham advisers” abusing the immigration system
16 April 2026
The Law Centre is appalled to read media reports of “sham advisers” charging migrants to make fraudulent visa applications. In recent days, the BBC has reported on fabricated asylum claims based on sexuality and domestic abuse claims.
These “sham advisers” are not immigration advisers. They are effectively criminals who are both abusing the immigration system and exploiting migrants. Their actions bring our profession into disrepute. The Law Centre has decades of experience assisting migrants and we are proud of our work. Our team of hardworking and dedicated advisers are subject to clear professional duties to uphold the rule of law. We are regulated by the Law Society of Northern Ireland and the Immigration Advice Authority. We take our duties very seriously and always act with integrity, independence and honesty.
It is right to expose unscrupulous individuals who undermine the public’s confidence in the immigration system. But these reports do not reflect the fundamental reality that many migrants are at risk due to their sexuality and gender. Any abuse of these systems is an exception and not the norm.
For many people around the world, it is dangerous to be LGBTQI+: same-sex relations are criminalised in 65 countries and the death penalty is imposed in 12 jurisdictions. Each week, we speak to people who have experienced persecution purely on the basis of who they are. Despite the risks, there are no safe routes for LGBTQI+ people to come to the UK to seek sanctuary. Sadly, even after their arrival in Northern Ireland, many LGBTQI+ asylum seekers continue to experience severe discrimination and homophobic abuse. A report by Law Centre NI and Rainbow Refugees found that one third of LGBTQI+ asylum seekers have suffered physical violence in their asylum accommodation.
Meanwhile, the high levels of domestic violence abuse and violence against women and girls is described as a “national emergency” by Ministers and Police Chiefs. Migrant victims and survivors of domestic abuse face particular risks worldwide and here in Northern Ireland. The PSNI recorded more than 1,000 incidents of domestic abuse involving non Irish or British victims in the year 2024/25.1 Since 2020, five women who moved here from other countries have been murdered in Northern Ireland. And yet these statistics, while sobering, do not show the full picture. We know that tens of thousands of victims and survivors do not come forward because of their immigration status. Indeed, our experience is that perpetrators of abuse can weaponise immigration status as a means of control. Further, even if victims and survivors do come forward, the reality is that the immigration system does not provide protection for all. Only certain categories of migrants can avail of the Domestic Abuse Concession. It is misleading to suggest that domestic abuse protections are too generous: the reality is that protection is incomplete.
It would be wrong to characterise immigration advisers as part of the problem. On the contrary, it is the shortage of qualified immigration advisers that can create opportunities for rogue agents to exploit migrants and abuse the system. The situation is particularly grave in Northern Ireland: a major study points to an ‘extreme shortage’ of accessible immigration advice.
We call on policy makers to invest in quality immigration advice. This is the best way to protect migrants, uphold the integrity of the legal system and bolster confidence in the immigration system. Further, while action should be taken against “sham advisers”, it should not be at the expense of people requiring life-saving protections.