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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Shanti Das

Overseas students and workers targeted in illicit UK visa trade

United Kingdom VFS Global the Home Office Asia Pakistan Rakesh Ranjan VFS
A white sign for the Home Office's UK visas and immigration control department in Croydon, south London
The Home Office says it is taking action to tackle the abuse of the UK visa appointment booking process by fraudulent agents. Photograph: Justin Kase zfivez/Alamy

UK visa appointments are being booked up by brokers and sold on for hundreds of pounds in an illicit trade targeting overseas workers and students.

An Observer investigation has found brokers in some parts of south Asia charging up to £800 for the biometric appointments, which are widely advertised on Facebook and the Telegram messaging service.

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