Sex for visas' claim probed

Press Association

Tuesday January 3, 2006 8:29 AM

The Home Office has launched an investigation into claims that immigration officials operated a "sex for visas" scam and ignored vital security checks.

A former administration officer at the major Lunar House immigration centre in Croydon told The Sun newspaper that women were helped to stay in the UK in return for sex.

Anthony Pamnani, 23, said he quit after four years in disgust at the behaviour, which he claimed also included mocking any "ugly" applicants. Those considered good looking would be seen straight away while others queued for hours, he said.

The whistleblower, who said his complaints were ignored, also told the paper that vital security checks on immigrants were not carried out.

"One girl came in and told us an admin officer had visited her flat and they had slept together. She got indefinite leave to stay," he said.

Brazilian girls would be given permission to stay in the country longer than their boyfriends for no valid immigration reason.

And passport photographs of women considered too "ugly" to be allowed to stay would also be laughed at and pinned on the wall, he said.

Mr Pamnani said that in "many cases" passports were not checked to ensure immigrants had no previous convictions or were not wanted abroad.

"It was lazy because they only had to walk a few yards and swipe it through a computer reader," he added.

Seems a bit over the top....

Scouse, were you in on this

14 years as an immigration officer and not one offer!

Scouse.

This just sounds unbelievable, but I suppose anything's possible!

Ps On reading this it sounds like I'm responding to the Scousers above post, I'm not! It's the original post I'm commenting on...

14 years as an immigration officer and not one offer! 

Scouse.

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can see why you left

Sex for visas' claim probed

Press Association

Tuesday January 3, 2006 8:29 AM

The Home Office has launched an investigation into claims that immigration officials operated a "sex for visas" scam and ignored vital security checks.

A former administration officer at the major Lunar House immigration centre in Croydon told The Sun newspaper that women were helped to stay in the UK in return for sex.

Anthony Pamnani, 23, said he quit after four years in disgust at the behaviour, which he claimed also included mocking any "ugly" applicants. Those considered good looking would be seen straight away while others queued for hours, he said.

The whistleblower, who said his complaints were ignored, also told the paper that vital security checks on immigrants were not carried out.

"One girl came in and told us an admin officer had visited her flat and they had slept together. She got indefinite leave to stay," he said.

Brazilian girls would be given permission to stay in the country longer than their boyfriends for no valid immigration reason.

And passport photographs of women considered too "ugly" to be allowed to stay would also be laughed at and pinned on the wall, he said.

Mr Pamnani said that in "many cases" passports were not checked to ensure immigrants had no previous convictions or were not wanted abroad.

"It was lazy because they only had to walk a few yards and swipe it through a computer reader," he added.

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My CV is in the post...................

This just sounds unbelievable.........

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Bearing in mind my obvious BradPitt-like good looks and charm, I find it astounding!

Scouse.

On a serious note, it really is unbelievable. They will have to be careful it doesn't happen in LOS as well.

I think discouraging the ugly applicants and helping out the Brazilian women is to be commended. A well-run department if ever there was one.

maybe some Brazillian gene's can improve our footballers in the future

i hope i don't have to go to the little room on the 2nd floor with the 50 year old immigration officer next time i get an extension in soi suan phlu.

i hope i don't have to go to the little room on the 2nd floor with the 50 year old immigration officer next time i get an extension in soi suan phlu.

....Maybe you`ll be ok....... rumour has it that he only handles applicants who are looking for a small extension

i hope i don't have to go to the little room on the 2nd floor with the 50 year old immigration officer next time i get an extension in soi suan phlu.

....Maybe you`ll be ok....... rumour has it that he only handles applicants who are looking for a small extension

...i was talking about the female officer.