Lankan UK visa applicants nabbed for ID fraud

Two Sri Lankan visa applicants were arrested this week for using deception and false identities to apply for UK visas. They were referred by the UK Border Agency to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo, the British High Commission said.

The two visa applications, for Family visit and Tier 1 dependant visas, have been refused and the applicants will have a 10-year-ban on travel to the UK. In addition, they now face prosecution for their actions.

UK Border Agency Entry Clearance Manager, Claire Murray, in a release issued by the High Commission yesterday said, "we will not tolerate abuse of the UK's immigration rules. Where we see abuse, we will take action against those involved.

"I would strongly advise visa applicants not to submit false documents and not to use false identities or other forms of deception."

Two visa applicants were arrested previously in August for similar offences.