A black market is offering “payroll-only” visa sponsorships to migrants facing deportation, according to an investigation by the outlet
A black market in fake skilled-worker visa sponsorships is operating across the UK, allowing migrants to remain in the country using fraudulent “payroll-only” jobs, according to an undercover investigation by The Times.
The outlet reported on Tuesday that its investigation exposed a network exploiting the skilled worker visa system, introduced in 2020 to address labor shortages, which allows licensed UK companies to sponsor overseas workers through Home Office Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).
Under the scheme, agents reportedly take an applicant’s ID and issue a CoS before fabricating payroll and tax records. On paper, the migrant appears skilled, well-paid, and eligible for a skilled worker visa, according to the Times.
In reality, the paper writes, the “payroll-only” jobs provide no actual work, forcing migrants onto cash-in-hand roles once their visa is granted. They must repay fake wages plus extra fees, sometimes amounting to hundreds of pounds a month, or risk losing sponsorship.
The fake job visas can reportedly cost up to £20,000 ($27,500) and are mainly used by people facing deportation or entry bans, as well as foreign students seeking to stay after their visas expire. Agents earn commissions for arranging the deals.
The Times said its four-month investigation, using secret filming and interviews with dozens of visa agents, documented over 250 fake jobs being offered, mostly via social media. The full scope of the fraudulent scheme is unclear.
The Home Office said it will launch an urgent investigation into the scam. “We are investigating this illegal activity and it will not be tolerated,” it told The Times.
The UK has been under growing pressure over migration, with government data showing more than 41,000 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025 – the second highest annual total on record. Despite tighter asylum controls and a contribution-based settlement model, many Britons remain frustrated by what they see as unchecked immigration and weak border enforcement.
The issue has eroded confidence in the government, with recent polls showing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s approval rating plummeting – with around three-quarters of Britons now viewing him unfavorably, one of the lowest ratings on record. It also prompted increasing public protests against soaring migration across the country in recent months, which organizers have described as efforts to challenge what they call a malfunctioning government system.