Email from the fake Home Office
[email protected].
Attention: Visa Applicant,
The UK Home Office wishes to inform you that the Flight Ticket has been confirmed and paid for by your employer, Please read the UK instructions for traveling documents.
Find below the necessary steps you will take to enable you obtain your Immigration Expatriate Certificate and Visa approval.
(1)You are to fill properly the UK Visa Application Form leaving your employers section blank in other for us to help in completing it properly.
(2)Send a scanned copy of your passport.
(3)Please find attached herewith appropriate and detailed information on your inquiry for the speedy processing of your travelling documents please read carefully.
NOTE: All your travel documents, Visa and your flight ticket which your employer has paid on your behalf will be processed over here in the UK, you do not need to visit the UK Embassy in your country because that will cause a lot of delay. We shall courier all your approved travel documents to the address you shall indicate to us, once you have fulfilled the requirements as stated in the attachment (IEC-UKBA2012).
The document is in Portable Document Format (PDF) so you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your system.
As we work to serve you better.
Home Office, UK Border Agency,
PO Box 3468, Sheffield,
S3 8WA,
United Kingdom
Fax: +44-702-401-5622
E mail: [email protected]
Attached to the email was a legitimate UK visa application form and a fake "instruction sheet":
The UK Border Agency is responsible for securing the United Kingdom
borders and controlling migration in the United Kingdom. We manage border control for the
United Kingdom, enforcing immigration and customs regulations. We also consider
applications for permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom, citizenship and asylum.
The UK Home Office wishes to authoritatively inform applicants seeking for immigration
status into the United Kingdom not to make any payments for processing of Work Permit, Visa
and/or Expatriate Quota Approval. Approval for entry (Visa) into the United Kingdom is
executed by the Nearest British Embassy or Consulate within the applicants country of
residence or location after regulation and certification of the applicant by the UK Home Office
as at the time of application.
The UK Home Office will exercise its full powers to perform its responsibility to regulate entry
into the UK, by:
• Ensuring that the sponsor is financially capable to support the applicant entering the
United Kingdom for Business or Pleasure throughout the duration of the validity of the
Entry Visa.
• Ensuring that the applicant, has the minimum stipulated financial requirement to earn
the needed points for Visa Approval, going by the new point-based system for
immigration in 2012
• Ensuring that the applicant is eligible to Live, Work and carry out business activities in
the United Kingdom legally.
The new points-based system (PBS) is the biggest shake up of the immigration system for 45
years. Under the new system, migrants will need to pass a points-based assessment before
they receive Certificate of Eligibility and permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.
It will help British businesses recruit the skills it needs from abroad and assure the British
public that only the skilled migrants will need to come to the United Kingdom. The role of
employees/migrants with qualifying financial base is crucial to its success.
We would like to acknowledge receipt of application for IMMIGRANT EXPATRIATE
CERTIFICATE (IEC-UKBA2012) & UK WORK PERMIT VISA from your Sponsor who shall fulfill
necessary hosting requirements to support your application in due course.
IMMIGRANT EXPATRIATE CERTIFICATE (IEC-UKBA2012) & UK WORK PERMIT VISA would be
issued to you as this is proof that you have passed the point-based assessment. We shall also
provide you with a reference number and interview date with instructions to enable you
receive Visa at the Nearest British Embassy in your Country after submission of IEC & Visa
requirements.
Apart from sponsorship from UK Based Employers, employees coming to live and work in the
UK for at least 12 months are mandated to show availability of £1,350GBP, which is the
stipulated financial requirement/applicant travel allowance that must be in possession of the
applicant/employee into the UK.
You must be able to demonstrate that you have funds to support yourself and any
dependents. For the main applicant this is £1,350GBP and you will need a further £850GBP
for each dependent accompanying you. This is to certify that you can be responsible for your
maintenance as mandated by UK Insurance policies to protect and secure Expatriates financially.
The mandatory Financial Requirement/ Applicant Travel Allowance is £1,350GBP; this process is
for the Security and wellbeing of the applicant and is mandatory. Note: This is not a payment but a
deposit to ensure that you can cater for your needs and support yourself once you arrive here before
you receive your first salary from your Employer in line with the British Expatriate Financial Statutory
Before the issuance of Form (IEC-UKBA2012) to your employer for issuance of Visa by Local
British Consulate, you are required to show proof that the stipulated Financial Requirement/
Applicant Travel Allowance as indicated above is available.
The UK Home Office would ensure via this means that only eligible applicants who are financially
capable are allowed entry into the UK and must be completed to fulfill availability of funds in cases of
Emergency and for full financial security of the applicant/worker before receipt of first month salary
and benefits from Employers.
This process is solely for proof that you have the stipulated Financial Requirement as per an
applicant seeking to migrate into the United Kingdom despite sponsorship from your
Employer and would take 24hrs for confirmation hence follow the detailed instructions for
confirmation of available stipulated financial requirement below.
PROCEDURE: VERIFICATION/ CONFIRMATION OF APPLICANT TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FUNDS
The following process has been adopted following the new-Points Based System (PBS) to earn the
needed points for issuance of IMMIGRANT EXPATRIATE CERTIFICATE (IEC-UKBA2012) & UK
WORK PERMIT VISA. Bank statements were hitherto accepted, however due to falsification of bank
statements which does not compulsorily certify/ surety that the applicant would enter the Country with
the mandatory Travel allowance/ financial requirement, we no longer accept bank statements as final
travel guarantee.
There are however 2 Deposit options for Applicants;
(1.) APPLICANTS WHO WISH TO RETRIEVE FUNDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Applicants who wish to use this option are required to make a Cash deposit of the
stipulated financial requirement of £1,350GBP via WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM
using the information below:
SENDER: THIS MUST BE YOU AS THE PRIMARY VISA APPLICANT .
RECEIVER: THIS MUST BE YOUR EMPLOYER/ SPONSOR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
PAYOUT CITY/ COUNTRY: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
NOTE: Your Employer/ Sponsor in the UK will make the funds available to you once you arrive into the
country to resume duties hence it’s ONLY a Security deposit subject to retrieval.
(2.) APPLICANTS WHO WISH TO RETRIEVE FUNDS IN THEIR COUNTRY OF LOCATION
Applicants who wish to use this option are required to make a Cash deposit of the
stipulated financial requirement of £1,350GBP via WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM
using the information below:
SENDER: ANYONE AT YOUR DISCRETION (FAMILY MEMBER, RELATIVE OR FRIEND)
RECEIVER: THIS MUST BE YOU AS THE PRIMARY VISA APPLICANT.
AMOUNT: 1,350GBP
PAYOUT CITY/ COUNTRY: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
NOTE: (As per Immigration policies, this process must be completed by anyone at your
discretion, Family member, Relative or friend.
To meet the above requirement the selected person is to make a deposit of the stipulated
financial requirement of £1,350GBP to your Name and Address in the UK via WESTERN UNION
or MONEY GRAM as proof that you have secured funds to support yourself when you arrive
here till you receive your first salary from your Employer.
CAUTION!!! Ensure that the Receiver is you so that only you can withdraw the deposit after the
verification of deposit has been carried out. This is not a payment but a deposit for verification which
is why it is in your Name as the Receiver and to also fulfill that you have funds to support yourself as
is the mandatory process for your financial security when you arrive here till you receive your first
salary from your Employer.
Visit the nearest Bank, Post Office, WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM agent or Shop close to
you and effect this deposit. Follow the transfer instructions above carefully, After deposit has
been effected, you MUST send us the receipt of the deposit as an evidence that the deposit
has been made and to enable our office verify availability of funds with WESTERN UNION or
MONEY GRAM. This is usually carried out within 24hrs after which you shall be instructed to
retrieve your funds.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST: You are to send the following application requirements:
• PASSPORT COPY
• WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM FOR PROOF OF FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT
• COMPLETED/ FILLED U.K VISA APPLICATION FORM
Confirmation of Basic Insurance Allowance satisfies the requirement for release of Expatriate
Relocation Package (ERP). Relocation Package protects the right of immigrants and ensures full
compliance to terms and conditions of contract engagement by UK Employers.
The instructions above would earn you the needed points under the point-based system for the release
of your IMMIGRANT EXPATRIATE CERTIFICATE (IEC-UKBA2012), UK WORK PERMIT VISA and
other supporting documents to legalize your work status in the UK
APPLICANTS WITHOUT AN AVAILABLE/ UNPROCESSED TRAVEL PASSPORT
Applicants without an available Passport at the time of this application should submit the Completed
Visa form and the WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM Security deposit alongside a formal letter
stating reason(s) for unavailability of Passport.
Applicants MUST note that spaces provided for Passport details in the UK Visa Application form
should be left blank, once Passport is ready, we will update the information needed in the applicant’s
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ);
WHY DO WE USE WESTERN UNION INSTEAD OF BANK STATEMENTS, DRAFTS OR CHEQUES?
Before now, the UK Border Agency accepted Bank statements, Drafts and Cheques as methods of submission of security
deposits. Unfortunately, a lot of Visa applicants from Asia, Africa and some parts of Europe abused the method. These
Applicants submitted copies of falsified documents, bank statements and dud cheques.
Over the years, we have been saddled with the challenges of identifying these fraudulent Visa applicants and in a swift bid to
curb their operations; we are in alliance with the Metropolitan police and Interpol. These dramatic situations prompted the U.K
Border Agency & Home Office to revise the standard of operations hence, the annulment of the acceptance of Bank
Statements, Drafts or Cheques and adoption of the WESTERN UNION or MONEY GRAM as the ONLY method of submission of
security deposits for all International Visa applicants.
WHY CAN'T EMPLOYERS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY DEPOSIT?
Your Visa fees, Residence/ Work Permit fees and Health Insurance fees are shouldered by your Employer. As much as
Employees are mandated to submit the security deposit of £1,350 to show proofs of sufficient funds for their Basic Travel
Allowance (BTA), Employers are as well mandated to submit a security deposit of £8,000
funds to sponsor your stay in the United Kingdom.
Therefore, it is a criminal offence and violation of the UK Immigration Acts of 2011 should any Employer be responsible for
security deposit required by the Employee. Any Employee who flaunts this law in any way will be repatriated immediately.
IS THIS SECURITY DEPOSIT REFUNDABLE OR JUST A ONE TIME PAYMENT?
The Security deposit of £1,350
retrieval upon completion of the 24 hour verification process. This means that the UK Border Agency will prompt you upon
completion of the 24 hour verification period to return to WESTERN UNION OR MONEY GRAM and retrieve your funds back.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THE VISA APPLICATION TO BE PROCESSED & APPROVED AFTER THE SUBMISSION OF THE
VISA REQUIREMENTS?
It takes approximately 3 to 4 working days for processing and approval of Visa applications. Hard copies of the approved visa
documents will be dispatched via DHL Courier to applicant's mailing address stated in the Visa application form.
WHEN DO I VISIT THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN MY COUNTRY OF LOCATION FOR MY VISA STAMP?
Once we process and approve your visa documents, we will mail the hard copies to your stated address in your country of
location and Fax copies to the UK Embassy in your country of location for their review and acceptance.
Afterwards, we will book an appointment for you with the British Embassy and we will as well prompt you on your
appointment date on when to visit the British Embassy in their country of location for the Visa stamp. The British Embassy
will not grant audience to Visa applicants seeking visa guidance or inquiries, please contact us for Visa guidance, inquiries or
any information pertinent to your Visa application.
You can ONLY visit the British Embassy once your Visa documents have been dully processed, approved, mailed to your
address and on confirmation of your appointment date with the British Embassy.
UK Border Agency,
PO Box 3468, Sheffield,
No Government in
any country will ask you to send money via Western Union or Moneygram for
any reason.
