UK eyes crackdown on Pinoys with fake visas in 'ber' months

After noticing a spike in fraudulent visa applications in the Philippines, the United Kingdom will intensify its drive against such applications, especially in the '–ber' months.

The UK Border Agency, which will also improve coordination on the matter with Philippine authorities, warned Filipinos caught with fraudulent applications of up to 10 years in jail.

"We are intercepting increasing numbers of fraudulent applications, from 584 in 2007 to 657 last year, and we will continue our efforts, focusing especially on the peak periods of August and Christmas," said Ed Mackie, The UK Border Agency’s Regional Manager for Northeast Asia/Australasia.

According to Mackie, all applications are checked thoroughly with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) - Interpol Division to verify the documents.

The UK Embassy said the UK Border Agency and Philippine law enforcement agencies will seek to identify those providing and those seeking such false documentation.

Its website noted an official police referral program has been in operation since June 2007 in the Philippines.

Under the program, Filipinos who provide or submit forged visa documentation may be arrested and banned from making further applications for up to 10 years.

“We welcome genuine Filipino travelers to the UK, but it is an offence to submit forged documents to support your visa application. If you do, there is a high risk you will be caught and arrested," said Mackie.

He said applicants should make their applications in person, with the support of the staff at the Visa Application Centre, which will ensure the application is accurate.

Those who choose to pay an agent to manage the application should make sure they are properly licensed, he added.

“It is your responsibility to check your documents carefully and make sure they are genuine," he said.

The British Embassy said it has so far referred over 100 applicants to the program to date and will continue working closely with the police to prosecute fraudsters.

"Filipinos who provide or submit forged visa documentation may be arrested and will be banned from making further applications for up to ten years. All applicants are required to submit their biometric details (fingerprint scans and digital photo) and these records will be used to ensure that future applications from individuals who have used false or fraudulent documents are refused without question," it said. - GMANews.TV

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PCG: China’s bullying in West Philippine Sea undermines international law --- Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — Letting China sustain its aggression in the West Philippine Sea would make other countries doubt the strength of international law currently being asserted by the Philippines, Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. “Allowing China to blatantly disregard the established rules-based order threatens the very foundation that we all depend on,” he wrote in a post on X last Tuesday. He added, “If we permit this, countries worldwide may forget why this order was created in the first place. Nations could begin to doubt the significance of adhering to international law if powerful bullies can easily violate it.” Tarriela also said defiance of other countries to a rules-based order would result in the prevalence of cruelty. He wrote, “This could lead us back to a time when might makes right, undermining the global structures that keep human greed, savagery and barbarism in check. Such a scenario would not only invite challenges from aggressive ...
Read more

China ships maintain presence in key West Philippine Sea areas --- Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star

STAR / Michael Varcas MANILA, Philippines — While Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) have decreased in number, they have maintained a presence in three key land features where naval and coast guard ships have intensified operations in the past seven days, according to the Philippine Navy. Latest monitoring by the Philippine Navy showed armed ships of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) maintaining a menacing presence around the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Panatag Shoal and Escoda Shoal. According to the Philippine Navy, there are 17 Chinese military vessels and 28 China Coast Guard (CCG) boats spotted inside the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) between Sept. 23 and 30, or one vessel more than in the previous week Sept.17-23. Five of the warships were seen roaming around the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, along with 10 CCG vessels and 12 maritime militia vessels (MMVs). There are also two PLAN ships in Ayungin Shoal as well as 10 CCG boats and 12...
Read more

Social media seen as cause of rising intermarriages --- Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) sees social media as the main reason for the rising number of Filipinos marrying or becoming partners of foreign nationals. In 2022, the CFO recorded 6,854 marriages or partnerships with foreign nationals, a 40.1 percent increase from the 4,891 “intermarriages” recorded in 2021. “First of all, what we see in the increase in the marriage rate of Filipinos or Filipinos with foreign partners is because of social media, (that) is number one; matchings; letters, introduction of their friends,” CFO chairperson Romulo Arugay said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing yesterday. Arugay said the agency has been registering a high number of intermarriages since 2007, but the figures went down during the COVID-19 pandemic. From over 6,500 Filipinos who married foreign nationals, only 600 are men, he said. Most of them are married to Americans, Japanese, Germans, Canadians and Australians, Arugay said. Arugay warned Fi...
Read more