Student visa system fraud exposed in BBC investigation

[dipsydoodle]

The Home Office has suspended English language tests run by a major firm after BBC Panorama uncovered systematic fraud in the student visa system.

Secret filming of government-approved English exams needed for a visa showed entire rooms of candidates having the tests faked for them.

The English Testing Service - which sets the exams - is one of the largest language testing firms in the world.

>

The programme sent non-EU students - who were already in the UK legally - undercover. We disguised their voices.

They posed as bogus students with poor English, who wanted to remain in the UK to work illegally.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26024375

[Nihil]

1. How long before Panorama is smeared as "right-wing" and "racist"?

> Panorama saw candidates for tests set by ETS, one of the largest language
> testing firms in the world, being replaced by "fake sitters" and having
> answers read out to them.

> She was set up on a computer to sit the visa application test, called
> TOEIC, but never actually took the exam.
> Instead, each of the 14 candidates had a "fake sitter" who took the spoken
> and written tests for them.
> All the real candidates had to do was wait to have their photograph taken
> - as proof they were there.

> Panorama researchers were also sold fake bank details to show they
> had enough funds to stay in the UK.