A UK visa applicant here has been arrested for allegedly producing fake documents and faces a 10-year ban on travel to the Britain, the British Deputy High Commission (South) said today.

“The Visa applicant had applied for a UK Visa and presented false documents to prove his financial circumstances.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the applicant had paid Rs 2 lakh to an agent in order to obtain these false documents”, an official release from commission here said.

“The applicant was referred by UK Visas and Immigration to the police. The applicant will have a 10 year ban on travel to the United Kingdom”, it said but did not disclose the identity of the applicant.

“We welcome genuine visitors, students and workers to the UK. We will, however, not tolerate abuse of the UK Visa system and we have a zero tolerance of fraud..,” UK Visas and Immigration, Regional Director, Central Asia, South Asia and Turkey, Thomas Greig said.

Stating that the High Commission has a “very effective processes” for detecting fraud, he said, “When we uncover fraud, including false bank statements, education and language certificates, we will refuse the visa and the applicant will face a 10 year ban travel to UK.”

“I strongly advise anyone who wants a visa for the UK not to listen to agents who offer to sell forged documents or say that they can guarantee a visa”, he added.

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