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Press Releases
5 Live: Citizenship test scam uncovered by Donal MacIntyre programme
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- £700-a-time proxy citizenship tests scam
- £900 for non-English speakers to pass English-speaking test
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Fraudsters are making thousands of pounds helping immigrants illegally become British citizens 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live's Donal MacIntyre programme reveals today (Sunday 6 April).
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In 2007, more than 300,000 people sat citizenship tests but the programme reveals hundreds of foreign nationals have been paying to pass tests designed to show their competence to speak English and understand British culture, leading to a huge abuse of the system.
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The Donal MacIntyre programme uncovers clear evidence that people who may not have the sufficient knowledge of British culture or language are paying proxies to sit their citizenship test for them.
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The same programme also reveals a scam by a language college helping non-English speakers pass the test of English for Speakers of Other Languages course – known as ESOL.
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The scheme is a key Government policy to make sure foreign nationals can integrate into British society and passing the test is a major part of gaining British citizenship.
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The programme features Tony, who hired 5 Live's undercover researcher to sit the Life In The UK Test in place of someone else. Tony told us how he had built a profitable business out of the practice of people sitting citizenship tests for others, charging a reported £700 a time to sit the tests.
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The service was blatantly advertised in one of the most popular free Chinese language newspapers available all over Britain.
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The advert said:
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"Citizenship test, there is a price for the service, but there isn't a price for our credit and reputation, zero risk, zero deposit, but 100% pass. The lowest price in the UK, pay after personal checking. Using our professional test, realise your dream. Tel: xxxxxx."
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Since 2005, if you are a foreign national and you want a British passport, you have two options. If your English is good you can sit the Life In The UK Test. The other option, for people whose English language is not as good, is to attend a ESOL course.
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The 91Èȱ¬ Office says that an ESOL course comprises on average 150 to 200 hours of English language tuition and at least 20-hours of study, just about citizenship.
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Once the course is completed the students sit a test to check their English speaking, reading, writing and listening ability at an accredited college.
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The Donal MacIntyre programme uncovered a college in North London that was helping non-English speakers pass the test after a couple of hours – by paying a £900 fee.
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Donal MacIntyre on 5 Live starts at 7.00pm every Sunday from 6 April.
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Listen again to the programme or download it as a podcast at bbc.co.uk/5live.
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For script transcripts, video screen grabs of the undercover investigation or further information call 5 Live Publicity.
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AB
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