UK to Roll Out Visa-Fraud Prevention Drive in Second Indian State After Successful Pilot
The United Kingdom is set to launch an expanded visa-fraud prevention campaign in Tamil Nadu, marking the second Indian state to join the initiative aimed at curbing illegal migration and protecting residents from visa scams. The announcement coincides with a visit to India this week by Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra, who is building momentum following the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed earlier this summer.
The move comes at a pivotal moment for Britain’s immigration policy, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveils a major overhaul of the UK asylum system designed to curb abuse and strengthen border security. Officials say both the domestic reforms and the India-focused outreach campaign are part of a coordinated strategy to reduce irregular migration “at its source.”
Tamil Nadu Chosen for Targeted Expansion
Following a successful pilot programme in Punjab, the expanded campaign in Tamil Nadu will focus on communities identified as being at higher risk of exploitation by fraudulent agents. It will include a major public-awareness drive, grassroots engagement, and the rollout of a Tamil-language WhatsApp chatbot designed to help residents verify visa information and spot fake documentation.
According to British officials, the chatbot will act as a first-line tool for individuals unsure about agent claims or visa offers, offering step-by-step guidance on legitimate application processes and red flags for scams.
Part of UK–India Border Security Cooperation
The initiative forms a central pillar of the growing UK–India partnership under UK–India Vision 2035, which commits both countries to crack down on criminal networks involved in human trafficking, loan-visa rackets, forged travel papers, and other forms of migrant exploitation.
UK officials say the Tamil Nadu expansion reflects “significant results” from the Punjab phase, where community-level interventions reportedly helped increase reporting of fraudulent intermediaries and direct more applicants toward official visa channels.
Trade Ties Strengthened Through Ministerial Visit
In addition to launching the new phase of the campaign, Minister Malhotra’s India visit aims to advance the recently signed UK–India Free Trade Agreement. The FTA is expected to boost the UK’s GDP by £4.8 billion annually, raise wages by £2.2 billion, and increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, according to government projections.
Malhotra will visit British companies operating in Chennai and Bengaluru including Tesco, Revolut and BT to assess how the trade agreement is helping firms expand and generate investment back in the UK. The minister’s visit follows the UK Prime Minister’s large-scale trade mission to India earlier this year.
Government: Illegal Migration Must Be Tackled ‘Upstream’
Speaking ahead of the launch, Minister Malhotra said the government remains committed to confronting illegal migration before it reaches UK borders.
“This government is acting to stem the flow of illegal migration at its source – using campaigns targeted at hotspot areas to prevent visa fraud, keeping people safe while securing our borders.”
She added that her visit would also highlight how deeper trade ties are set to create “thousands of jobs” and new investment opportunities.