College investigated for charging immigrants in bogus tests
A COLLEGE is under investigation for allegedly charging immigrants £250 for bogus English certificates to help them secure British citizenship.
The English tests have to be passed by migrants seeking permanent residence – including the right to claim benefits and use public services like schools and hospitals.
Home Office guidelines stress that candidates should receive between 200 and 450 hours of tuition and sit a 45-minute test.
But the UK Citizenship Centre, in Blackburn, Lancs, is said to have handed out certificates for £250 after just a couple of hours coaching. According to one report: “There were people who could not even spell their name in English.”