Suspended sentence for offering unqualified immigration advice

Ms Ghazala Nazir of Jubilee Close in Pinner, Middlesex has been given a suspended sentence by Southwark Crown Court for offering unqualified advice on immigration and associated immigration services. The 44-year-old was found guilty on two counts of providing unqualified immigration advice at a trial on 12 December 2018. 

What the case was about

This trial indicates just how important it is for migrants to seek expert advice when seeking to move to the UK. Ms Nazir received a 12-month prison sentence for both charges and these will be run concurrently, although they have both been suspended for two years. She also received a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement which is valid for 60 days and was ordered to pay £1,050 to the complainant.

These offences happened in Dalston, East London between July 2015 and September 2016 and the complainant was led to believe that Ms Nazir was a qualified individual who worked for a solicitor’s firm. The complainant paid Ms Nazir to prepare and submit an application for him to remain within the UK.

A number of mistakes made by Ms Nazir resulted in significant delays to the process, causing the complainant a good deal of inconvenience and stress, coupled with financial losses.

Comments about this case

HH Judge Gledhill QC was the sentencing judge and commented: “A message must go out loud and clear to people who attempt to get easy money from people in vulnerable positions, that if they are caught the consequences will be severe.”

Dr Ian Leigh, who is the Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner, also commented: “These offences are serious. Immigrants often find themselves in a vulnerable position and require the support of qualified and regulated immigration experts. Ms. Nazir demonstrated what can happen when unqualified individuals hold themselves out as immigration advisers.” 

Contact our immigration barristers

If you need professional barrister-only immigration law support from highly qualified professionals, get in touch with Richmond Chambers for advice. We can advise and represent on all aspects of UK immigration law and are also specialists in the completion of UK visa applications and presenting immigration cases to appeal courts.