Abuse of asylum applications and mafias behind "immigration kits": the United Kingdom once again asks Colombians for visas

Photo: Montage – en.namu.wik / dataifx.

“We gave papaya. A minority abused and harmed the majority,” said Ambassador Roy Barreras.

In a significant shift in its immigration policy, the United Kingdom announced that, as of December 24, 2024, Colombian citizens will have to apply for a visa again to enter the country.

This measure ends the exemption implemented in 2022, and as confirmed by the Colombian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Roy Barreras, responds to the misuse of the figure of political asylum and fraudulent activities related to criminal networks.

Ambassador Barreras explained that, although more than 100,000 Colombians entered the United Kingdom without problems since the exemption, nearly 1,000 people abused the immigration system.

These individuals used “asylum kits”—false documentation and manipulated forms provided by mafias in Colombia—to request refuge under false pretenses.

This scheme exploited the guarantees of the British system, which provides housing, food and a stipend to asylum seekers while their cases are reviewed, generating an annual cost of up to £50,000 per person.

The phenomenon is not isolated. According to official data, asylum requests by Colombians went from just six in 2021 to 943 in 2023, accumulating a total of 2,000 cases under study.

This alarming trend occurs in a context of migration crisis in the United Kingdom, which faces the arrival of more than 700,000 migrants annually.

A system under pressure

The Labor government, in its recent change of leadership, has tightened immigration policies in response to social and financial pressure. “The system cannot continue absorbing abuses,” said Barreras, who recognized that the measure is a consequence of the behavior of a minority.

“We gave papaya. “A minority abused and harmed the majority,” he declared.

See: 5 mistakes that some Colombians make when applying for a Visa to the United States

Although awareness campaigns were implemented to avoid this situation, such as media advertisements and collaboration with the Prosecutor’s Office, they failed to counteract the impact of criminal networks. This reflects, according to the ambassador, a global trend towards greater immigration restrictions, with similar policies emerging in countries such as Italy, France, Germany and the United States.

The new UK-ETA system

From January 8, 2025, Colombians must obtain a travel permit called UK-ETA to enter the United Kingdom for tourism, transit, business or courses of up to six months.

This permit, which will last for two years, can be requested from November 27, 2024 through a mobile application or online, at a cost of £10.

However, those who wish to work, long-term study or reside in the United Kingdom must apply for a visa at the British consulate. The UK-ETA is not a substitute for this process.

Impact and prospects

The decision has generated uncertainty among Colombians, especially those who had already planned trips to the United Kingdom. Barreras clarified that those who purchased tickets before November 24 will be able to enter without a visa until December 24.

Although he regretted the restoration of the visa, the ambassador stressed that bilateral relations between Colombia and the United Kingdom remain firm.

The announcement highlights the tensions between growing immigration restrictions and global movements of people. As the ambassador noted, “As long as problems such as climate change, wars and poverty are not faced, migration will not stop with walls or visas”.

For thousands of Colombians, this extent It represents a new challenge in your aspirations to study, work or simply visit one of the most relevant destinations in Europe.