Criminal gangs are cheating the UK citizenship test - BBC London
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- To get a British passport, foreign nationals have to pass a citizenship test. But an exclusive BBC investigation reveals that criminal gangs are charging desperate migrants thousands of pounds to cheat.
Video by Guy Lynn
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Do I need a tv license to watch this ?
@@jimjimmy4105 it's just 1080p, any 4k/8k qualty shows?
@Fester Smyth 49p
BBC, gang members really, bru I'm hustling in Peckham and Brixton there are gang members, poor journalists
Hello 🍁❤❤❤❤❤❤🍁
A lot of born & bred Brits would fail the test though 🤷🏼♀️
Yes, but give them the handbooks etc to read up on it and study, they'll pass. It's not like those people aren't given the tools and means to learn.
Beyond Blessed & Highly Favored no that’s not true mate, I helped so many people to pass, because I know most of the questions
@@MohammedAli-zh8kf what isn't true?
Hahaha that made Laff
U mean the Jeremy Kyle show crowd?
One of the funniest question is “what time the pubs open in UK”. I can’t stop laughing!
😂 No more 11 am 😂
No one knows 😂
a truly excellent question
Is it really a question on the test?
I'd say "they closed?"
They close too early a lot of them … especially since covid
2:05 I'm a born in England, British citizen and I had no idea who did those paintings, am I at risk of losing my citizenship. Surely that question is a bit pointless unless you are into art and or history.
@T Iger Don't worry, the answer is most always C. And when you see always, or never that is always the wrong answer unless it's a defined fact like the freezing point of water.
That is the problem when you set these kinds of things up. Every arse in the world wants to interject their own ideas of "Britishness" onto others. Very few people on the committees grew up on a rough council estate.
there are a lot of pointless questions on the test, for example questions regarding TV shows, football, religion ...
history is important, but paintings aren't direct representation of what happen in UK's history and you don't
@@AtticusDenzil what relevance is history about the Middle Ages for a front line Nurse who’s worked here 5 years ?
Nothing more than a money making scam to raise money for the government
There is many people who cannot also read or write,if you know what to learn before the test,it’s nothing but work that needs to be done to pass
Every person that has taken a test with this company should be invalidated.
I heard 21 savage did this...
LMAO
yh via hes birth certificate u americanised mug
@@teebee3309 I'm british...
@@teebee3309 woooooosh
Arte 😂😂😂
I think that the queen can’t answer her self 🤣.
I think that the Queen is quite smart, compared to all the other pricks that can t read a damn 150 pages book. I passed the test based on my general knowledge. If you can t , at least read and understand 150, most of them with pictures, I think you don t deserve it.
Gogu Sclipici correct , I studied the book and it took me 10 mins to answer all correctly . Very easy
yeah....like the paintings question
Stop disrespecting Her Majesty like that 😡
She was a vehicle mechanic during WW2
Caught red handed and allowed to stay in the UK? sickening
Passed the test at the very first attempt and was out in a few minutes. I actually enjoyed the challenge of being prepared for it when I did it and questions asked are pretty basic knowledge that everyone holding a British Passport should have. I am very proud to be Albanian/British.
Congratulations
Congrats!
I passed the first time as well. The test is very passable and not too tricky - a few days of study is enough. Anyway, even if the person fails, he can try it again so it makes no sense to cheat
What are the as 😮
Same . Studying makes it easier. But alot of important dates to remember . But tbh the home office needs to look in the mirror also. Because even with the life in uk test etc they can still find a reason to reject your application and its a win for them because you have to apply for more visa and ILR cost 2400. I'm on my second application and if I get refused this time. I'll just call it a day and migrate. Not going to spend another 2.5 years with uncertainty
So where can I find these guys for my GCSEs?
Same
Me too
stay strong lads, two months till gcse's begin
Birmingham
I would pay them thousands to cheat my gcses
A friend just took it in London, and the test proctor checked his ears before he could take the test
I've attended the Japanese Special Skill Worker exam yesterday (and thanks God I'm passed that). It's one of the requirements for applying Japan's Special Skilled Worker visa
In this exam, before entering test room, Instead of checking ear, the proctors will check your glasses if u wear one, because there had been a case of some candidate attended using SPY GLASSES (so they able to record the questions secretly, make a pdf of it + provided the key answers, then sell it to those who want to attending that exam too), it's real, so the countermeasure has been taken since that. You aren't allowed to bring anything inside, no additional clothing like jacket or vest, pocket must be empty, your accessories (watch, glasses, earrings, hairpin, etc) will be checked to make sure it's not equipped with hidden mic or cam.
Yeah, some people that live in poor & even in-conflict countries want to move to better countries so bad. Like the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, etc. They agree to do anything, willing to pay thousands to mafia / syndicate to "guarantee & secure" the process.
yeah, I thought fo a moment they will ask me to spead my buttchicks.
I did this test long time ago and it was so freaking hard, asking you questions that most of the people born in the UK can not even answer.
I’m a phd grad studied English language, literature, British history and modern sciences and couldn’t pass it
@@makhan4908you tried again?
Well it's made that way to indirectly "legally" stop even well prepared and studious foreigners from becoming US citizens.
@@makhan4908Wow that really says allot about your so called studies.
@@LB-uo7xyUK ?
I read the book in one day and practiced the test on phone app for one week and passed the test in less then 15min.
Nothing difficult !!!!
Wow. Can I get your autograph?
your hard
@@tausifvids lol
Right! It's really not a hard test, not sure why they're making it out to be rocket science. You just practice a few times before until you get everything correct...all the questions arr available free online to practice.
@@maxfitnesstraining1585 not everyone knows how to study and some people have lower intelligence... this kind of scam is aimed at them
I bet half of you english people same test will not pass.
Cheating is not fair however you have not left many option for all those who want to get British citizenship.
You've put forward a test that is so hard even for those who has been to this country for longer then 20 years and then you think other will pass.
That test is piss easy.
95% American whouldnt pass the tests but they whould go to other countries illegally bombing stealing oil gas gold oppuim
My friends passed you study for it like any other test.
I only studied for this exam one day before and I passed with about 90%.. You have 45 minutes to finish it and I finished it in 15 minutes.. So don't even say anything about this exam is difficult unless you have special needs... Smh 🤦♂️
@@krazykid007 Not everybody's smart ass like you.
It’s still happening in East London and are charging £3000 per person
I passed this test first time, by only doing practice tests online. Haven't even seen the handbook yet
This needs to be stopped!
That man needs deporting ASAP
My late ex was an English teacher and she taught a Turkish guy who was solely focused on the Life test. He failed it and blamed her 😂😂😂😂😂
Lol
Ha ha
lol
I am an English citizen and I would fail that test lmao 🤣
Ur not an English citizen- ur a British citizen. You might be living in England but that's a different story. Thats exactly the type of things the test tries to put an emphasis on.
im swedish and shurely would fail...
did a rest test - only 13 right ,some questions are just stupid
Been here since I was 10. I failed the test on the apps hence I still haven't got my british passport. 🤣🤣🤣 imma have to study for it tho. I dont wanna pay money and fail and having to do it again. Lol
@Floyd1504 yes born and bread here
Came here from Nigeria aged 7, did an English language test in primary school and got the highest score in the year group ffs
@@AaaAAA-jv6ds You are such an idiot
Aaa AAA s/he was more intelligent
So?
Nigeria needs these people with their high level of intelligence. They would benefit it greatly.
I did the Life in the UK Test last year. When I arrived at the centre they wouldn't allow you into the building until it were bang on the time your appointment was. When you got inside, they make you put your bag in a locker, then you are made to wear a mask (Even though this was past Covid). I was wearing an exemption badge but got told to wear a mask anyway. They then make you sit and wait with other people but you are told not to talk with each other. After that I got called into another room, they strip searched me, then walked me into a room with all these computers. I did the test, I walked out and they said "You've passed, you are free to go". They said I was going to receive an email with my result but never received it.
"they strip searched me" thank you, good to know I'm gonna wear something sexy.
are you sure it was a strip search ?? as in like seeing you naked?? i think you meant rub down search
The test is a bigger problem then people cheating its stupid. I only know those painting because I did history of Art but there is no way your average brit knows them.
Definitely, really pointless. I took the test back in November. Read the book the day before and memorised the pointless facts. They have definitely stepped up their security though. I was searched with a handheld scanner and even had to lift down my socks 😂😂
The American citizenship test was suppose to be tough too, but people who are serious about wanting to get in will study and pass, just like with any other test. If it matters to you, you will strive to do well and succeed.
The Home Office has been failing us for too long.
I bought the book, read it no more than 3 times, done few practice tests then booked my LITUK test. Walked in, took a seat. Finished in less than 2 min, all answers were correct. One of the easiest exams I have ever done in my life.
Right!!! It's really not a hard test if you practice a few times before and the test question are all online free.
It's really not worth it to go through all this deception and paying someone hundreds of ££ for someone this easy
Bought the book and passed think 2008. Preparation is key.
I cant believe people pay 2000 pounds for this easy test i past mine at first it took me a month to read the book test costs me about £40
blerim ll u lie that s cost 50£ not 40 hhhh and I don’t need only read a book u need to do exercices online for you past easier ;)
@@TheKenzina thanks for your correction when i did mine 10 years a go it was 40 ish dont ferget its better to go at the test centre 10 times and pay £50 each time £500 total surly you will pass better than paying over 2k to someone.
Someone people don’t get education so they don’t know how to read bro
I want try the test ...let me know the book name please
@@ernesto99111 get a mock test online its 2021 pal
They must be punished...
Why don’t they just have an exam the same way you do it at school? Protected exam paper, you sit in a room and they give it to everyone.
How can you cheat a test if you can’t get someone to help?
same as in other contries -those considered lower class then test shuold be as cheap as possible -the upper class dont care, cant see, dont mind ,dont understand etc.
Omg I did it last year, did a few practice tests online, went and passed… it’s the easiest test I’ve ever done. Can’t believe people pay money to cheat
@inventress huh?
TBH the majority of British people wouldn’t be able to pass the test 😂 its well hard!
Some of the questions in the test are ridiculous. One of them being : What do Sir William Golding, Seamus Heaney and Harold Pinter have in common?
Why on earth would someone possibly need to know that in order to live in the UK? I bet half of brits wouldn't know.
They're poets/writers, literally if you actually listened in GCSE English you'd know that
@@StevioGaming1 lol they don't teach you that. Maybe if you take A level English.
😂😂😂😂that should be in the handbook
The exam should all be based on modern history.
I have high admiration for people who are going through the lengthy and hard process of becoming a legal citizen in the US or UK, a lot of citizens wouldn’t be able to do it themselves.
I personally don't understand why you need to learn about Victorian Pre-Raphaelite painting to become an UK citizen though.
Literally not even one quarter of the NATIVE inhabitants of the UK would be able to tell you even the name of that painting, much less what time period is from and who paint it.
It's not worth the stress.
R sole
Why not just ask British Council to administer the tests, they've been successfully running exams worldwide with few instances of cheating.
I remember my mum working so hard and failing so many tests. And after months of hard work and dedication she passed it. English isnt her 1st language and I saw my mum cry a few times.
This makes me angry that hard working people are struggling, due to these kind of behaviour by others.
Worst thing is that the tests are changed/made harder to prevent or at least stall cheating, but that means that the test is also more difficult for the average good immigrants who want to do things the right way (legitimately entering the country and obtaining citizenship legally without cheating). It's a shame, I hope people that are caught cheating are sent back home.
Citizenship has got to be withdrawn from all these gang members and their paying customers.
Paying 2k to pass a test. Wow. I practiced online the day before for few hours and next day passed. It is not that hard.
I did the life in the uk test and i learned and passed in the first go. I was so excited about the test I tried it on my English colleagues and non of them had any answers. 😅😂 Today I am a proud citizen with British knowledge
In other words it's called bribery and corruption.
Lol IV been in the UK since the age of 5 and have been through the UK education system and I still do not have indefinite leave to remain, tbh I don't understand why the government can not just give children indefinite leave to remain after being in their school system for over 10 years, IV basically been taught British values and everything, now I'm applying to university I'm being classed as an international student and I'll have to pay 18k a year for university. The UK government is very unfair in a sense since I do not plan to leave the UK I just want my full citizen ship.
*Update* There was a law change in 2015 which the home office hid very well, in the case between a Nigerian man who's parents were not married at the time of birth, he was granted citizenship on his father. I used this law against the home office and ta da my citizenship ceremony is in July. I can't believe hoe well they hid this, I was lucky enough to do research myself and find this law change and then I wrote to them demanding action and filled a lawsuit. I can't believe the fact that I have applied to the home office and the passport office so many times for a citizenship in this exact way but without knowing about the law and they have rejected it. This goes to show that the home office and passport office are not even aware of their own laws and to be frankly honest neither was any lawyer I went to see. I'm happy now I am being classed as a home student and will have home fees.
Your parents should have applied for citizenship as soon as they were able then you would have been ok. Even if you had been born here, if your parents are not citizens you would still have to go through the process.
@TheActivistBook sley GTC said they did not have indefinite leave to remain despite coming here at the age of 5 years, this indicates that the parents were not citizens. If they(the parents) had gained citizenship by the time of their(sley GTC) 18th birthday there would be no issue.
@TheActivistBook I agree with you. I am just trying to explain the process a little bit. Not here to argue
@TheActivistBook my dad was born the in UK and my grandad before that lol, they are both British citizens including my dad and my siblings, applied for citizenship but my parents married in 1999 and registered it with their district, at that time you did not have to register your marriage with the government and only the council needed to know, I was born in 2001 and then it became law in 2002 to register your marriage with the government which they did, the home office still claim I'm an illegitimate child and can not gain citizenship even though I have had 3 DNA tests done which were all perfectly fine and proved I was actually their son. The marriage certificate states they got married in 1999 aswel but registered 2002 they won't have non of it
@@melsomers8004 ^^ I tagged the wrong person
Life in the uk test is pointless. I did it years ago and most of the questions you will never see or need them for the rest of your life. Real stupid pointless questions
It really angers me to know such conduct exists. I studied really hard by myself to pass th test.
Congratulations it is not any easy test. I do not blame you for being angry.
It makes a mockery of those who do pass legitimately. Well done if you are one of those people!
I pass legitimately
"gang members"
😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂low key calling them road men
This is how foreign scammers get rich.
I did a few practice tests and one of the questions was literally, "what percentage of the UK is fair complexion" lmao (it's 92%)
Does that mean that if they are white, or if they’re white and sunburn easily? I thought you have more than 8% minorities in the UK?
Wow, I took this test in less than 15 minutes and I thought it was a joke. I only skimmed through the book (which was available in PDF) and used mock test questions online in total less than 5 hours preparation spread in 2 weeks time. You don't really have to spend that much to cheat and pass.
I am amazed too! Test was very straight forward I would not say it is hard. Maybe those who are struggling can sign in a two months course to help them understand at a lesser cost than the scanners!!!
Something that might be easy to you doesn't necessarily mean is easy to everyone.
People of all sorts of age, very old people have to give this exam which can be very difficult to grasp new info at their age. That being said I appeared last week it was pretty easy. I was out within 15 mins. I actually quite enjoyed reading the book and learn about the history of UK which I wouldn't have otherwise done.
Just because its easy (in your opinion) doesn't mean its a joke.
@@prayank57679 When people are willing to pay £2k for it instead of just reading a book or even taking mock exams and risk getting caught? Yeah it is.
@@Lost-Orbz I am not justifying what they are doing at all. Let alone the money.
What I am saying is just because you found it easy doesnt necessarily mean thats the case with everyone else. So your underlying assumption, its easy so no one should cheat' is incorrect. Its much more complex then that.
I did not study ANY and passed a sample test on-line. I'm Irish and used to live in the UK.
Taking theory exam of driving licence in Italy is much harder than Life in the UK exam 😂
Test is easy to pass just read book and do practice test you will be safe, I passed first attempt
Obviously for some it's not easy
@A I lol
My guess is it’s a Language Barrier they don’t understand the questions correctly because there not from the uk lol
Same here. Literally all I studied came. It was easy peasy
I wear a hijab. When I was taking a driving license test I was searched in my ears and they(citizenship test) don't look at the guy's ears and pockets??????????? It’s a shock that the driving license test search is stricter.
Stop whinging.
@@StepByStepStudio I wasn't whinging. I didn't mind the search. I was just thinking aloud that the search in the citizen test is not strict.
@@sh3ikh4 Ok you have a fair point, sorry for the misunderstanding and I agree they are very slack nowadays.
what does wearing a hijab have to do with this? are you suggesting they were racist or something?
tom lopez Hi Tom. No I was not suggesting that they’re racist. Please read my previous reply I wrote to @BimmerSlick. :)
The test is hard, I have done my Gcse A level, undergraduate and masters in the UK, worked as a teacher for 2 years and I don't know most of the answers. One example question when did first Christians come to the uk? I'm 100 percent sure, if you give the test to the mp's 80 percent would fail.
It's really not a hard test at all. You can practice all the questions beforehand and keep practicing until you get them all correct. I practiced for about 3 days before and on the actual day it took me about 10 mins to pass the test at Croydon
Easy: the romans…
I don't know if anyone in India seems ethical anymore. LOL.😂😂😂😂
these people are hardly "criminal gangs"
my thoughts too! slight sensationalist
We were not asked just go home we are full up we have no jobs no housing just go .
They are worse then criminal gangs they are traitors. In the past when we had a strong response from our government they would be imprisoned or better yet hung.
Of course they are criminal. They are groups of people who exist to carry out criminal acts. Its a crime to cheat/help someone else cheat these tests. Its like benefit fraud or helping someone cheat a driving test
Laughed when I heard that 😂
Impressive sleep walking skills you got there, Who taught you so well . 🤣
When they are caught should be deported for fraud immediately.
Well effectively they would be because they'd be unable to renew their visa if the Home Office found out it was fraud...and you can't stay in the UK without a visa so it kind of takes care of itself.
Just block any incoming frequencies into the test room ...
Do I need a tv license to watch this?
Whats your address? I will contact the relevant Authority! And find out for you?
ANACOTT STEEL lmao
Ricardo Milos naaa famalam got bear books init
If they take away your bag ,and your jacket, why can’t they just simply see if you have a device in your ear with Bluetooth?
It's much more work to get £2000 than passing the test. It's actually not really difficult.
How many people have gained illegal entry to the UK in the last 30 years ? All official estimates are in excess of 4 million.
“I I don’t know sir...” “Sir I have my students here, I’m just training you sir”
Why are any devices allowed to be taken into the test room , that's crazy
Lol all these comments saying most UK born residents wouldn't pass this. You're right, but they don't need to. To migrate to Canada for example you must show proof that you have over $12k in savings, a highly respected career background or a job already lined up and/or family that were born Canadian citizens. Does that mean every Canadian citizen has $12k and a job? Nope
THAT IS A SMART CONDITION. 12K MEAN YOU DONT HAVE TO RELAY ON BENEFITS AFTER YOU ENTER IN CANADA AND YOU HAVE A FAMILY TO SUPPORT YOU. SMART.
Check them for wires, and ear devices. Simple.
It's now 10 years residency in the UK, not 5 years!
rai x one day it will be 100 days
This also works for driving licence .. and is very popular
There is so many unappreciative idiots making snarky, belittling comments pertaining that English people themselves couldn’t pass the test. Well, the truth is that English citizenship is among the easiest to attain in the world with extremely lenient requirements. Also, so many of these people come from countries where an English person would have no chance of attaining citizenship due to not being a native of that country, yet when they come here they complain.
English citizenship should be a privilege, not a right.
It isn't easy to move here as a non EU citizen. Probably one of the hardest places to immigrate in the world, even more than the US. This test is stupid. If you can speak English, aren't commiting crimes and have lived here for the amount of time needed it should be a right.
Not sure what kind of test center was that. When I took my test they even checked inside my hear and ears. I was almost stripped.
Lol yeah. Even the Oral English test you go through the same search
Deport Deport Deport 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬👍👍
That's so devilish. Who doesn't work hard and is not able to pass the test shouldn't get the citizenship. It's not fair!
shut up
i think it is cheating that bothers me. its a serious fraud. how do you think they got their degrees and medical licenses?
Born and bred in the UK but so many questions I wouldn't pass ! Mad.
Is there anyone else who used mobile app to study for 5 days and passed the exam in first attempt?😂😂
I have taken 3 days holidays for this exam !
2 days to study from several websites on mobile ! 3rd day written the exam and passed ! Difficult to study , easy to pass ! 🤩
Maybe they should experience prison in this country.
This is becoming joke. The government knows this and not willing to crack down this.
They are checking your ears now , and asks you to pull your sleeves up as well . Its not as easy as shown as on this video .
Why isn’t there a monitoring system while they are taking the test?
there is for some, not for the others. wink, wink.
@ who/what is the “wink wink” supposed to be insinuating?
Our government doesn’t have the willpower to do anything about this 🤷🏼♂️
Or the balls
Or the brains
There is an old saying that goes "it's not the one that buys that's to blame; it's the one who offered to sell in the first place"
And you must pay 1300 pound for passport I don't know how I can pay when I am on jobseeker
farzinn kade go home then
Get a job
@@rashidatcooking5615 ok
JOB SEEKER ARE PEOPLE WHO DONT WANT TO WORK, ONLY LAZY PEOPLE, AND THE BENEFIT MONEY THE GOVERNMENT PAY THEM , ARE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY OWN IN THEIR PUNY LIFE. SO FOR THEM STAYING HOME DOING NOTHING AND GET BENEFITS IS A DREAMING LIFE
Every migrant in our hotels have already been told what doctors are willing to issue them with a sick note.
Test was pretty easy when I did it, you just have to revise for 2 weeks
revise?
some people have to work hard on their job and can't do that.
19 years that shows the level of their education I prepared it for a week and passed it first attempt.
Criminal gangs.... they don’t look criminals at all
So what does a criminal look like you Ignorant fool!!
I'm a British citizen but I've not sworn alegience to the queen she can naff off
Same (Kiwi.)
hahahahha....I studies 2 days and passed the exam. After taking the exam I felt like you cannot fail this exam even if you want.
I'm very glad for you but please remember not everyone is so good with the memory or IQ , cheating is highly condemned , if the test could be a bit easier it will be a blessing.
Govt should arrest all these criminals.
Thank god I was born here and don’t have to go through this. So grateful my parents are British citizens too lol
Apparently, Britain citizenship can be withdrawn any time for crimes even if born in Britain.
@Success and Worth the comment was more about not having to go through a citizen test but sure
Why thank God?
'Swearing allegiance to the queen'?
Why should anyone, migrant or not, do that?
Multiple Choice Questions? Yeah I can pass that.
It's up to us as British people to start reporting suspicious people broken English being a rule of thumb
So are they going to take their citizenship’s from them???
I did the life in the UK test. What a complete RIP OFF. £80. How does knowing which king hid in a tree make me a better citizen? How does knowing which actor won an Oscar? Just complete stupid test which is not fit for purpose.
These tests are hard, most English people would fail them.
No it’s not, a practice appear is enough for you to pass
It was so easy test that I passed in first attempt and practiced just nearly 2-3 weeks 2 hours daily through Life in uk test mobile app. I can’t believe why people have to cheat to pass this test. They should be banned and jailed for cheating!
They've been doing it since it came out, this isn't news!
Love how people in the UK who live here from birth will fail that test
I studied life in the UK book for 3-4 hours, night before the exam and pass it easily. I don't know why people are cheating for such an easy and common sense exam.
I don’t know why people still want to come and live here. It absolutely sucks. So many people have and are migrating to Dubai Australia and Canada.
I took this test few weeks ago, I had no idea there was a test to write and with only 3weeks left for my Visa to run out I booked the test studied for only 1week and trusted God for mercy. In few mins I finished and passed because I was divinely assisted. Jesus Christ does make difficult things easy.🙌🏾💃🏿
Idiot
In Canada you can buy anything from drivers license to citizenship.