A COVENTRY woman who falsely claimed to be a solicitor and gave out ‘bogus’ immigration advice when unqualified to do so has been handed a suspended jail term.
Arshiya Siddiqui was found guilty of two counts of providing unregulated advice and one of fraud at Warwick Crown Court.
The 43-year-old was handed eight months for each count of providing advice and 18 months for fraud.
The sentences will run concurrently and be suspended for 18 months, with Siddiqui also given a 25-day rehabilitation requirement.
She will also have a curfew running between 9pm and 6.30am for the next two months.
An investigation found Siddiqui had given unregulated advice to two people between July 2015 and March 2020, falsely claiming to be a solicitor to one of them.
This advice impacted their ability to study in the UK and harmed one of their residency applications.
Immigration Services Commissioner John Tuckett said: “Siddiqui’s crimes had a serious effect on her victims affecting their claims to long-term residency, ability to study in the UK and costing them thousands of pounds in so-called ‘fees’.
The severity of the sentence sends its own message as to how seriously such crimes are seen by the Courts.
“This case highlights the need for people seeking immigration advice to check before handing over any monies, whether their advisor is fully qualified and registered to provide that advice.”
