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Forged documents and lies
IN the first instance, keeping documents in date order is, as we were taught is an important part of our lives, no doubt documents could be misplaced and or lost or stolen by others, this is all part of life, but forging documents and lying about documents could only result in one thing, and that is trouble with capital “T”. Once you tell a lie you will need to find or conjure another lie to cover the first lie and so it goes on until you are found out and no where else to hide.
Let us look at the case of Iffy Honesty who graduated from Kumasi International University with a 2.2 in iron fabrication, she entered United Kingdom in 1999 on a six months visiting visa but she started her life in the United Kingdom working as a Chambermaid at the Savoy Hotel, of course, not much of her details were required during that period hence she was able to continue to work, she was eventually promoted to the post of a Senior House Man (well House Woman), of course she has no problem, she received her salaries on time, bought her own house (mortgaged) and she has even been able to purchase two more houses on buy-to-let basis, she is doing fantastically well. However, one thing is missing; Iffy has no immigration status. She has been to see a few Solicitors but she never went back after the first consultation, all because she felt everything was alright she carries on her life….afterwards the popular saying in English is that “If it is not broken don’t fix it”.
No body, not even her friends are aware of her immigration status incompleteness, so, with the well paid job and houses everywhere she was a model for young and upcoming ladies of the time.
It so happens, that one day she went out for a meal in the West End in the company of her latest Boyfriend, they had a few to drink and knowing so, before hand that they were going to drink a bit more than normal, decided to journey to the West End using the underground.
However, when they arrived at the Stratford Station, they met so many Police Officers steering straight at all passengers coming out of the station. Now then, the couple had been drinking and their steps were a bit spaced, upon noticing the Police men, they tried to compose themselves, as if this was not enough, a Police Officer took a few steps forward towards Iffy (possibly not deliberately), Iffy stopped immediately and she was physically noticeably shaking, this arose the Police Officer suspicion that she must be guilty of “something”, hence she was “pulled over”, noticing that she was tipsy, the Police Officer asked if she was OK, instead of her to reply the Police Officer in English, she answered in TWI “mehoye” you know what I mean. Then further questioning ensued and eventually it was discovered that she was an overstayer, she was then taken to the Police Station, grilled by Police Officers and Immigration Officials, during which she informed the Immigration Officer that she has been in the United Kingdom for the last 16 years. Eventually, she was released on bail to enable her make an application to the Home Officer on long stay basis. Remember, you are allowed to submit an application for consideration by the Secretary of State if you have: Been residing in the United Kingdom continuously and legally for 10 years.
Residing in the United Kingdom legally or illegally for 14 years. In all cases, you must remember that the onus is on you, the applicant to prove in all probabilities that you have been in the United Kingdom as you claim. It is not the job of the Home Office to show that you have been in the United Kingdom for the period you claim, but it is their job to proof that you have not been residing in the UK as you claim! (Miss Honesty in her case was of the opinion that the Home Office should check their records) Yes, they would, but not to her benefit as their job does not involve doing your job for you!!!.
At any rate, Miss Honesty gathered as much documents as she could and they ones that she could not find, e.g. Gas Bill for 2000, P60, Wage Slips, and Bank Statements, she simply paid someone to get them done for her. She sent the entire evidence to the Home Office and relaxed.
One Monday morning, as she was ready to go to work, the Post Man met her at her door step and handed her a letter from the Home Office – That is it! – Her day has been touched, her mood changed, she went quietly back inside her room and opened the letter – She has been refused based on the fact that some of the documents she has submitted were forgeries. She was, however, given the right of Appeal.
The rest is history!. She knows precisely what has gone wrong and what she has done wrong, furthermore, she knows that she now require the service of a Lawyer, but would she tell the truth to the Lawyer? No! She insisted that all her documents were as genuine as can be…Well, establishing the truth from Iffy became a case on its own right, as she was inventing one lie after the other and became very evasive, and aggressive in her answers to simple questions posed by the Lawyer.
At the end, Iffy has now been deported and her properties repossessed! It is a calamity!
My advice to you is that you should try your possible best to keep your documents, regardless of your immigration status, you may need such documents in future, it is even more pronounced if your immigration status is yet to be confirmed in the United Kingdom.
Also, ensure that you tell the truth, at least to your self and to your Lawyer, the more your Lawyer know about your case the better advice he will provide and the best solution to your situation could then be found. If you tell half truth, the Lawyer will act on your behalf, provided he does not know you are lying and if and when he does know that you have been lying he is at liberty to refuse to act on your behalf, it has nothing to do with the amount of money you have paid him or her, it is a basic principle, if you want your Lawyer to protect you, then you must open up and tell him or her the truth and nothing but the truth.
Also remember, confidentiality remains one of the highest principles of a Lawyer, he will never divulge your secret to a third part without your permission and he is there to protect you not to prosecute you, so if you are in the same position as Iffy, you need to contact your Solicitor as possible, do not say I have to go to work!, I have no time off! Or I am only free on Saturday! Better still, I have a birthday party to attend and I will see the Solicitor next week!
Remember, you can only do all these things if you are, in the first instance allowed to stay in the United Kingdom, so if your staying is on the line, sort it out first! Finally, take care and be safe out there!!!...DAS
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