Bhavin Shah from Watford submitted fraudulent applications to the Home Office

A man who tried to submit hundreds of fraudulent visa applications from his businesses in Brent has been jailed.

Bhavin Shah, 34, from Watford, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Home Office, giving immigration advice illegally and money laundering at Isleworth Crown Court today (Monday).

Operating from his business premises in Trinity House, Heather Park Drive, Stonebridge, and Viglan House, in Alperton Lane, Alperton, Shah charged clients between �3,000 and �5,000 to process their applications for visa extensions, even though he was not a registered immigration advisor or solicitor.

He would then use forged bank statements and qualification certificates to support their applications, often without the knowledge of the applicant.

His home was raided by the UK Border Agency in November last year, following a tip-off from an undercover newspaper reporter and a number of the documents were recovered.

Financial investigations showed that Shah had transferred around �300,000 to bank accounts in India.

Shah was jailed for four years and nine months and also hit with a �190,000 confiscation order which he has to pay within six months or face an extra two years and nine months on top of the concurrent sentences.

The UK Border Agency said Shah will face deportation once his sentence ends.

Anyone who has information about immigration crime should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.