BBC finds offer to create artist profile for UK talent visa

A consultant offered to arrange artworks, exhibitions and publicity to help an undercover reporter apply for a UK Global Talent visa as an artist, according to a BBC investigation. The Home Office told the broadcaster that the company offering the package was already under investigation and that the visa route was under review.

The BBC said the consultant, who called himself Peter and was identified by the broadcaster as Shilong Guan, told its reporter that artwork could be produced in China for her. He said information would be backdated to make it appear she had been an artist for some time.

Guan quoted 880,000 yuan, about £98,000, for the package, with an additional 20% VAT if it was paid for in sterling. He also offered help with an art award for an additional £28,000, the BBC reported. Guan said an application could not fail, but the broadcaster said it could not verify his claims about previous successful clients.

When confronted by the BBC, Guan denied offering to help people pretend to be artists or have artwork made for them. He said all the artists involved were real.

iCareer, the company named in a contract sent to the reporter, denied through lawyers that it offered visa services. It said Guan’s employment had ended in early October, shortly before he spoke to the reporter, and that the meeting was not authorised.

The BBC reported that Guan remained listed as an employee on iCareer’s website and his LinkedIn profile until it contacted the company. iCareer described the listings as an oversight and said it would investigate social media posts promoting the services.

Separately, the BBC reported that the Home Office was in the process of revoking the visas of two Nigerian men who claimed to be fine-art photographers, because it believed the visas had been obtained through deception. The broadcaster said it had found online reviews of their work published under the name of art critic Molara Wood, who said she had not written them. The Nigerian Tribune said a staff member had posted the articles without authorisation. Neither man responded to the BBC’s requests for comment.

The BBC also spoke to a woman who said a company had fabricated evidence for her application through the technology route, including a mentoring award and a claim that she had spoken at an event. Her application was rejected.

The Global Talent visa is intended for people who can demonstrate exceptional talent or promise in fields including science, technology and the arts. Most applicants need an endorsement before applying for a visa. Arts applicants must provide a CV and three recommendation letters; those applying on the basis of exceptional promise must also provide evidence from at least two categories, such as media recognition, awards or exhibitions.

The BBC reported that about 6,600 Global Talent visas were granted in 2025. The cases it identified do not establish how widespread deception is across the route.