Questions are being raised about how the UK’s visa system is monitored after shocking claims emerged about an Oxford University research fellow.
Dr. Özlem Galip, a respected academic and refugee campaigner, is accused of secretly running an illegal immigration service while benefiting from a large taxpayer-funded grant.
Allegations of an Underground Visa Operation
According to small business owners, Dr. Galip offered to arrange Home Office sponsorship licences and skilled worker visas—even though she is not a registered immigration adviser.
Some claim she even instructed them to lie to government officials if questioned about her involvement.
One supermarket owner in Bournemouth said he only discovered something was wrong when Home Office investigators arrived at his shop.
Officials questioned him about an overseas worker he had never even hired, raising suspicions that Dr. Galip had used his sponsorship licence to bring in an extra migrant without his knowledge.
The “Ghost Visa” Accusation
This so-called “ghost visa” case has sparked alarm among legitimate recruiters, who warn that loopholes in the system are being exploited.
The Bournemouth business owner now fears that other migrants may have been smuggled into the country under similar circumstances—only to disappear once inside the UK.
Big Grant, Bigger Questions
What makes the case even more extraordinary is Dr. Galip’s academic standing.
She has been awarded a £234,770 government research grant through Oxford University to study women’s empowerment.
With a PhD in Kurdish Studies, she has taught Kurdish at Oxford and contributed to refugee and women’s rights organisations.
On her blog, titled Women of Resistance, she writes about challenging “mainstream voices” and fighting against systemic ethnocentric bias.
Yet investigators claim she was running a company on the side—Galip & Co Immigration Ltd—that provided visa services outside the law.
Businesses Caught in the Crossfire
Several small businesses say they were approached by Dr. Galip. In one case, she allegedly charged £2,000—half the going rate—for arranging sponsorship paperwork.
But the shop owner later claimed she told him to avoid inspectors and to deny her involvement.
Another businesswoman, who runs a Turkish restaurant in east London, said Dr. Galip submitted her sponsorship licence application and later told her to lie when officials began asking questions.
She said she had originally been given Dr. Galip’s number by another restaurant owner who praised her ability to “get results.”
A System Easy to Exploit
The accusations highlight flaws in the Home Office’s online sponsorship system.
Several business owners said their accounts had been set up using Dr. Galip’s personal Gmail, meaning they had no real control over the process.
The supermarket owner also alleged that Dr. Galip threatened him with “counter complaints” if he went to the authorities.
He has since reported her, and his licence has been suspended while investigations continue.
Strong Denials From Dr. Galip
Through her lawyers, Dr. Galip has “unequivocally denied” all wrongdoing.
She insists she is a respected academic with an international reputation and rejects the claims that she profited illegally from visa applications.
Her company, Galip & Co Immigration Ltd, remains active.
However, she applied to strike it off the Companies House register on the same day she was approached for comment.
Home Office Response
The Home Office said it takes the allegations very seriously. A spokesperson stated:
“Illegal activity will not be tolerated and we will stop at nothing to ensure our immigration rules are respected and enforced.”
Because legal proceedings are underway, officials declined to give further details.
A Scandal Bigger Than Small Boats?
Critics warn this case highlights a deeper crisis.
While much political focus has been on migrants arriving in small boats, some experts argue the skilled worker visa route may be allowing far greater numbers of people into the UK under the radar.
For now, the investigation continues—and Dr. Galip, Oxford University, and the Home Office are all facing uncomfortable questions about how such alleged abuses could happen.
