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What to do if…
you receive a message demanding an urgent fee to release a visa or permit

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Do not pay, click, scan, log in, or share details through the message. Keep evidence and verify only through official contact details you find yourself, not through any link, number, or QR code in the message.

Do not do these things

  • Do not pay an urgent visa or permit “release fee” just because the message gives a short deadline.
  • Do not pay a visa payment demand using cash or money transfer services.
  • Do not click links, open attachments, scan QR codes, or log in through the message.
  • Do not call back the phone number in the message or keep replying to clarify.
  • Do not share passport images, visa or permit references, addresses, bank details, passwords, or one-time passcodes.
  • Do not delete the message until you have saved the key evidence.

What to do now

  1. Pause the payment and switch to verification mode. For now, use one rule: no money, no personal data, and no login until you have checked it independently.
  2. Capture the evidence. Screenshot the message, including the sender, number or email address, time and date, and the full wording. If it is an email, keep the email. If there is a link, copy the visible web address without opening it, if you can do that safely.
  3. Write down what the message claims. Keep it brief, for example: “visa held”, “permit cancelled”, “courier release fee”, “border fine”, “biometrics problem”, or “pay today or application closes”.
  4. Check the claim without using the message.
    • If it claims to involve a UK visa, permit, or immigration application, go to GOV.UK yourself and use the official information or contact route you find there.
    • If it claims to involve a visa or permit for another country, find that country’s embassy, consulate, or immigration authority through its official website. Ask whether any fee is actually due and what the official payment method and reference should be.
    • If it claims to be a courier or document delivery fee, go to the courier’s official website yourself and check using a tracking number you already trust, not a link from the message.
  5. Report the suspicious message through UK reporting routes.
    • For suspected UK visa or immigration scams, use the GOV.UK visa and immigration scam reporting route.
    • If you lost money or were hacked and you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, report it to Report Fraud.
    • If you are in Scotland, report fraud or cyber crime to Police Scotland using its official route.
    • If it is a suspicious email, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk.
    • If it is a suspicious text, forward it to 7726, which is free on most UK networks.
  6. If you already paid or shared details, act now.
    • Contact your bank or card provider and say you think you have been scammed. Ask them to stop or recall the payment if possible and secure your accounts.
    • If you shared a password or code, change the password for that account first, then change your email password, and turn on two-step verification where available.
    • If you shared passport or permit images, make a quick list of exactly what you sent. Keep it for your report and for any official body you contact.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether the whole visa or permit application is ruined.
  • You do not need to argue with the sender or prove to them that it is a scam.
  • You do not need to complete any verification form that arrived through the message.
  • You can deal with wider travel, immigration, or replacement-document questions after the immediate payment and identity risk is contained.

Important reassurance

Scam messages are designed to make a short deadline feel more important than checking. Slowing down, keeping evidence, and using contact details you choose are protective steps.

Scope note

These are first steps only: stop a rushed payment, protect your identity and accounts, and verify through official routes. If the situation turns out to be genuine and time-sensitive, you may need specialist immigration, travel, banking, or consular help after you have confirmed it is real.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, immigration, cyber security, or professional advice. Processes vary by country and visa type. If you feel at immediate risk or are being threatened in person, prioritise safety and contact local emergency services.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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