Dr Ramnik Mathur, a
training paediatrician said “I and my wife, a
General Practitioner gave up our careers and settled life in
India when the UK Government promised that we would be given
settlement after 4 years qualifying stay in UK . We established our
careers, bought properties and made investments in
Britain . But when we applied for settlement after 4 years we
have been refused and rather asked to leave the country or face
deportation. My wife is 8 months pregnant and we have 1 young kid. Our
relatives, friends and colleagues are astonished to see the way we are
treated by the Home Office.
We have been paying taxes,
national insurance and made significant contribution in UK and
are being unfairly treated.”
Zahir Shaikh
“Due to the changes of ILR from 4-5 years as an Artist it has affected
me the most. I had to undergo a lot of
torture at work and could not raise my voice due to the fear of loosing
my job. I was finally made redundant and as my visa
validity was less it was very difficult for me to get another job.
I have spent 15 years of my artistic career
and I am facing a situation where I need to start all over again. I
sacrificed my successful career in my home country to share my
artistic skills at an international level and that is how I chose
Britain as my home and now I am left with not many options and do
not feel secure. Along with me my family is also suffering due to the
delay in settlement. My son's education and upbringing is also affected.
Dr.Anuradha Sunil, a General Practitioner has been living in the
UK since August 2002 says “I joined the HSMP programme in June 2004. The
delay of settlement made my and my family’s future uncertain and
unpredictable. My husband refused to move to the UK as there were
frequent changes introduced into the HSMP programme and many more in the
pipeline towards ILR and citizenship. He is fearful about planning our
future life in the UK seeing several families being deported. As a
result of this, we are living as separated family. This has created
severe mental anguish and stress in my family life. My child is also
very much affected emotionally. These changes have put severe
restrictions in my plans towards work and buying property.”
Sayedur Rahman
who migrated to UK in October 2005 said “I had the option to go to
Canada as migrant and my application was granted by the Canadian
Immigration Authority but decided to come to UK to be a citizen of UK
and to make my home in UK.
I am really frustrated the way I and my family are being treated by the
Home Office as I was promised ILR after 4 years but HO changed the rules
in April 2006 which has affected our plans. I was planning to get a
professional degree (Shipping) after ILR which has been delayed now and
also I am unable to get a mortgage, better education for my daughters
due to exorbitant overseas student fees.
Besides, I am the only
son of my parents (retired and ill) and I cannot bring them here to live
with me as per present rules as I can only bring them after obtaining my
ILR.
Dr Amaresh Swaro
“I was due to get ILR in August'08. As the government has moved goalpost
contradicting original HSMP contract, I find myself in a difficult
situation. I am a doctor in training. I'll finish the rigorous training
next year after taking examinations which are very costly. I'm unsure
with recent and upcoming changes if I'll be able to get a job or not.
I'm also worried what the banks are going to tell me when I'm due for
re-mortgage next year. I have a family to support which includes two
small children. I am very worried about my and my family's future. I
have been a law abiding citizen, worked hard and paid my taxes. I have
left a career and a lot of property in my home country and invested
heavily in making a career in UK. I feel let down by the government.”
Surjit Singh
“I am one of the HSMP applicant who has been affected by
April'2006 changes for ILR from 4 to 5 years. I remember the day when I
signed the declaration (agreement with Home Office) that as far as I
will remain economically active in UK for 4 years, I will be applying
for ILR irrespective of any immigration rules change. But this ILR
change (April 2006 changes in ILR) has ruined my life not only
financially but mentally and morally. Anyone can imagine how hard is the
decision to uproot a well stable career at back home and especially with
big family including graduate children. But I did it and I am afraid, I
didn’t get any reward, instead, I have to pay a huge extension fees
second time unnecessarily and my children’s international student fees
just due to the unlawful and retrospective policies declared by HO day
by day.”
Chiranjeet Singh,
a financial analyst said “I was promised by home office that as
far as I remain economically active in UK for 4 years, I will be
getting ILR irrespective of any future immigration rule changes. But the
ILR change (April 2006 changes in ILR) was breach of this promise. It
has caused unnecessary strain to me and my family. Anyone can imagine,
how hard is the decision to uproot a well stable career back home and
especially with children. This change means I did not get Mortgage deals
that were only available to people with permanent residency. Getting
good jobs is more difficult if we have limited leave to stay, as
employers usually like to hire people with no immigration restrictions.
This also means I am not able to contribute to British economy to the
best of my abilities since with better job I could have paid more taxes
and contributed more to the economy. This change also means that people
like me have to pay for an extra HSMP extension fee.”
Mohamed L. Harees
said “I came over to the UK in 2004, full of hope, being
attracted by the terms of the HSMP prevailing at that time. Sacrificing
a well paid top job in a leading bank, uprooting my family from its
traditional environment did not pay us dividends. The ILR changes in
2006 which was applied retrospectively shattered all our family
expectations, causing immense turmoil and mental and emotional anguish
in our lives. Paying unnecessary extension fees, job search
difficulties, home travel restrictions and more importantly I am worried
about my elder son, who has turned 18, who got a confirmed place in a
university, but cannot attend, being not eligible for home fees
and I cannot afford the overseas student fees – All as a result of this
change. He has been undergoing untold mental agony, when his other
friends are pursuing their career ambitions without hindrance. Even at
this last minute, HO can reverse this clear unfairness of the 2006 ILR
changes by taking away the retrospective element.”
Jose Roxas, a
research scientist “I arrived in the UK in 2004. Since my arrival, I
have been in a full time employment. I am working as a supply science
teacher. My inability to get ILR this year 2008 after four years of
having FLR, had brought me the following difficulties:
1. Inability to apply for the PGCE scholarship to be a full time science
teacher
2. Inability to apply for a home mortgage.
3. My son who had completed his A-level in a Ranelagh School had to
undergo a ‘gap year’ as I cannot afford the school fee which is being
levied to overseas students.”
Dr.Chandra Kanneganti
“I am a GP prinicipal, running my own GP surgery business, employing 10
local British people in my organisation. When I applied for HSMP visa in
2004, I was given clear guidance that I will be given ILR in 4 years
time, but there has been changes retrospectively, virtually affecting my
total belief in the
system. As
you reach the goal post, the goal post is being changed. I have been
paying taxes from 2002 with 40% tax bracket with considerable returns to
the community. As 10 people who work in my organisation, depend on my
continuance of my business, I am unable to confirm to them that I will
be running the business permanently, until I get the ILR. These
continuous changes in goal post for ILR causing myself, my family
members and my staff considerable distress.” |