The UK Home Office rejected an application for indefinite leave to remain from Comfort, a 67-year-old blind Nigerian woman, erroneously concluding she could receive medical treatment in India. Legal representatives had requested a fast-track settlement due to her age and disability, but recent policy changes could require her to renew her visa for up to 20 years. Migrants' rights organizations have condemned these rules, citing data showing extreme delays such as a 103-year-old applicant who would not qualify for settlement until age 123. The Home Office maintained that applications are assessed on their merits and stated that an updated decision letter is being prepared.
Key points
Government settlement policy changes have increased some waiting times sixfold, drawing s…: Government settlement policy changes have increased some waiting times sixfold, drawing severe criticism from human rights organizations.
Legal advocacy data reveals pensionable applicants face settlement timelines that exceed…: Legal advocacy data reveals pensionable applicants face settlement timelines that exceed normal human lifespans.
The Home Office is currently taking corrective action to reissue the applicant's determin…: The Home Office is currently taking corrective action to reissue the applicant's determination letter following the geographic error.
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A blind Nigerian pensioner who has lived in the UK for 26 years has been told by the Home Office she can safely “go home” to India.
Comfort*, 67, arrived in the UK in 2000, and shortly after suddenly went blind due to acute glaucoma.
After living here for 20 years, she was granted leave to remain under long residence rules. Those allowed to stay on this route have to renew their visa every 30 months for 10 years and after that can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Under the new settlement rules announced by Shabana Mahmood this week, it is likely Comfort will now have to keep renewing her visa for the next 20 years before she will finally, when she reaches her 80s, be eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
Due to her age and disability, lawyers at Refugee and Migrant Justice applied to the Home Office for her to be granted indefinite leave to remain now rather than having to wait two more decades before becoming eligible. There is a provision to fast-track indefinite leave to…
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