A Cambridge University sociologist has been denied a visa and may be deported. The department of immigration has rejected her application for a residency visa and instead offered her a tier 2 visa.
The declaration by the UK Prime Minister that the UK is open for business and bright minds are welcome may not be the case for Dr. Asiya Islam.
Boris Johnson had said,
As we leave the EU I want to send a message that the UK is open to the most talented minds in the world, and stand ready to support them to turn their ideas into reality.
The Visa controversy involving Dr. Islam
In reality, Dr. Islam, a 31-year-old Cambridge sociologist, is fighting to keep her dream alive to turn her ideas to reality by confronting the UK visa system. She has lived in the UK for a decade, where she is regarded as one of the brightest young academics in the UK. She immigrated to the UK through the Gates Scholarship to Cambridge University.
Her work has been recognized, where she was recently awarded the prestigious Joyce Lambert research fellowship at the university. This is after she presented her Ph.D. thesis, which many critics described as superb.
However, her work during the thesis research is what has brought her trouble with the UK immigration department. Her research required her to travel to India, where she stayed for a year while doing her thesis. The rules, however, say that she was not supposed to have left the UK and stayed outside for too long, even though Cambridge University had commissioned her research.
Denial of Visa renewal for permanent residence
The immigration department has given her two weeks to leave the UK and has refused her the ability to apply for permanent residency. If this matter is not resolved, she will be deported when the given timeframe is up.
Her problems are not isolated, and other academics in the UK are experiencing similar cases. Local media such as Guardian has also reported on other high profile cases involving academics immigrants who the immigration department has said it will not renew their visa. The end will be deportation without any further discussion with the department.
Furaha Asani from Leicester University, for instance, has been told she will be deported to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a country she has never visited, and she has been in the UK for many years. Such cases are being highlighted while emphasizing the need for reforms at the department of immigration.
Tier 2 Visa
Dr. Islam, however, has been given an option to apply for a tier 2 visa that would see her extend her stay to the UK by three years. However, to qualify for this visa, she would have to give up her residency claim. This move by the department was ridiculous to even other academics who said three years is a short period, and she would end up losing her residency in the UK.
Dr. Islam and other academics who are under threat of being kicked out of the UK are asking for help to sort their immigration issues to charities. The issues are being highlighted and showing how the immigration department policy is affecting bright young minds such as Dr. Islam. All she can do for now is hope that things will get better and she will be allowed to stay in the UK.
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