A Ghanaian man, Nelson Shardey, who has resided in the UK for nearly five decades, faces an unexpected hurdle in his life.
Despite residing in the country for most of his adult life, contributing to the economy, and raising a family, Shardey was recently informed by the Home Office that he is not a British citizen. This revelation has thrown his life into disarray as he now faces a significant financial burden to regularize his immigration status and access essential healthcare services. Shardey arrived in the UK in 1977 as a student with a work permit. After encountering financial difficulties due to a coup in Ghana, he diligently built a life for himself in Britain.
He secured various jobs, married twice to British women, and even ran his own successful newsagent business. Throughout this time, he seemingly integrated seamlessly into British society, raising two sons, purchasing a home, and even receiving recognition for his bravery by local authorities. However, his world was turned upside down in 2019 when he applied for a passport to visit his ailing mother in Ghana. To his shock, the application was denied, and he was informed of his irregular immigration status. The Home Office’s proposed solution came at a steep price: a ten-year settlement route costing a staggering £7,000, with an additional £10,500 required for access to the NHS.
This situation is particularly concerning for Shardey who is currently recovering from prostate cancer. The substantial financial burden imposed by the Home Office creates a significant hardship, especially considering his health condition. Shardey feels unfairly penalized for a situation that appears to be a result of bureaucratic oversight. He has demonstrably built a life in Britain and contributed positively to society for nearly half a century. The current situation raises questions about the fairness and efficiency of the UK’s immigration system, particularly when it impacts long-term residents like Shardey.
A work permit does not…
A work permit does not confer citizenship anywhere on the globe.
This is not true…he was a…
This is not true…he was a total fool..something is not adding up…
This is a case where…
This is a case where commonsense should overule the law…You cannot compare this fellow to an”illegal immigrant” who was a trouble maker,and un productive and has lived in UK for as long.
Question, since 1977 he has…
Question, since 1977 he has never visited his mother in Ghana or what? And how come he waited till his mother got sick, then think of applying for a British passport? So many questions but for now anyway, let him regularize his status and hopefully his mama recovers and that gets to see her…
Several years ago, I loaned…
Several years ago, I loaned my friend some money since he had an emergency back home at the time.He went back home and then immigrated to Australia.We lost touch for a while, and the next time I saw him, he was in States doing well for himself.I reminded him about the money he owed.”Oh, that was ages ago , show me the paper agreement,” he said,As if the fact that time had passed made the debt or the fact it happened irrelevant.My point is, regardless of the circumstances, this gentleman was not a legal citizen, and the passage of time doesn’t negate that he overstayed his student Visa.
Marrying a citizen and…
Marrying a citizen and applying for citizenship are unrelated events. He napped for decades
This story put the gentleman…
This story put the gentleman in positive light. However, there is more to the story. Being in the U.K on a student visa and a work permit did not guarantee him a citizenship. He is acting as fool by claiming being a good citizens that does not guarantee him a U.K citizenship. He should be deported because he over stay his student visa. Under the student visa rule you must leave after completed your degree. Did he a degree?