THEY CANADA DO THIS TO US
Lecturer awarded £1.32m research grant by UK Government Home Office refuse his visa and threaten to deport him ..
A LECTURER is facing deportation from the UK – a year after being awarded a £1.32million government research grant.
Canadian Dr Kevin Parsons, who lives in Bearsden, near Glasgow, with his wife and two children, has been told to leave the country by June 11.
The biodiversity lecturer at Glasgow University, who received one of the largest funding grants possible from the Natural Environment Research Council in May 2016 for his work related to climate change, said: “I’ve lived in Scotland for the past five years.
“When I was offered the job, we saw it as a great opportunity to come to a progressive country.
“My indefinite leave to remain application was rejected due to errors made in the advice given by Home Office staff.”
Kevin’s wife, Lynne, qualifies for British citizenship and is in the process of applying.
His youngest daughter, Skye, was born here and his older daughter, Avery, has started primary school in Bearsden.
According to the lecturer, who is in the UK as a “dependant” under his wife’s ancestry visa, he was wrongly told to apply for indefinite leave to remain before Lynne did. It turned out the couple should have filed a joint application.
Kevin said: “My current visa expires on June 11, the day after my youngest daughter’s birthday.
“A lot is at stake as I will lose my right to work in the UK, which means my salary would be lost, making it impossible for me to support my family.
“This would irreparably damage my career, damage our finances and cause great emotional strain.”
Kevin’s case was raised at First Minister’s Questions last week by his local MSP Gil Paterson.
The lecturer added: “We’ve had amazing support from our local school and community.
“Why can’t the Home Office see that we are good people who contribute to society, and try to help us resolve the matter?”
The Home Office said: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”