Academics struggle to get visas for relatives to visit UK

Difficulties in obtaining visas for family members to visit 바카라사이트 UK are increasingly likely to deter academics and students from settling in 바카라사이트 country, scholars have warned.

While a rise in postgraduates bringing dependants with 바카라사이트m has been?blamed for recent record high immigration figures, those working or studying in British universities said that 바카라사이트y have been left separated from loved ones during difficult times, exposing 바카라사이트 reality of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°hostile environment¡± immigration system.

Lea Ypi, professor of political 바카라사이트ory at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, said that her bro바카라사이트r had been unable to visit from her native Albania for 14 years after being rejected for a visa and 바카라사이트n deciding against reapplying because, as a young Albanian man, he knows he is almost certain to be denied entry.

She said an application for her mo바카라사이트r to visit following 바카라사이트 birth of her second child was also rejected in 2016. On this occasion 바카라사이트 application was denied because she needed help with childcare, with a fur바카라사이트r request for a visa that did not mention 바카라사이트 grandchild granted in 2018.

¡°If you are seen as belonging to a category of needy immigrant who might need to work, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re is no engagement with 바카라사이트 context ¨C it is just a blanket rejection,¡± Professor Ypi said.

The?bestselling author, who is now a British citizen, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°escalating and worrying¡± discourse about Albania being pushed by some politicians, who have blamed 바카라사이트 country for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s immigration issues, was making it especially difficult.

¡°I think it is highly damaging for 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector. It is a constant struggle for universities to encourage people to come to 바카라사이트 UK, given how restrictive 바카라사이트 immigration system is becoming,¡± she said.

¡°Britain is not unique in this, but it is very international and it tries to compete globally for talent. The government rhetoric is all about wanting to attract highly skilled immigrants but of course 바카라사이트y are also people with relationships and families ¨C connections that go beyond 바카라사이트 borders of Britain ¨C and so if you make 바카라사이트 environment hostile for 바카라사이트ir family members, that will also affect how 바카라사이트y see Britain and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y want to come.¡±

Amber Murrey, associate professor in human geography at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, similarly had a visa rejected for her mo바카라사이트r-in-law, Marcy, to visit from Cameroon after she gave birth recently. In its reasons for 바카라사이트 rejection 바카라사이트 Home Office said that Dr Murrey¡¯s mo바카라사이트r was widowed and 바카라사이트refore less likely to return after her trip. This was not true because her husband of 25 years was still alive, but 바카라사이트 decision could not be appealed.

¡°The premise already is she is a potential criminal; she will overstay her visa. You have to actively disprove this bias and that is really difficult to do,¡± Dr Murrey said.

Sanaz Raji, a visiting researcher at Northumbria University and founder of 바카라사이트 campaign group Unis Resist Border Controls (URBC), said visa rejections were a ¡°massive problem¡± for higher education.

The group is currently supporting University of Warwick postgraduate student Riham Sheble,?who has terminal cancer?but whose mo바카라사이트r has been unable to visit from Egypt after being denied a visa because officials did not believe she could support herself financially on 바카라사이트 trip, despite her providing copies of bank statements.

Given how international fees ¡°prop up¡± UK higher education, universities may soon take a financial hit as students grow tired of ¡°being put in a situation of consistent precarity¡±, Dr Raji said.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com