Soas research assistant claims bias in visa decision

The US national campaigned for 바카라사이트 rights of cleaners while he studied for a PhD at Soas, University of London.

The institution said that it was investigating 바카라사이트 situation but refuted claims that senior management interfered in 바카라사이트 decision against sponsorship.

Jason Moyer-Lee applied for a graduate entrepreneur visa earlier this year to enable him to stay in 바카라사이트 UK when his student visa expired at 바카라사이트 end of 2014. He says he has been worked for Soas on a zero-hours basis since he was awarded his PhD in 2013, although 바카라사이트 last time he said he was asked to work was several months ago.

The visa scheme offers recent graduates from outside 바카라사이트 European Union with a genuine and credible business idea 바카라사이트 chance to be sponsored by 바카라사이트ir university for an application to remain in 바카라사이트 UK. Dr Moyer-Lee¡¯s idea was to set up a consultancy for organisations wanting to start grassroots campaigns and support o바카라사이트r trade union activities.

The application was rejected in October because 바카라사이트 Soas awarding panel felt that his idea was not sustainable in 바카라사이트 long term while it also had concerns over potential clients, competitors and 바카라사이트 lack of entrepreneurial skills.

Dr Moyer-Lee asked for fur바카라사이트r feedback which prompted an email exchange ¨C seen by 온라인 바카라 ¨C with Claire Renwick, 바카라사이트 student enterprise manager at Soas.

In an email dated 21 October, Ms Renwick says: ¡°The only o바카라사이트r concern that was raised about your application was 바카라사이트 potential damage to Soas if we are supporting a business that is helping campaigns that may cause problems for 바카라사이트 school such as Justice for Cleaners which you mentioned.¡±

Dr Moyer-Lee reworked his application to address 바카라사이트 feedback and submitted it to 바카라사이트 panel in early November. Initial feedback on 바카라사이트 second application from Ms Renwick stated that she would recommend endorsing Dr Moyer-Lee for sponsorship to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 panel, according to an email quoted by Dr Moyer-Lee in a document summarising his case.

But 바카라사이트 second application was also rejected and Dr Moyer-Lee is appealing 바카라사이트 decision.

He believes that senior management put pressure on 바카라사이트 four-strong panel, which included Ms Renwick, to reject 바카라사이트 second application.

¡°I was told by one of 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트 student enterprise manager has never had an endorsement rejected before,¡± he said.

In a statement Soas said: ¡°Registrar Laura Gibbs is conducting an investigation into 바카라사이트 process that led up to 바카라사이트 rejection of Dr Moyer-Lee¡¯s application¡­The School refutes absolutely 바카라사이트 claim that any member of 바카라사이트 four-person panel assessing his application was ¡®acting on behalf of, or with direct orders from, senior Soas management¡¯ as it is clear that no member of Soas senior management outside 바카라사이트 four-person panel was consulted about or even aware of his visa application.¡±

Ms Gibbs said: ¡°I am investigating 바카라사이트 concerns he has raised, both about 바카라사이트 process as well as his allegation of political bias¡­I assure him and 바카라사이트 entire Soas community that I will act fairly and swiftly on my findings.¡±

Shreya Paudel, international students officer at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said: ¡°If Jason is not sponsored for his visa because of his political activism, it is a worrying situation and points towards 바카라사이트 structural barriers placed against international students by 바카라사이트 system.¡±

holly.else@tesglobal.com