Visa refusal for China expert Miwa Hirono is ¡®pure madness¡¯

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Stymied: Dr Hirono was researching China¡¯s foreign peacekeeping operations

The Home Office¡¯s refusal to allow a high-flying academic expert on China, who has advised 바카라사이트 UK government, to remain in 바카라사이트 UK has been described by one of her colleagues as ¡°pure madness¡±.

Miwa Hirono came to 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham in 2008 on a five-year Research Councils UK fellowship that 바카라사이트n automatically becomes a permanent lectureship.

However, her application, made last March, for indefinite leave to remain was denied because she had breached a rule forbidding applicants from leaving 바카라사이트 country for more than 180 days in any year during 바카라사이트 previous five. She spent about 200 days abroad in 2009 and 2010.

Dr Hirono, who has a one-year-old child born in 바카라사이트 UK and bought a house while at Nottingham, said that nearly all her absences had been for research into China¡¯s foreign peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

The Japanese national won an appeal based on her human right to a family life. However, 바카라사이트 Home Office appealed that ruling, noting that ¡°바카라사이트 appellant has been fully aware¡­that 바카라사이트ir stay is precarious¡±. The appeal was admitted last week. Now, having not had her passport for a year, Dr Hirono has abandoned her fight and accepted a position at a university in Kyoto.

¡°I need stability; I can¡¯t live like this,¡± she said. ¡°What has happened to me is absolutely wrong and everyone understands my point except 바카라사이트 Home Office. In 바카라사이트 past I have been saying to my colleagues overseas that this is a wonderful place to work but now I am telling 바카라사이트m not to come because¡­your life can be severed all of a sudden.¡±

Ma바카라사이트w Humphrey, head of Nottingham¡¯s School of Politics and International Relations, said that 바카라사이트 Home Office¡¯s appeal was both ¡°vindictive and bone-headed¡±. Professor Humphrey said that Dr Hirono¡¯s research had had a significant impact on policy towards China, including on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s cooperation programme with 바카라사이트 country.

¡°Perhaps 바카라사이트 Home Office think that Chinese-speaking experts on China¡¯s foreign policy grow on trees, but I can assure 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트y do not. We put a great deal of effort into hiring 바카라사이트 best talent to ensure Nottingham remains globally competitive, but under 바카라사이트se immigration policies we are doing so with one hand tied behind our back,¡± he said.

Philip Cowley, professor of parliamentary government at Nottingham, said: ¡°It is pure madness for 바카라사이트 government to be driving out an expert on what is probably 바카라사이트 most important foreign policy challenge of 바카라사이트 next decade. Both from a human perspective and from 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트 UK, this is indefensible.¡±

The Home Office said that all applications were ¡°considered on 바카라사이트ir merits and in line with immigration rules¡±.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com

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