A Ghanaian man named Nelson Shardey has initiated legal action against the United Kingdom Home Office after being denied permanent residency despite living in the country for 42 years.
Shardey, a retired 74-year-old, arrived in the UK in 1977 and has resided there ever since.
According to reports from the BBC, despite nearly five decades in the UK, Shardey was informed by the Home Office that he needed to wait another 10 years before being eligible for permanent residency.
Shardey, who had assumed he was officially British after arriving in 1977 for studies, discovered otherwise in 2019 when he applied for a passport to travel to Ghana following his mother’s death.
Shardey, who worked various jobs in the UK, including in the food industry, stated that he had never faced any queries regarding his right to live and work in the country until 2019.
Related News: Nigeria Fast-Tracks Investor Visas: 48-Hour Approval Promised
Despite paying taxes and making significant contributions to society, he now faces substantial fees to secure his residency status and access healthcare through the NHS.
Facing financial difficulties, Shardey expressed his dismay at being asked to go through a lengthy and costly process to attain residency, especially considering his health condition as he recovers from prostate cancer.
His legal representative, Nicola Burgess, is taking the Home Office to court on his behalf.
The Home Office declined to comment on the case.
Despite his contributions to society, which include performing jury service and receiving a police award for bravery, Shardey’s residency status remains uncertain, with the prospect of permanent residency delayed until he is 84 years old.
Do you want to share a story with us? Do you have a life experience, press statement or opinion you want to share with the public? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348033617468, Email: validviewnetwork@gmail.com
Click the link 👇👇👇 to join our WhatsApp platform
