Home Office tells blind pensioner to seek care in wrong country

Blind pensioner denied settlement

Comfort, sixty-seven, arrived in the UK in two thousand and went blind from acute glaucoma shortly after. After twenty-six years, the Home Office rejected her request for indefinite leave to remain.

New rules extend wait times dramatically

After living in the UK for twenty years, Comfort was granted leave to remain under long residence rules.

Lawyers seek exceptional circumstances exception

Lawyers at Refugee and Migrant Justice applied to the Home Office for Comfort to be granted indefinite leave to remain now, citing her age and disability.There is a provision to fast-track applications in exceptional circumstances.

Home Office cites wrong country

The Home Office rejected the application, first saying Comfort could return to Nigeria because services exist there for blind people. The refusal letter then concluded she could get treatment in India instead.

“Your circumstances are not so severe or lacking in potential treatment in India that it would warrant indefinite leave to remain in this case.”

Comfort's response to the decision

Comfort said she has lived in the UK for twenty-six years, found her home there, and has friends, church and voluntary work.

“I don't know why the Home Office said I could go back to India. It's a country I have never visited and have no connection with.”

Wider impact on elderly migrants

According to freedom of information data obtained by Refugee and Migrant Justice, many people of pensionable age have applied for settlement but are likely to die before satisfying new wait times.

Migrant advocates condemn the approach

Nick Beales, head of campaigning at Migrant and Refugee Justice, said the government is fixated on appearing tough rather than viewing vulnerable people as human beings.

“Rather than viewing these vulnerable people as human beings, the government is fixated on appearing tough.”

Home Office says corrective action taken

Home Office sources said corrective action was being taken to re-issue an updated letter to Comfort. A Home Office spokesperson said all applications are carefully considered on individual merits in line with immigration rules.