Kenyan student fighting Home Office to stay in Meltham

Mar 19 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

She is an active member of the Full Life Church in Holmfirth and says she has been touched by the support she received.

Pastor Gooch even spoke to David Cameron when he visited Huddersfield last week.

“When Ian said he’d spoken to David Cameron I was amazed, and my MP Kali Mountford has been brilliant – everyone has,’’ added Elyjoy.

“What I would say to people is that I do want to be here, I do want to work and give something back.

“I just hope I can go to the High Tribunal and make it clear how much I want to stay here and work.”

Elyjoy is waiting for a date for the hearing – her final chance to overturn the visa rejection.

A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said that because Elyjoy had dipped into her £800 savings within the three month time scale, it has made her ineligible for the PSW, but that other options remained for Elyjoy.

He said: “We cannot comment on the specifics of this case as there is a tribunal pending.

“The PSW visa was introduced under the new points based system and replaces a similar scheme, the International Graduate Scheme [which Elyjoy has].

“If someone has already obtained a visa under either scheme, they would not be eligible to reapply for a second visa under the same scheme as this would open the system to abuse.”

He added that the PSW visa has a strict set of criteria which requires sufficient reserve of funds in a bank account as evidence that they can sustain themselves without help in the UK – it’s a minimum of £800 in an account untouched over a three month period.

He said applicants are still able to seek work in the UK but must then obtain the correct visa to take up employment.

Applicants are advised to assess their suitability for a work visa by using the online PBS Calculator http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator