After living in the UK for nearly 50 years, Nelson Shardey, a retired shopkeeper from Wallasey, has been allowed to stay for good after the Home Office recognized his case as “exceptional.” Mr. Shardey, originally from Ghana, arrived in the UK on a student visa in 1977. However, when he applied for a passport in 2019, he was told he was not a British citizen.
Despite living and working in the UK for years, marrying two British women and raising his children there, officials told him to apply for the 10-year route to settlement when he applied for citizenship. This pathway costs about £7,000 with a further £10,500 over the same period to access the NHS. Mr. Shardey’s case argued that he should be considered an exception due to his long residency, bravery award, and service to the community. He also asked for the government to shorten or entirely abolish the 10-year route, which he considers inhumane.
Mr. Shardey’s case drew widespread attention, and more than £48,000 was raised towards his legal fight. His lawyer, Nicola Burgess of Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, called his bravery in the face of a broken immigration system inspirational. She also urged the new government to simplify the system and prevent others from being forced into “an endless cycle of applications, bureaucracy, and expensive fees.”
In response to Mr. Shardey’s case, the Home Office said that the Immigration Act gave them discretion to grant him indefinite leave to remain outside of the usual immigration rules and waive the application fee. The news brought immense relief to Mr. Shardey, who said he was overwhelmed and grateful for all the support he had received
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