Is This What A Hardline Immigration Policy Looks Like?

[Kromovaracun]

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/04/us-surgeon-may-be-forced-to-quit-uk-because-of-visa-nightmare?

A highly trained specialist surgeon is being forced to leave the UK - after the NHS spent thousands recruiting him - because the Home Office refuses to admit the children that he and his British wife have adopted.

// “And the Home Office’s letter was also astonishing and, frankly, unlawful, because it stated that while it was not their intention to separate the children from the rest of their family, one of the grounds for refusal was that one of the parents could return to the States with the boys and stay in touch with the rest of the family through email and Skype.//

Anyone who has interacted with the UK's immigration system can testify to what a bureaucratic and highly expensive nightmare it is. This is not a unique story.

Should this really be the way our immigration system is designed?

[mikey4444]

Kromo....on the face of it, this seems to make no sense whatsoever !

[Old_Geezer]

It does seem that the system, if being applied correctly, is flawed. The justification re electronic contact, seems carp. But ought this not have been sorted with the Home Office before the NHS offered the position ? Maybe he's here on the understanding it is a temporary job which will ensure his return at the end.

[albaqwerty]

To answer your question, no, I don't think so.

Can I just get this right? The system are saying that the British wife should stay in the US with the kiddies and the US surgeon can stay in the UK?
Skype is very good for letting dad hug his wife and kiddies (not)
World is going mad....

[waterboatman]

The lunatics are running the asylum. How petty can you get!

[naomi24]

No, it shouldn’t, but bureaucracy generally brings ‘Jobsworth’ nonsense with it. Hopefully, now this case has been exposed, someone with the authority to make a decision will get their brain in gear and common sense will prevail.

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds like the FCO and HO don't communicate.

[NoMercy]

Typical! Someone who actually brings something to this country is being forced to leave whilst our streets are awash with immigrant criminals and spongers we seem powerless to get shot of.

This kind of lunacy makes us a universal laughing stock.

[Kromovaracun]

//Can I just get this right? The system are saying that the British wife should stay in the US with the kiddies and the US surgeon can stay in the UK? //

The surgeon is not currently in the UK, though his visa is valid (but will not be renewable if he stays outside the UK for too long). I think technically then he could stay (and work) and the wife could go over. Why they've chosen that isn't clear - the article mentions that his father is unwell, so that could be a factor.

Naomi: His visa is valid, and they followed the instructions they were given by the FCO... It seems like they did everything one could reasonably expect to do this right.

[Zacs-Master]

Why did the two children only turn up,with visit visas? Surely their parents, both highly intelligent it would seem, should have realised they couldn't stay?

[naomi24]

Krom, as I said, hopefully this will be reviewed. It's a mess.

[albaqwerty]

Common sense is sadly lacking at times Naomi

[Zacs-Master]

There does seem to have been a 'jobsworth' approach but rules is rules. If this had been a family of unskilled immigrants, there would be some lauding the HO's decision and praising the tightness of their operation.

[naomi24]

Zacs no doubt – but common sense needs to be employed in all instances. People who are likely to become a burden on society we don’t need.

[Zacs-Master]

No system should be open to interpretation the Naomi, otherwise chaos ensues and the law cannot be applied. The fault lies with the parents either not having been advised correctly, or not checking what visa is required but, oh no, lets blame the Immigration system......this time for NOT letting someone in.

[naomi24]

Zacs, indeed, no system should be open to interpretation, but clearly ours is. If it wasn’t, the unskilled worker and his family you mention wouldn’t be here.

[Zacs-Master]

Really, do you have a specific case which parallels this one but works in the opposite way?

[naomi24]

Zacs, no I don't. Since you mentioned it I assumed you did.

[Zacs-Master]

I said 'if' this had been....indicative of a hypothetical situation
Whereas you seem to think that there are actually some families here who, despite having incorrect visas, have been let in.

[naomi24]

Zacs, right. A misunderstanding then.

[Zacs-Master]

Patently.