PTI
 
London, Apr 23: A highly-skilled IT professional from Gujarat has been served with deportation order by the British Government, if he failed to leave the UK voluntarily, the HSMP Forum said on Sunday.

Keyur Shah, an HSMP immigrant and an MCA from Gujarat, has been working in the UK as an IT professional. But to his shock, the British government has now turned down his application for visa extension.

In its letter dated March 30, 2007, the Home Ministry informed him "You applied for leave to remain in the United Kingdom as a Highly Skilled Migrant, but your application has been refused".

It warned him that "If you do not leave the United Kingdom voluntarily you will be removed to India."

Shah in a statement said that without the assurances given to him at the time of coming here under the HSMP visa he would not have contemplated giving up his life in India.

"I have lost everything in my life due to a desire to settle in the UK - my monies, career, social ties and my future. I and my family feel that we have been robbed in the daylight by the UK government".

He has filed an appeal in the tribunal court against the refusal decision and he is waiting for the hearing, which is expected next month.

Shah said when he had applied for the HSMP Visa, the old HSMP guidance notes clearly stated "that you are willing and able to make the United Kingdom your main home. We will ask you to provide a written undertaking to that effect. You will be expected to make the UK your country of habitual residence."

Shah said the HSMP applicants were further informed during their initial applications that their visa extensions would be based on economic activity alone.

"You will need to show that you are lawfully economically active or, if you are not, that you have taken all reasonable steps to become lawfully economically active". Due to such understanding conveyed by the UK Government HSMP holders made calculated and planned decisions, he said.

Amit Kapadia, director and coordinator of HSMP forum said "HSMP immigrants made life changing decisions based on the false promises made by the UK Government. People's careers and lives are being ruined due to the retrospective change made in November 2006. The UK Government invited highly skilled professionals by enticing them with promises of permanent settlement only to finally expel and deport them."