CF has joined hands with the Philippine Embassy, Unison, AFO/Kanlungan, UWA, Filipino Observer, and Bison in asking the UK government to re-consider its decision to deny all requests for visa extension of all senior carers.
Some of these carers have been here for 4 years, have brought over their families and have even taken out mortgages. Affected by this turnaround in policies (considering that work permits were issued based on the same job descriptions) are those who came into the UK from 2003 onwards. Those who arrived before this should have changed their status already to "indefinite leave to remain."
The group was informed that the Ambassador has written to the Home Secretary to bring up the issue. Press releases to this effect have been distributed to media so that the community will know about this problem and that steps are being made to help our senior carers.
In addition, Charles Kelly of Bison has started an online petition in the goverment website inviting everyone concerned to affix their names to it. You can sign this petition by going into this website:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveCarers/
Among the steps that will be undertaken are:
1) Unison and AFO/Kanlungan will initiate a legal challenge against the decision. Unison will use its funds while the community will help raise funds for the AFO/Kanlungan challenge. Both groups need actual cases and all cases involving Unison members will be referred to Unison and non-members to AFO/Kanlungan.
2) AFO/Kanlungan will be meeting with its legal counsel to discuss the legal challenge and members of the working group will be invited to attend.
3) Press releases will be distributed to national media organisations as well as the Filipino community publications.
4) All NGOs will submit cases to Unison or AFO/Kanlungan so that lawyers can study each one and choose which ones to use for their legal challenges.
SUPPORT OUR SENIOR CARERS!