An African Man Told He Is Not British After staying 42 Years in UK

A 74-year-old Ghanaian man, Nelson Shardey, who has lived in the UK for nearly 50 years, must wait another decade before the Home Office will allow him to stay permanently. Shardey, a retired newsagent from Wallasey in Wirral, believed he was recognized as British until 2019 when he discovered otherwise.

Shardey first came to the UK in 1977 on a student visa to study accountancy but had to take various jobs after a coup in Ghana cut off his financial support. He worked in factories and eventually ran his own business, a newsagent called Nelson's News. He married twice, both times to British women, and raised two sons, both of whom have successful careers.

Despite paying taxes and contributing to the community, including performing jury service and receiving a police bravery award in 2007, Shardey was told in 2019 that he was not British when he applied for a passport to visit Ghana following his mother's death. The Home Office instructed him to apply for the 10-year route to settlement, which costs about £7,000 plus an additional £10,500 for NHS access.

Shardey, who is recovering from prostate cancer, cannot afford these fees and sees the process as unfair, given his long-term residence and contributions to the UK. An error in his initial application has reset the process, delaying his chance for permanent residency until he is 84.

With the support of Nicola Burgess from the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), Shardey is taking the Home Office to court, arguing that his long residence and community contributions warrant an exception. His sons are crowdfunding to cover legal costs. The Home Office has declined to comment on the ongoing legal case.