More than 128,000 sign petition in support of Vimal challenging deportation order
BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk
More than 128,300 people have signed a petition demanding an accountant not be deported.
And £12,000 has also been raised by supporters of Vimal Pandya from Rotherhithe, who looks set to be ousted from the UK for not having the right papers.
Campaigners staged a protest on Saturday, January 29 after the Home Office rejected his immigration appeal – even though he has been here for 11 years.
Mr Pandya, who works at Halai General Stores near Rotherhithe Street and lives in the same road, tried a string of attempts to stay here after arriving in the UK on a student visa in 2011.
The 41-year-old has been living in the UK without permission since 2015.
He was sent a letter of thanks on behalf of the Queen for his efforts helping the community of Rotherhithe during lockdown.
His work was recognised on February 12 last year when he received a letter from Sir Kenneth Olisa, the Queen’s personal representative in Greater London, who wrote to him on behalf of the Queen offering thanks for his efforts.
He called isolated and vulnerable members of the community to lend an ear and offer companionship.
He was described as a “shining light” by residents, after dedicating so much time to ensuring those in self-isolation during the first national lockdown received regular food and essential supplies.
The Home Office gave him a final deadline of January 14 to regularise his immigration status – so now he could face deportation at any time.
Mr Pandya has spent £40,000, much of which was borrowed, to regularise his immigration status.
Studying in the UK since 2011, Vimal was refused re-entry into the country following a return to his native India in April 2014 to take an ill relative to her parents.
UK Border Force agents informed him the college he was studying at had lost its right to sponsorship – though he had not been told.
The GoFundMe page set up to fund a second appeal has already raised £12,140 of its £15,000 goal, despite only being put up four weeks ago.
The campaign’s organisers have said that if the appeal is unsuccessful Mr Pandya can keep the funds.
The petition, created by Rotherhithe Residents, said: “While awaiting permission to continue his studies Vimal has become an integral part of the Rotherhithe Community.”
Nearly 600 people have donated. Some individual donations have been as large as £250, with the page going viral on social media.
Mr Pandya said before the deadline elapsed: “All I have in the UK is the lovely people who have looked after me and helped me in this community. They have been incredible and amazing.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We are committed to an immigration policy which welcomes those in genuine need but which deters illegal immigration, prevents the abuse of benefits and services and removes immigration offenders from the UK.”
Pictured: Vimal Pandya, second from the right at the back with supporters
