[CharlotteSometimes]

Pah! I gave you huggles for no reason, and didn't even receive an acknowledgement.

[Fangz]

*Huggles Jo* Awww, don't feel left out!

[CharlotteSometimes]

Thanks, Fizz.

But Gazza still overlooked my subtle as a sledgehammer hint on his last visit.

[Ruth]

Originally posted by bananarama
The Police ahh.....I used to supervise a small security team within the civil service..Now Police I could tell things about.....But this is not the forum...But to give you a clue you know the old saying perhaps..."never trust a copper"......

Hmm, well, there are a lot of Police in my family and in my boyfriend's family, and I also work in an office full of retired Police...in our work, we also liaise with the Police on a daily basis. I'd trust any of them. There are a few corrupt Police Officers, as there are corrupt people in every line of work, but everyone shouldn't be tarred with the same brush.

But this is all off topic, sorry. The point is Makosi is here illegally. She must have known that she was breaking the rules of her visa when she quit her job, and not only did she do that, but she made sure everyone knew who she was by appearing on national tv. She can hardly blame people for taking notice of her and taking action if she is here illegally. She can't expect special treatment!

[Dan_]

I think it's a bit silly to say that they are making an example of her, when she has put herself in the public eye and basically said she is here on a visa as nurse. She has made it easy for the police.

[Ruth]

Exactly, what does she expect? It's like committing a crime and then waving a banner saying, 'Arrest me, arrest me'.

[lily.]

NO NO NO NOOOOOO ruth.. it's like commiting a crime then waving a banner saying 'Arrest Makosi, Arrest Makosi'

Third person remember!!!

[Ruth]

Originally posted by Stropz
NO NO NO NOOOOOO ruth.. it's like commiting a crime then waving a banner saying 'Arrest Makosi, Arrest Makosi'

Third person remember!!!

[bananarama]

Ruth said:- But this is all off topic, sorry.

Don't apoligise it was me that went off topic. We all have differing experiences and thats life...

We have come a full circle about Makosi so will have to agree to disagree in part any how...Regards. bananarama..

[Ruth]

No worries. It'd be a boring world if we all agreed on everything

[James]

The UK's immmigration rules explained

MAKOSI Musambasi, the Big Brother lass, is all the rave this summer.

Her 15 minutes of fame have, if anything, brought to the fore some critical issues that Zimbabweans in the diaspora are all too familiar with: nursing as a platform to bigger things, AIDS and the rumours of AIDS, media xenophobia, and perhaps by far the most topical, a perilous immigration status accompanied by the constant fear of forced removal to Mugabeland by the real Big Brother, the Home Office. These are some of the issues that have been discussed in relation with Makosi and which most Zimbabweans in the diaspora will relate with.

I cannot, and do not wish to comment on a lot of these, save for the immigration issue. Makosi will hopefully be awash with funds and will enjoy the best that money can buy in terms of legal expertise. Her handlers will have discussed with her some of the various options open to her in order to remain in the UK. I will go through some of these for the benefit of those without the largesse that comes with a third place on Big Brother.

The bible on UK immigration is a document known as the Immigration Rules HC 395 (see here ): It is a document that every Zimbabwean in the UK needs to be familiar with. It lays down in some detail the rules which regulate entry into and stay of non-British and non-EEA persons in the UK. Of particular interest are the provisions for when, and how to switch immigration categories. ‘Switching’ is the term used in legal circles to describe the process of changing from one immigration category into another while in the UK. There are some strict rules that govern switching. Perhaps the one most Zimbabweans will be familiar with is the general bar on visa nationals switching into other immigration categories from the visitor’s category.

Assuming that someone came to the UK from Zimbabwe as a student nurse, they will have been able to switch to the work permit category upon completion of their nursing course. A work permit however, is employer specific. It is applied for by the employer, not the individual. One cannot move with it to a different employer. One cannot use an NHS work permit to get employment as an artist, for instance.

A more flexible category is the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP). This is a personal work permit which one can move with to different employers. The HSMP is different from the work permit scheme because it does not require an employer to obtain a work permit for the individual. The UK government’s position is that it set up the scheme in January 2002 as a route for ‘particularly talented people’ to apply to work in the UK. The HSMP has the flexibility of having no employment restrictions and even allows a successful applicant to be self employed if they so desire. It is a points based immigration scheme and you would need to score a total of 65 points across 5 main areas to successfully apply. Success would therefore depend on the applicant’s earning ability assessed by looking at what they earned in the previous 12 months, what their qualifications are, what work experience they have, what achievements they have in their area of expertise, and their spouse’s or unmarried partner's achievements are. An HSMP holder can apply for ILR after 4 continuous years of residence in the UK.

Another option is to become a student. If someone has been legally working in the UK, it is possible to switch into the student category. They should originally have come into the UK with entry clearance as a student, however, and not as visitors. Visa nationals cannot switch to student status from a visitor’s category within the UK. Zimbabwe became a visa country in 2002. Since the 1st of January 2005, it has also become mandatory to enrol with a bona fide education institution in order to get leave to remain in the UK as a student. Bona-fide institutions are those that appear on the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) register of Education and Training Providers (link provided). The programme enrolled for should be a degree programme.

Yet another option is the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme (SEGS) introduced on 25 October 2004. It allows non-EEA nationals who have graduated from UK higher or further education establishments in certain subjects to remain in the UK for 12 months after their studies in order to pursue a career. An applicant must have successfully completed a recognised science or engineering degree course, Masters course or PhD at a UK institution of Higher or Further Education. DfES has created a list of eligible Science and Engineering courses. There are no restrictions on the type of work a SEGS participant can do.

Finally in this series, one can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if they have been lawfully resident in the UK for 10 years or more in whatever capacity on the basis of long residence. Alternatively, if they are somehow able to evade the authorities for 14 continuous years, they would be allowed to reside in the UK indefinitely, again on the basis of long residence. Having said this however, it should be noted that the grant of ILR on the basis of long residence is an exercise of discretion by the Secretary of State for the Home Office and each case is dealt with on its own facts. Where the conditions are met, the Secretary of State will usually grant such applications, unless there are ‘strong countervailing factors’.

The above is by no means an exhaustive list of the options available to Zimbabweans wishing to lawfully remain in the UK. Next week, I will continue the discussion of the other options as well as other topical immigration issues.

Taffy Nyawanza writes from Cambridge. He can be contacted on profettaffy@yahoo.co.uk

http://www.newzimbabwe.com/pages/fame28.13096.html

[GlitterEyes]

I don't see what all the fuss is about she broke the rules therefore she should be deported. The story and issue should end there...then if she wishes to re apply for a visa ...nothing is stopping her. Makosi loves all the attention and she will be making the most out of every situation like she always does.

[Sunny_01]

To be honest Makosi is going on about being treated badly by authorities and I just can't see any evidence that this is true!

She broke the rules of our country and her work permit so should be sent home. as long as we know when so we can wave her off though

[James]

This is from today's Independent.

'Betrayed' Makosi fights the reality of deportation

By Ciar Byrne, Media Corresponent

Published: 10 September 2005

She has been catapulted to fame by reality television - but is about to discover whether the exposure she so controversially courted will result in her being thrown out of Britain.

Makosi Musambasi, one of Big Brother's most headline-grabbing contestants, is appealing against deportation back to her native Zimbabwe because she fears she will face a backlash over her antics on the Channel 4 show.

The 24-year-old cardiac nurse from Harare, who has lived in Britain for six years, training and working at a hospital in High Wycombe, believes she has been unfairly targeted by the immigration services because of her high profile.

Her lawyer this week lodged an appeal against curtailment papers served against her when she broke the terms of her visa, which only allowed her to reside in Britain while she was working for the NHS. She is now waiting for a hearing date, which could take up to six weeks.

Ms Musambasi initially applied for and was granted a sabbatical, but permission for a career break was withdrawn when NHS managers discovered she was planning to appear on TV. Presented with the choice of resigning or turning down the chance to become an overnight celeb-rity, she left her job.

Her employers notified the Home Office of her change in status on 2 June but it was more than two months before she was served with the curtailment papers that give her 10 days to leave the country or appeal. Meanwhile, she had been beamed into living rooms up and down the country on a nightly basis.

"They only came after me two and a half months later," said Ms Musambasi. "They can't turn round and say we didn't know where to find her because I think even three-year-olds around England would find me if they wanted."

Philip Barth, a partner at the law firm Penningtons who is representing Ms Musambasi, said: "I think they have been too precipitous in making this decision. I think they have targeted her just because of her high profile."

Ms Musambasi said: "I feel very betrayed. I've entertained the nation for three months and then you come after me. Go into any hospital. The amount of cleaners that probably have the wrong immigration status, but because they are doing the dirtiest job that nobody wants to do, they will not make an example of that person."

As a nurse, Ms Musambasi earned £17,000 a year. Her main motivation in appearing on Big Brother 6 was to increase her earning capacity to help pay for an operation for her mother, who has a brain tumour.

Her parents still live in Harare, where her father worked as a police officer and her mother is a desk-top publisher. Ms Musambasi describes Zimbabwe as a deeply tribal culture where her behaviour on Big Brother is frowned on because, "a woman is a second class citizen".

Internet chat forums in Zimbabwe have been bombarded with negative comments about her. Her fears include "anything from being attacked in the street to being discriminated from getting a job". "Homosexuality is illegal, you get arrested for it. So me snogging [fellow female contestants] Orlaith and Sam on TV didn't go down well. Me wearing all those bikinis and me being topless, that didn't go down well," she said.

Ms Musambasi is vague about whether she will return to nursing if she is allowed to remain in the UK.

"I would love to go back to nursing, but imagine if you had a heart attack and you were not a fan of Makosi and and I'm sticking electrodes on to your chest, would it not make you worse? I love working with people, whether it's on the ward or entertaining them."

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/leg...icle311549.ece