An Indian-origin family of a nine-year-old chess prodigy who has been told they must leave the United Kingdom is calling on the government to let them stay.
Shreyas Royal, Britain’s “greatest chess prospect in a generation” has ranked number four in the world in his age group.
His father’s visa will be expiring next month and the family, who came to the UK six years ago, must return to India.
The Home Office said it assessed every case on its own merits.
The Indian born has been living in south London since the age of three. Shreyas represented England internationally as he got trained in Chess in Britain. Currently, he is competing in the British Chess Championships.
Singh is calling on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to let them stay in the UK as his five-year work visa is due to expire following month.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We just want to request that you can give chance to my son whose talent developed here in England.
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“The support and recognition that he’s getting in England, I’m sure he will not get it in India.”
Immigration rules would allow Singh’s visa to be extended if he earned £120,000 a year, but he does not.
Two MPs have backed Shreyas’ case.
In a joint letter to the home secretary, Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves and Greenwich and Woolwich MP Matthew Pennycook said the UK would lose an “exceptional talent” if Shreyas was to leave.
“The UK should always encourage the world’s brightest, most talented people to work and make their lives here,” they wrote.
“Shreyas is recognized by the English Chess Federation as the country’s greatest chess prospect in a generation.”
Govt plan to force an 8 year old chess prodigy to leave the country next month because his father earns less than £120,000 a year.
UK shouldn't be deporting its brightest young talent. @sajidjavid should intervene and allow Shreyas to stay in the only home he can remember. pic.twitter.com/DLonnTgSzX
— Rachel Reeves (@RachelReevesMP) August 3, 2018
They said despite Singh’s employer wanting him to continue working for them in the UK on his current salary, “there is no mechanism for him to apply to remain in the UK”.
The Home Office said: “Every visa case is assessed on its own merits in line with immigration rules.”
By Sowmya
