New immigration rules 'unfair'

The committee insists the government has unfairly changed the goal posts for thousands of skilled migrants - 90 per cent of the people who joined the scheme

Condition of residence has gone up from four to five years and the points test has changed.

A number of things are no longer counted - including work experience and significant achievements.

The trouble is that these changes apply retrospectively. People came to Britain - they were even encouraged to come - when the scheme was simpler. They expected to settle down here.

Victor Abegunde gave up everything to come to Britain. He quit a 10 year career in financial services in Nigeria and sold his house and car when he was accepted on to the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme.

He was told he'd be able to settle in Britain with his family. But now the rules have changed - and he has to leave.

This has been a year of protests from immigrant groups. Those on the Skilled Migrant Worker Scheme have followed all the original rules and conditions - only to see them change.

The committee says it's unfair because it's retrospective and will apply to those already here.

The Home Office insists the changes are not retrospective because applicants were always on a series of short-term visas.

Victor Abegunde is taking the government to an immigration tribunal. If he looses he will be forced to return to Nigeria, without a job, within weeks.

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