A Ghanaian family residing in the UK faces deportation after being unable to meet the costs of new visas, following the revocation of the employer-sponsored visa that initially brought them to Britain. Esther Kondu, her husband Osei, and their three young daughters have been instructed to return to Ghana after struggling with the financial and bureaucratic fallout of their situation.
The family’s ordeal began when Esther’s sponsoring employer, which facilitated her move to the UK as a health and care worker in November 2022, lost its license from the Home Office. Despite having almost two years remaining on their visas, the family was informed in 2023 that their sponsorship was canceled. Esther was given just 60 days to secure a new sponsorship or face deportation.
Struggles and Financial Burdens
Esther, a care worker, and Osei, who was employed as a teacher in Ghana, moved to the UK in search of better opportunities. Initially settling in the Midlands, they faced setbacks when work for Esther failed to materialize, and the sponsoring company went into liquidation. Osei managed to find work as a carer through his dependent visa and even applied to join the British Army, while Esther stayed home to care for their daughters, now aged three, four, and six.
When the family relocated to Reading, Esther secured a new job as a carer and successfully obtained a five-year visa at a personal cost of £551. However, the high expenses of reapplying for the remaining family members’ visas—totaling £2,755—proved insurmountable. Despite their efforts, the Home Office rejected the family’s applications due to a missed 60-day deadline.
Legal and Political Advocacy
Immigration lawyer Clement Mensah, who has taken on the family’s case pro bono, criticized the Home Office for insufficient oversight of its licensed sponsors. He contended that the government has a responsibility to ensure that companies granted sponsorship licenses meet their obligations to migrant workers.
Reading Central MP Matt Rodda has expressed concern over the family’s plight, stating he will write to the immigration minister to advocate for their case. He urged the Home Office to treat the family with compassion and fairness.
A Family in Limbo
Esther described the experience as terrifying and overwhelming, adding that their current situation has left them uncertain about their future. “It was frightening, I didn’t know what to do, I was shocked,” she shared.
The Home Office declined to comment on the specific case but maintains that visa regulations must be adhered to. The family awaits the outcome of their legal review, which they hope will allow them to remain in the UK and build a stable life.
