Luke Ong: 50,000 back petition to stop soon-to-qualify GP from being kicked out of UK
More than 50,000 people have backed a petition to stop a doctor on the cusp of qualifying from being kicked out of the country.
Luke Ong, who lives in Manchester, came to the UK more than 10 years ago from Singapore to study and train to be a doctor.
Now, just five months before completing his GP training, Dr Ong faces a battles to remain in Britain.
The 31-year-old claimed he has successfully appealed a Home Office decision to deny him permanent residency last year as his application was 18 days late.
An immigration judge ruled it “would not be proportionate” to remove him, the Manchester Evening News reported.
However, Dr Ong has alleged that the Home Office applied to overturn the ruling.
He set up a change.org petition last week urging the Home Office to drop the appeal. The page has since amassed more than 56,000 signatures.
In the statement Dr Ong wrote: “At a time when the NHS is struggling to train and recruit GPs, I find it absolutely ridiculous that I am on the cusp of becoming a GP.
“I have given the best years of my life to the NHS, toiling relentlessly through nights and weekends for many years, paying my taxes and contributing to wider society - sadly right now, all this counts for nothing.”
He added: “I am broken, and I don’t know how much longer I can take this. I want to be a doctor here in the UK. Please help me by signing.”
The doctor has another three or four months before he finds out the result of the appeal, the MEN reported.
His MP, Manchester Central’s Lucy Powell, told the newspaper: “The case is ridiculous. He’s not allowed to work at the moment.
“He is a fantastic young man who wants to have a life here in the UK."
A Home Office spokesman said: “All visa applications are considered in line with immigration rules and on the evidence provided.
“Dr Ong’s case is currently under appeal and it would be inappropriate to comment further whilst legal proceedings are ongoing”.
