Taxi Driver Online

Taxi driver dad who's lived here for 40 years fears being deported

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... d-16198506

Martin Burnett, who was born in Australia, fears for his future after an application to renew his private hire licence was refused


Image: Liverpool Echo

A Wirral dad and taxi driver who has lived in the UK for decades fears he will be deported after he was suddenly refused an application to continue working.

Martin Burnett came here from Australia in the 1970s when he was just nine years old, after his English parents decided to move back to the country.

Having lived in England for nearly four decades and now married to wife Liz and dad to Emma, nine, Martin was "stunned" last week after the local council refused to renew his private hire licence.

It's due to UK Government legislation introduced in 2016, and Martin has been told he had to obtain necessary documents before he could reapply.

His current licence expired on Sunday evening, meaning the situation has left him out of work and unable to provide for his family. He now does not know when he will be able to drive again, or if he will even be able to remain in the country.

Self-employed Martin, who lives in Leasowe and has been driving his private hire cab for six years, told the ECHO : "It would now be illegal for me to drive people around any more. It's going to affect my family's life immensely. I'm still not aware as to whether or not the legislation will allow me to work anywhere else until it's sorted, so I've lost my ability to support my family.

"That stunned feeling only started to leave last night when I parked my car up for the last time."

He said the best he could hope for is if his passport application is fast-tracked that would mean re-applying for his licence, which would still take some weeks - and "hundreds of pounds' worth of expenditure".

He added: "I don't know if I'm going to have to take all my taxi exams again, either. It's going to by hugely expensive.

"My family are furious, and our little girl is bemused. We're trying to keep the information away from her that's caused her worry. After 39 years in this country, I never thought this would happen. I feel British, and Leasowe is my home.

"This legislation has come out of nowhere, and has affected me personally. I think it could affect quite a few others too. It must be more widely circulated."


Image: Liverpool Echo

With Martin, 49, out of work, the family must now rely on the wages of wife of 20 years Liz, who works part-time as a chef.

She said: "We are panicking, and very worried financially. Martin works to support us - my wages pay the bills. It's a huge concern as we'll be without income.

"Martin was made to feel like he was going to be deported. We are just in shock beside ourselves."

Martin is originally from Perth, and could not have his licence renewed due to a change in immigration law since he last applied. He does not have a British passport, so was unable to provide the documentation the Home Office now require local authorities to receive to prove someone's right to work in this country.


Image: Liverpool Echo

He is now in touch with the Home Office, with whom he must verify his right to work in the UK, and obtain the necessary documents before re-applying for his licence.

The legislation – the Immigration Act 2016 – is the same law that revealed the extent of the Windrush scandal - the requirement for immigrants to now provide documentation to prove their right to continue living and working in this country.

The legislation, introduced in 2016 and involving 'right to work' checks, aims to prevent illegal working in the taxi and private hire sector.

Martin doesn't lay blame with the council, maintaining the authority has been "backed into a corner", but said he hopes to be able to appeal - and continue driving in the meantime.

A spokesman for Wirral Council said: “In this particular case, the driver was seeking to renew his licence that was due to expire on April 29, 2019. His application can proceed once we have the necessary documentation.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “We will be contacting Mr Burnett about his case to discuss the options open to him”.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We will be contacting Mr Burnett about his case to discuss the options open to him”.


back to Oz or apply for British citizenship

Another one who assumed he was a legal alien

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Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

Been here for 40 years.

But doesn't want a UK passport.

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IDFIMH

Taxi driver who feared deportation after 40 years here describes 'hardest fortnight of our lives'

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... n-16251551

Martin Burnett moved to the UK as a child in 1979, but suddenly faced the threat of deportation

A taxi driver dad who feared deportation despite living in the UK since 1979 has spoken of his relief at having received his driving badge - after the "hardest fortnight of our lives".

Martin Burnett moved here from Australia as a child 40 years ago, but was stunned last month when he was told the application to renew his private hire licence had been refused.

He described his shock to the ECHO, raising concerns he would not be able to work to support his wife and nine-year-old daughter - and could be forced to leave the country.

His plight was due to UK government tightening immigration legislation in 2016. As a result, he was told to obtain necessary documents before he could reapply - leaving him unable to work.

But after contact was made with the Home Office, Martin, who is based in Wirral, on Thursday received a six-month badge allowing him to drive his private hire vehicle, with citizenship expected to be granted in due course.

Self-employed Martin, 49, said: "I'm feeling much better. Without the story by the ECHO, we would still be running around in circles even now. This has shaved four months off the process.

"My immediate reaction is one of relief. I got myself re-insured on the car and can go back to my job now, once I've got in touch with the firm I work for."

Martin said he was out of work for over two weeks, and was told the problem might have happened as when he came over with his family from Perth all those years ago, vital paperwork "may have been lost or misplaced".

He added: "It's made things a bit tough. There's been uncertainty we've been going through. I just want to say thanks to all the people who have helped, especially my wife, Liz."

Since the start of the month, the Home Office and Wirral Council have been in contact, with a result of Leasowe-based Martin being issued with a driving badge lasting until November.

He is about to begin obtaining full citizenship and the right to remain in the UK, including biometric screenings, but the family is "pretty confident" the process will be smooth.

Wife of 20 years, Liz, said: "This entire situation has been a real worry. There was nothing - no help - for me and him [after the licence application was refused]. It's been the hardest fortnight of our lives. It's a great feeling that he can go back out and work."

Speaking about the couple's nine-year-old daughter Emma, Liz said: "She's also so relieved.

"She's been so worried but I keep trying to reassure her. It's been on the back of her mind this whole time, so I know she's going to be over the moon."

Liz added: "I'm still in a state of shock about it all. I can see no reason why he is not an automatic British citizen - and we still have to prove he is one."

The legislation – the Immigration Act 2016 – is the same law that revealed the extent of the Windrush scandal - the requirement for immigrants to now provide documentation to prove their right to continue living and working in this country.

In Martin's case, he does not have a British passport, so was unable to provide the documentation the Home Office now require local authorities to receive.

The family had a warning that other people may have already fallen foul of the little-known law without even knowing, urging them to read up on the legislation before it's too late.

Liz added: "A lot of other people are probably going to be affected by these laws, and we have already found a couple who might."

Well I hope there are 10s of 1000s of people going to be affected as the act was brought in to stop the blatant abuse of our immigration and visa laws.

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IDFIMH