My friend Brian White moved to the UK aged 15 with his adoptive family after his British father, Peter White, decided to move back home. He has overcome so much adversity but now faces the risk of being returned to Zimbabwe instead of being allowed to take up his place at Oxford University.

Having been abandoned as a baby, Brian lived in a Zimbabwean orphanage until the age of 6. The White family fostered, and later adopted Brian. Brian joined the family in Wolverhampton when he was 15 and given permission to enter the UK. At this point, he should have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain by the Home Office, but was instead given Limited Leave to Remain. Brian's current difficulties stem from the handling of this decision. This only came to light as an issue when Brian's application to become a British Citizen by naturalisation was rejected, leaving any potential university applications in doubt.

Immigration expert Louis MacWilliam has said to the press “On reviewing his papers it seems he should have been granted indefinite leave to enter at first instance and it is not clear why this did not happen.”

Despite this, Brian carried on, studying for both his GCSEs and A-Levels at Highfields School. Although his A-Level results were outstanding (A*A*A*A), Brian was unable to take his place at Oxford because if you don’t have indefinite leave to remain you aren’t eligible to receive student finance. However, Oxford University, in recognition of Brian's achievements in the face of constant adversity, have kindly kept his place open for him.

I have had the personal pleasure of knowing Brian since the start of 2013, having met him at school and quickly developing a close friendship with him. He is possibly the hardest working person I have ever met, but it is his enthusiasm to help those around him that I am inspired by each and every day.

If Brian is not granted Indefinite Leave to Remain, the United Kingdom would not only be losing a potentially valuable future worker, it would also be losing a fantastic person who is just as much a part of British culture and society as you and I.

Please help Brian's situation by signing and sharing this petition, in the hope that the Home Office see just how many people consider Brian a fitting and valued member of the United Kingdom.

#GetBrianToOxford