Strangers into Citizens

Alexander

When I heard about the "Strangers into Citizens" campaign I decided to share my story. British people should know about our reality.
I am very touched with the support given to this campaign from the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, the Bishop of Chelmsford and the Mayor of London.
I am Russian. My name is Alexander. I came into the UK in 2003 and have been in this country for almost four years.
I was divorced when I escaped from Russia because my life was threatened with death.
Like other Russians I dared to denounce the corruption existing in my country between the militia - the Russian police - the Mafia, the judges and the authorities. At that time I had invested all my time, efforts and savings to start a retailing business; and as the business grew successful so did the Mafia protection payments. When the situation became so unbearable that I could not make a living out of my honest job much less continue to pay the extortionate amounts demanded by the Mafia, I decided to make a proper accusation before the pertinent local authorities.
That's when my real problems began. I was taken to jail for no legal/criminal reason where I was beaten many times and then, I was continually persecuted until I lost everything I had. This is when I started to think about ways on how to save my life and my friends advised me that moving to another country may be the only option I have to remain alive.
This is not an easy decision to take. Unfortunately, proof has come late for my testimony with the murders of Anna Politkovskaya and Alexander Litvinenko for the very same reasons.
I was 50 years old when I fled away from my country. I was conscious I would lose my ties, my job, my friends, my family, my language and culture. For most of us, our priority is only to save our lives. We don't think about benefits, or of living at other peoples' expense. We move because we are sick with fear; we feel helpless; we can't sleep at night; we have nightmares; we live with depression and sadness. Once in the country, we experience a period of difficult adjustment; we need to learn English, and how to operate in a different culture. Our objective is to be integrated into British society.
It requires a lot of courage to start a new life again, especially at my age. Many people have a family to support and good job skills. We are so grateful to your country for giving us a new start. We want to give back to the UK at least part of what we have received. After a while, you realize that the next step to readjust your life is to get a job and you start to long for a Work Permit.
I came to the UK as a Russian representative to the 'UNCERT 2003 Forum of Metrology, scientist convention at Saint Catherine College in Oxford and I seized the opportunity to ask for asylum. I didn't know much about this country, I only knew that here I could live without fear and in safety. This is a country that offers equal opportunities to all, no matter our race, religion or background.
I came by plane. I am conscious I was fortunate to get a visa in my country because I am a scientist.
At first, I was confident because my asylum application seemed to run smoothly. I expected the evidence presented in my case would allow me to get Indefinite Leave to Remain. but the Home Office denied my application.
You should know that life for a failed asylum seeker is a constant nightmare. You know that you are in a worst situation than at the beginning - fearing for your life once again because you may be returned to your country at any time - knowing that the British police may send you back to the people who are trying to kill you, over the ones who are seeking for your life - that is what the current law stipulates.
I thought that all my efforts to integrate, my job skills, my law-abiding life and my devoted voluntary service could help me to get an affirmative response from the Home Office but it was not the case. And again I felt fear, I fell deeper into depression. Now I know that the value of my life is only cherished by me and those who know me well.
In this desperate situation one begins to appreciate very much those charitable employers that occasionally give you a job, working in slavery conditions by £2 per hour, nights, weekends and bank holidays, deprived of all basics rights. I occasionally work as a Security Guard and it is necessary to add, this work can be very dangerous because I am like a police officer, risking my physical integrity to protect the goods I have been ensconced to my care. Often this work places are in sub- standard conditions, without heating or proper toilets.
I have completed the course to get my badge as a Security Guard and I have my certificates but I can't get a job because I have no Work Permit, even though many employers in this area know me well, that I am reliable and hard worker, nobody dares to give me a job because of the huge fine they could get, so they are forced to use many intermediary staff.
As a man I feel humiliated because of such huge change in my life; it is not an easy task to assimilate. As you know, we all have basic expenses that we need to cover. For instance, I can't afford proper dental treatment and right now I am in much pain. I am attending English classes but I can't afford to buy my text books. I need to save money to buy the bus ticket and to move regularly.
The Home Office arrests us when we go to report. Few dare to take the risk.
I share a room in a flat with 17 others in similar circumstances. Each time it gets harder to get help and support. We solely rely on the charity of our friends. If you are not a genuine asylum seeker this facts are enough to discourage those who are not in well-founded fear.
Asylum seekers are skilled and hard working. I have a PhD in Physics from the Moscow University. I used to work in Low Level Radioactivity Measurement and I was also an inventor - the Russian government owns my patents so I do not get any profit from them.
I am not expecting to do the same sort of work. My past life seems to be so far away. I know I could be a great asset to the UK if I could get a Work Permit, and in that way, share my vast experience and skills with my fellowmen in this country.
I feel settled in Liverpool. Here I found new life: I have friends, and I do voluntary work in the Physics Department in the Liverpool University. I also work as a volunteer in many charities. I get consolation from my situation at Church, where I have meet wonderful people like Father Christopher who introduced me to the Anglican faith where to my happiness I was baptized not long ago. Even though my present situation is difficult, I am happy in England because I am free and I feel that I have much to contribute to what has become my city and my country.
My dream is to get a Work Permit, to have a proper job, to pay taxes and became a citizen.