UK denies visa renewal to Heather Scott due to mental health

UK denies visa renewal to Heather Scott due to mental health
Credit: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Britain rejected Canadian scholar Heather Scott’s visa renewal over mental health issues despite appeals and medical proof.

As reported by The Guardian, a Canadian academic faces a UK ban from the Home Office after missing her visa renewal deadline due to a mental health crisis.

How did Dr Heather Scott’s mental health crisis affect her UK visa status?

Dr Heather Scott has lived in the UK since 2011 on a student visa. She researches Victorian cemeteries like Highgate, Brompton, and Abney Park, and must be based in London for her work.

In the past, she had renewed her visa seven times. But in 2022, a serious mental illness led to a 13-week hospital stay, leaving her unable to complete the renewal.

Her visa expired for 46 days until her family in Canada submitted a request for further leave to remain. She has tried for three years to fix her visa problems without success, even after giving the Home Office detailed medical proof.

She has made improvements in recovery and resumed her research work. Ms Scott appealed on human rights grounds but faces a UK ban if rejected. Her 2024 appeal was refused as she was medically fit and able to return to Canada.

Heather Scott’s views on the Home Office’s visa policy on mental health

Heather Scott said,

“My case highlights the issue of the Home Office applying policy in a way that is actually at odds with their own and Prime Minister Starmer’s priority of attracting and retaining highly qualified professionals within the UK’s research and employment sectors. It also highlights the hostility of the current climate regarding mental illness.”

What did the Home Office say in the refusal letter on visa extension?

The Home Office defined indefinite leave to remain as “a privilege, not an automatic right.” They said,

“A mere wish, desire or preference to live in the UK does not amount to an exceptional circumstance.”

A Home Office spokesperson added,

“All visa applications are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules.”

What did Dr Scott’s lawyer say about the Home Office visa decision?

Heather Scott’s solicitor, Muhunthan Paramesvaran of Wilson Solicitors, stated,

“This is an exceptional case and the Home Office’s decision is wrong in my view. She has spent 10 years here lawfully and had it not been for her mental health issues she would have been able to sit the life in the UK test and would have been granted indefinite leave to remain.”

He added,

“The Home Office has discretion to grant indefinite leave to remain outside the rules. Their refusal to do so has had a devastating impact on her. She has had to put her life on hold.”

UK visa rules changes in 2025

The wait for indefinite leave to remain will increase from 5 to 10 years, with some exceptions. Skilled Worker visas now need degree-level skills, cutting many mid-skilled jobs. 

Recruiting social care workers from abroad ends July 22, 2025, with some protections for current visa holders.

English language rules are tougher, needing a B2 level for workers and dependants. The graduate visa is shortened from two years to 18 months. Graduates must switch to skilled visas sooner.

Illegal migrants in the UK in 2025

In the year ending March 2025, there were 44,125 irregular arrivals, a 14% increase, with 86% (38,023) arriving by small boats, a 22% rise. 

By July 2025, over 25,000 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats. Among these, 71% were adult males and 18% were children under 17.

Daniele Naddei

Daniele Naddei is a journalist at Parliament News covering European affairs, was born in Naples on April 8, 1991. He also serves as the Director of the CentroSud24 newspaper. During the period from 2010 to 2013, Naddei completed an internship at the esteemed local radio station Radio Club 91. Subsequently, he became the author of a weekly magazine published by the Italian Volleyball Federation of Campania (FIPAV Campania), which led to his registration in the professional order of Journalists of Campania in early 2014, listed under publicists. From 2013 to 2018, he worked as a freelance photojournalist and cameraman for external services for Rai and various local entities, including TeleCapri, CapriEvent, and TLA. Additionally, between 2014 and 2017, Naddei collaborated full-time with various newspapers in Campania, both in print and online. During this period, he also resumed his role as Editor-in-Chief at Radio Club 91.
Naddei is actively involved as a press officer for several companies and is responsible for editing cultural and social events in the city through his association with the Medea Fattoria Sociale. This experience continued until 2021. Throughout these years, he hosted or collaborated on football sports programs for various local broadcasters, including TLA, TvLuna, TeleCapri, Radio Stonata, Radio Amore, and Radio Antenna Uno.
From 2016 to 2018, Naddei was employed as an editor at newspapers of national interest within the Il24.it circuit, including Internazionale24, Salute24, and OggiScuola. Since 2019, Naddei has been one of the creators of the Rabona television program "Calcio è Passione," which has been broadcast on TeleCapri Sport since 2023.