A STUDENT has been told there will be no challenge to a court decision allowing him to remain in the UK despite the fact that he has not been told so in writing.

The Home Office had until July 31 to lodge an appeal but because they have not done so, the Immigration Court ruling that Husien Panahi, from Rochester, should be given asylum must stand.

But it could be five years before Husien can apply for British citizenship, following a recent Home Office ruling. However, because Husien arrived in Britain long before the ruling was made, he hopes to be allowed to apply next year. “It would mean everything to me to be given British citizenship,” he said. “I respect British society a lot.

“People here have given me so much support, emotionally and by writing letters to back my campaign. And British citizenship would give me an identity so that I would not be stereotyped as an immigrant.”

This week Husien has an anxious wait – like hundreds of other students across Medway, for his A-level results. He is hoping for two Bs and a C so that he can study computer science at Queen Mary’s College, London.

Meanwhile he has been keeping up his football career, and recently scored a hat-trick for a London-based Afghan side, Ariana United.

Next year he hopes to try again to represent England in the Homeless World Cup, which he had to abandon this year because of his asylum appeal.