By Grant Smith, education reporter, and Laura Thomas

SEVERAL FOREIGN teachers working in Dundee schools could be forced to leave the country over an immigration rules mix-up, it emerged yesterday.

Their cases have been taken up by MP Stewart Hosie and MSP Joe FitzPatrick, who are seeking to persuade the Home Office to allow them to stay in the country.

The city council is also trying to find a solution and education convener Liz Fordyce said last night that she hoped the teachers would be able to take their classes as planned after the summer holidays.

It is not known exactly how many people are affected or where they are originally from, but it is understood they have been in Dundee for up to six years.

They chose to stay in Scotland under the Fresh Talent initiative, which was aimed at encouraging international students to work here after graduation.

Mr Hosie and Mr FitzPatrick explained that changes to immigration rules last year meant that local authorities should have re-applied as the applicants’ sponsor, but this has not happened.

As a result, the UK Border Agency was suggesting the teachers would need to return home and re-apply for entry under the new points-based work permit scheme.

The politicians are worried that could mean a lengthy delay in processing their applications or even a ruling that they cannot return.

Mr Hosie, who is MP for Dundee East, said, “There are valuable members of the community currently working in schools across Dundee who, through no fault of their own, are finding themselves without valid work permits or status to live and work in the UK because of a change-over to the new points-based system.”

Mr FitzPatrick, MSP for Dundee West, said, “It is my understanding that Dundee City Council was unaware of the changes to immigration rules last year, but that the new administration is moving quickly to assist those affected.”

Mr Hosie and Mr FitzPatrick urged that anyone else who may be affected contact them at their constituency office on 01382 623200, so they can take up individual cases with the Home Office.

Councillor Fordyce said she was unable to confirm how many foreign teachers were having their status questioned by the Border Agency, but she said efforts to assist them were under way.

“The city council have got applications in to be sponsor and we have a reference number from the agency and our fee has been processed, as far as I know,” she said.

“The teachers concerned have been here for six years and they have got classes to come back to on August 17. We are trying our best to get this resolved.”

The council’s education department was asked if it could explain why it did not apply to keep the teachers in Dundee when the rules changed, but a spokesman said he was unable to provide a comment.

A Border Agency spokes- man declined to comment on individual cases.

He added, “The points-based system sets out the criteria migrants need to meet to qualify for further leave to remain or entry clearance and ensures that only the people we need can come here.

“The important thing is that we ensure that those migrants who do come either have a high level of skill and therefore bring the most economic contribution, or have a specific job to come to which no resident worker can fill.

“We have used the flexibility of the points system to toughen up the criteria for highly-skilled migrants coming here.”