Parkinson’s walking stick inventor granted entrepreneur visa after Home Office U-turn

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Author: Almaz OhenePublished: 21 June 2017

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Neha Chaudhry Walk to Beat lead

The UK Home Office has now granted Neha Chaudhry – the award-winning inventor behind the ‘Walk to Beat’ vibrating Parkinson’s walking stick – a visa after overturning a ruling that gave her 14 days to leave the country


Neha Chaudhry, director of the tech company Walk to Beat and inventor of a vibrating Parkinson’s walking stick, will be allowed to stay in the UK after the Home Office overturned an initial decision rejecting her application for a visa.

Neha was told last month that she must either leave the country or file an appeal – after she mistakenly sent the wrong version of a single document in a 66-page form in her application for a three-year entrepreneur’s visa.

In a previous interview, while still waiting to hear if she’d be allowed to stay in the UK to continue her vital work, Neha told Parkinson’s Life: “It was very upsetting. The thing that hit me when I first received the rejection letter on 10 May was, ‘what do I say to all Parkinson’s patients I have promised this product to?’.”

On 12 June, Neha received another letter from the Home Office – this time over-turning the original visa rejection. The letter said that they had withdrawn the original decision because they’d found an error made by the decision maker.

Neha gained support from the wider Parkinson’s community including the many members of Parkinson’s UK Bristol and District Branch, where around six members test her prototype on a regular basis.

“When we freeze, we really need something to get us moving again and Neha’s walking stick could be it”

Tom Phipps, who lives with Parkinson’s and is the chair of Parkinson’s UK Bristol and District Branch, said: “We are heavily involved in her project, it was almost railroaded so we mobilised to support her. I helped Neha contact the local MP for Bristol South, Karin Smyth.

“We’re so pleased that we can get the research back on track. When we freeze, we really need something to get us moving again and Neha’s walking stick could be it.”

Walk to Beat new prototype

Neha Chaudhry’s new Parkinson’s walking stick prototype

Andy Sinclair, director at Sysemia, the technology company that made a substantial investment in Walk to Beat, said: “It’s really important that the Home Office and wider society appreciate the positive contributions to society that people like Neha, who have emigrated to the UK from abroad, bring. Our reason for backing Walk to Beat is that it’s such a great use of technology to fundamentally improve people’s lives. Everyone involved is really looking forward to finally being able to move things forward.”

Neha has already won several awards for her invention, and has now also been shortlisted for two different prizes at the annual digital and technology awards the ‘SPARKies’.

Neha said: “I’m now getting back on track and moving towards finishing the developmental work and clinical trials to bring the product to people with Parkinson’s. I’m overwhelmed with the support and concern people have shown in this matter.

“I want to thank all of them from the bottom of my heart for sending me emails, messages and putting up the effort. It kept me going, as it meant I didn’t feel alone.

“Even though the whole process has caused stress and cost time and money, I still appreciate that the Home Office re-considered my case and granted the visa without further enquiries.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Neha Chaudhry’s application has been reviewed and a decision was taken to grant her a visa. She has been made aware of this development.”

Neha Chaudhry Walk to Beat body


Read more: Award-winning Parkinson’s inventor told to leave UK within 14 days

This innovative walking stick may change the lives of Parkinson’s patients

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