BritCits United Family of the Week

Wayne & Daisy

"I didn't earn £18,600 but owned my 4 bedroom home outright. This was completely disregarded by the Home Office. So I had to exercise my free movement rights, else make a choice between by my wife and baby in the Philippines or daughter in the UK."

Daisy and Wayne in the earlier days of their relationship.

Wayne is a British citizen.

He met his wife Daisy in the way many 21^st century couples do...online.  At their first meeting though, Wayne knew Daisy was ‘the one’.  At the time, Daisy was working in Denmark as an au pair. They soon became a couple but were refused even a visit visa.  Daisy moved to Norway after receiving a job offer, when Wayne asked her to marry him.  To his delight, she said ‘yes’!

Wayne and Daisy's wedding

As Daisy owns land in Philippines, they decided to build a house there.  She returned home for six months to manage the wedding preparations (no mean feat!).  They got married and lived together in Philippines for the next six months.   

However, with news of Daisy's pregnancy, Wayne returned home to find work in Torbay.  He wants his baby to grow up where he did. 

Although he couldn't meet the £18,600 income requirement, not a surprise in his part of the UK, Wayne owns his four bedroom house outright – no mortgage!  He doesn’t need a lot to live on - unlike someone with a huge rent or mortgage. He contributes to the economy supplying valuable trade skills as a handyman, window cleaner and builder.  As Wayne proudly told us,“Daisy is a college graduate midwife. She finished top of her class. She was also a sergeant major in her local reservists when she was at school. That one made me giggle as she is so small bless.", nothing the UK is in desperate need of midwives.

However Wayne's financial situation, his contribution to the community and Daisy's skills were all disregarded by the Home Office.

Wayne thus exercised his free movement rights moving to France where the couple on 3^rd October 2013, welcomed their daughter, Paris into the world.  Wayne is confident that if Daisy had not been able to give birth in Europe, she would likely have died given the terror attack in Ozamis city, Mindanao. 

Daisy, Wayne and their baby, Paris.

Wayne’s experience of the French people is very positive and the couple is grateful for the help and support of the local community, feeling accepted when hospital staff expressed a wish that the family would permanently settle in the lovely town of Saint-Amand-Montrond.

Wayne's teenage daughter with stepmum, Daisy

However, with Wayne’s mum having been diagnosed with cancer and his teenage daughter in the UK, Wayne wanted to return home thus fulfilling his own mum’s wish to be able to live long enough to welcome Daisy and the baby into the family.  

It’s not been plain sailing in the UK though.  Obtaining a NINO for Daisy proved to be a nightmare and Home Office did not correctly apply EEA regulations in Daisy’s Residence Card application.

With Wayne’s MP intervening requesting Home Office correctly apply O&B vs Netherlands case law, the couple hopes that Daisy will now finally be granted with a document to evidence her right to remain.

Family join local community celebrations in Devon.

Whilst they wait, Daisy proving to be quite an entrepreneur, has set up a cleaning business though she is still hoping to work either in healthcare for OAPs or utilise her skills and continue to work as a midwife.  Paris is enjoying the love and attention received from the entire family, especially elder sister.

The couple ensures that Paris, though British is in touch with her Filipino roots too – she is being raised in a bilingual environment, and the family as well as immersing themselves in all things British are involved in the local community in Devon including attending the local Filipino Pre-New Year party.   Respect for all.  These are the British values – the human values - we should be practicing.