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 21st
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 3rd
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.
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