“We don’t want public funds, we just want a chance to be a family.”
Leighsa is a British citizen who met her husband Scott, in the UK more than 21 years ago when he was stationed here with the US Air Force. They spent 14 years together and had a beautiful son, Alex, in 2002.
The couple got married in 2005 and their marriage survived the pressures of modern life relating to juggling parenthood, work, relationships and even a period of separation when Leighsa and Alex returned to the UK from USA. UK is the only home Alex has ever really known.
However when Scott applied for a visit visa in 2010, he was refused as he didn’t have a job in the US. The couple went into battle against the Home Office in the appeals court and won a 2-week visit.
When Scott applied for a visit visa again a year or so later, he was once again refused, so Leighsa and Alex have not seen Scott for over a year.
Leighsa is working. But she doesn’t earn anywhere near £18,600. She does however earn enough to support her husband. However the immigration rules take no consideration of that.
Leighsa and Scott don’t have the money to fight the Home Office yet again. Alex needs to see his dad, his dad needs to see his son. A son who is 11 years old and in need of his father. A son who is going to start at a new school, on the verge of his teenage years when a father’s mere presence, let alone support, can make so much difference.
Leighsa and Scott are both experiencing issues by the enforced separation. Leighsa suffers from anxiety for which she is seeking medical help and little Alex is just depressed and crying a lot. This is yet another family resorting to Skype to ensure parent-child are able to ‘see’ each other, but it’s a route which doesn’t allow for hugs and kisses...the daily support. Maintaining a marriage with 3500 miles is also not a picnic. Being a single mother, especially when it’s not out of choice, is stressful.
Scott is a qualified computer technician - his earning capacity is huge. Leighsa is in university hoping to extend her own earning capabilities also – this is a family that does NOT want public funds. All they want is a chance to be a family, to raise their son in his country of nationality – UK - and do the right thing by him.
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