"I have never welcomed the weakening of family ties by politics or pressure" - Nelson Mandela.
"He who travels for love finds a thousand miles no longer than one" - Japanese proverb.
"Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence." - Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
"When people's love is divided by law, it is the law that needs to change". - David Cameron.

Thursday, 12 November 2015

Eric & Halima - Divided Family of the Week

“We are £800 short of the £24,800 threshold and therefore not allowed to be together as a family.”

Eric is a British citizen. He has been living here for 25 years.  He met his wife, Halima, whilst on holiday in Kenya.  They hit it off immediately, and about a year later welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world.  They got married and were blessed with a second child, a son.  Their family they say, is complete.  However, they are not allowed to live together because of UK's family immigration rules.

Eric works as a Head Chef.  When he applied for a settlement visa for his wife and two children, both born in Kenya, he earned £23,124.  With overtime and bonuses included, he earned £24,000.  The visa was still however refused because this is £800 short of the £24,800 needed to sponsor a spouse and two children.

Despite Eric not claiming benefits – indeed, by the government’s own account, earns so much he is disqualified from claiming benefits, this family is told they can’t be together because of £800.

A married couple with two children.  A father who has not even seen or held his son. A father who knows his son through Skype.  A father not able to be there for his wife and daughter either.



Eric has tried living in Kenya.  However he was unable to find a suitable job.  With a family to support, they decided it made financial sense for Eric to return to the UK, his home and have his family move here.

But because of £800 they are not allowed to be together.



The family has also made a video of their plight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KrMqtuvcck

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3 comments:

  1. Unknown19 November 2015 at 21:22

    Why haven't you registered your kids as British ? My son was born in the states but is British by way of my wife . If your kids were British you could be able to make the financial requirements! But maybe I'm wrong !

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alison Hamilton21 November 2015 at 22:50

    That is exactly my reaction! If both children have a British parent, they are British! And therefore the financial requirement will be £18,600.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sonel27 November 2015 at 11:03

    No, dad only nautralised as a British citizen recently - he wasn't British when the kids were born.

    ReplyDelete

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