'Mary's story'


Source : Family Immigration Alliance

http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/marys-story/

'... I can not take my child to Iran unless my husband goes to the Iranian Islamic centre in London and convert to Islam: a religion that nor me not my husband believe in or practice. All this in order to be allowed to apply for a visa to take my child to Iran. I feel trapped in a prison  and back in Iran I felt the same I don’t know where on this planet I can go to live a simple life and feel free.'

Please follow the Family Immigration Alliance : http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/

Sunday links


Sources : Family Immigration Alliance, Wang Bang, Free Movement blog, politics.co.uk, Guardian

Family Immigration Alliance - Wayne's story :
http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/waynes-story/

'I’ve haven’t seen my wife and daughter since 2009, because of a visa issue...'

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Wang Bang - My week with David Rushmer in Paris :
http://wangbangy.tumblr.com/post/95464334000

'David is part of our family' :
http://wangbangy.tumblr.com/post/87600693835

Bang's blog :
http://wangbangy.tumblr.com/

David and Bang's story :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/david-bang-we-are-aware-many.html

Bang's interrogation :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/account-of-interview-in-british-embassy.html

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Free Movement blog - Compensation awarded for hearing cancelled at short notice :
http://www.freemovement.org.uk/compensation-awarded-for-hearing-cancelled-at-short-notice/

'An award of £3,600 plus interest for legal costs and £100 for inconvenience was made to a lady whose hearing was cancelled the day before by the court. Waiting around all day only for it later to be cancelled is surely worse, particularly if a load of witnesses and supporters are also put to the same inconvenience?'

Politics.co.uk - Grey and hopeless: The grim reality of immigration tribunals :
http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2014/08/20/grey-and-hopeless-the-grim-reality-of-immigration-tribunals

'The immigration system is full of small personal slights. These are the regular unspoken humiliations which reveal, more than any law or ministerial speech, just how little respect the state has for those who wish to live here.'

Previous post :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/lauded-therapist-harley-miller-still-in.html

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Private firms 'are using detained immigrants as cheap labour' :
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/22/immigrants-cheap-labour-detention-centres-g4s-serco

'G4S and Serco saving millions by paying detainees as little as £1 an hour to cook and clean, claim campaigners'

Zara's story :
'... there are no jobs where I live that pay £18,600 a year, unless I work every hour God sends, and I refuse to leave my child not seeing his mother when he already has been seperated from his father, and I also refuse to kill myself, for a selfish government.'

http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/zaras-story/

Martyn's story :
'I am devastated of the outcome. How do I take a breastfed son who is British without his mother? Six months in the UK he will be settled but it is impossible to travel 20 hours on a plane without his mother although I will try. I don't know what to do now. '

http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/351/


Via the Family Immigration Alliance :
http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/

Friday evening links

Family Immigration Alliance | Sheehan’s story.

http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/sheehans-story/

'I am a 22 year old British citizen who is pregnant with my first child. A year ago I went to Cambodia temporarily where I met the father of my child, fell madly in love and ended up deciding to stay and live there to be with him. We are now expecting the birth of our first child and although we are both extremely happy about becoming parents the new immigration laws have gave me so much stress during the pregnancy (so much I have even had to consider if I can keep the baby or not)...'

The Family Immigration Alliance:
http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/
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Spuddings | Why we won’t be living in the United Kingdom.

http://spuddings.net/?p=7664

'There are many questions people ask once they hear you’re getting married. When you’re a binational couple one of these questions is: “Where are you going to live?”

'It’s not that easy a question to answer. As young, fresh graduates, we could potentially live anywhere. But the only answer we have so far is, “Not the UK.”

'Neither of us have a problem with Great Britain. I’ve been here over a year now, and have received nothing but kindness and generosity from the people I’ve met. Yet my time is limited: my visa runs out at the end of January. Most people don’t see that as a problem since we’re getting married, but it’s not that simple. As it turns out, getting married doesn’t guarantee you a visa to remain in the country; that probably only happens in movies...

'In an effort to drastically cut down the number of immigrants entering the UK, the government has changed a whole range of immigration policies. The Post-Study Work Visa, which allows international students to stay and find work in the UK after they graduate, is gone. The spousal visa has also changed. A binational couple will only be able to get a spousal visa if the British spouse earns an income of £18,600 a year (and has been earning that for at least six months). 47% of people in employment in the UK are unable to meet this financial threshold. The foreign spouse’s income is not taken into account...'
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UK Border Agency: Overturn my wife's spouse visa refusal and allow her to return to the UK

http://www.change.org/petitions/uk-border-agency-overturn-my-wife-s-spouse-visa-refusal-and-allow-her-to-return-to-the-uk

'Can we not be in love because my wife’s work touches on human rights issues? The UKBA says we cannot, because she does not want my love, all she wants is her safety. Is a feeling of safety not part of a loving relationship? The UKBA says not. '

David and Bang :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/bang

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Alabama: How America’s harshest immigration law failed.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/undocumented-workers-immigration-alabama
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'Lampedusa boat' comes to Thames to highlight plight of migrants.

http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/7289
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The horrors of human trafficking in Sinai.

http://ecre.org/component/content/article/70-weekly-bulletin-articles/535-new-report-brings-to-light-the-horror-of-human-trafficking-in-sinai.html

Connie and Paul's story.

http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/connie-and-pauls-story/

...The constant misinformation and attacks upon immigration are entirely counter to the history and strengths of both the US and the UK. Immigration has been a fundamental building block of the countries, both socially and economically, and to see politicians and media commentators refute this in the face of the facts they are presented with is disgusting and disheartening. For us, and for so many others, these actions keep us locked apart for petty and unsubstantial reasons.

More on Mumsnet

https://twitter.com/MumsnetBloggers :
"This unjust immigration policy is dividing families and damaging children" - today's guest blog from @The_FIA http://bit.ly/13j2LSc

From the comments on the article :
'Thank you so much for highlighting this MN it is a subject that is very close to my heart.

'DH is currently appealing his right to remain in the country so he can be a father to our 4 DCs. We are married and I am a trainee social worker so obviously don't earn anything as it is all NHS bursaries.

'In order for DH to be allowed in this country as my husband I have to be earning £29600, even when I have qualified I am not going to be earning anything near this. Even if I was, DH would have to leave the country and return to Zimbabwe to apply to return as my spouse as you are not able to do this from within the UK hmm This can take months and months and months.

'So, if DH's appeal fails and he is removed from the country (which is a very real threat we live with every day) he would never be able to return. The children would be left without a father and I would have to stop training and start claiming every benefit available. shock sad

'We would have to consider moving as a family to another European country, remaining there for 3 years and then we would be able to come home and live here together without a problem as DH would be considered ordinarily resident in an EU country!! hmm

'Our paperwork went in 6 months ago, we have heard nothing from them.

'DH has lived in this country for 11 years, has 4 children aged 8, 7, 6 and 9 weeks. He has worked full time and paid taxes, never been in any kind of trouble and he has been an excellent stay at home Dad whilst I have been studying.

'This is only touching the surface of the hell we are being put through because of the changes the coalition have/are making. How anyone can support this kind of madness is beyond me, how can anyone think it is ok to treat people this way! angry

Previously :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/mumsnet.html

Mumsnet

Mumsnet: government policy is dividing families

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/bloggers/a1793557-Guest-blog-government-policy-is-dividing-families

By Chris Mead, friend and colleague of our sister campaign, the Family Immigration Alliance - http://familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com/

We work shoulder-to-shoulder with the FIA. In my case, the FIA's mention in the Economist article 'Sons and lovers' ( http://www.economist.com/node/21556926 ), which was published around the time of the introduction of harsh new family division rules ( http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/introduction.html ) - led directly to me seeking Chris out and from then those early, key connections which brought me into the campaign.


In a recent change to immigration law, a British citizen must earn above a certain threshold before their foreign partner is allowed to live in the UK.

In this guest blog, Chris Mead of the Family Immigration Alliance explains why the organization is fighting to change the law.

"On the 9th July families with foreign spouses will be marking 'Divided Families Day'.

A year ago, the government introduced new requirements on British 'sponsors' (that is, the British resident in a relationship) to earn at least £18600 to have their foreign spouse join them in the UK. This increases by £22400 if the couple has a child, and another £2400 for each child after that.

To put this into context, 40% of the UK population earn less than £18600. And to make matters worse, neither the couple's parents, nor the foreign spouse, are allowed to contribute towards meeting this amount. The burden is entirely on the British sponsor.

Recently a group of MPs released a report on this issue, exposing the full severity of the rules. Evidence they received from Coram Children's Legal Advice Centre told of a mother, separated from 'her husband and two sons, aged just five months and 18 months, all British citizens. The separation means that the mother has had to stop breastfeeding her five-month-old baby.' There is growing evidence that this sort of separation is having a significant impact on the development of children.

Carol, a British citizen from Southampton is married to Ahmed, from Iran. They met at university and have a daughter. But Ahmed's application to stay in the UK was refused because Carol didn't earn enough to meet the threshold. She was 3 months pregnant when Ahmed had to return to Iran. Carol works for a law firm, but still does not earn enough to sponsor Ahmed's application. Their daughter is almost 1 now, and has still never seen her father.

Ahmed is also working and Carol's parents have even offered to contribute money to sponsor the application. The rules do not allow this though, leaving the burden solely on Carol to prove she can earn enough by herself, to have Ahmed live with her. Her story features in a video explaining the injustice of the new rules.

Research from Oxford University suggests that 47% of the working adult population of the UK would not be able to meet these requirements if they needed to. Worse still, the rules threaten to cost the tax payer more, by preventing foreign spouses from supporting their families - pushing some sponsors onto welfare benefits.

Emma's husband is Indonesian. She is a professional graphic designer with over 15 years of work experience. 'Due to childcare commitments, I couldn't secure full time work, and I couldn't afford child care costs even if I did find a full time position.

I have been on Income Support, and now going onto Job Seekers Allowance - [it's] so ironic, because if my husband was allowed to be in this country, our child care problems would cease to exist, and we could both have the shared time to work and care for our family without having to claim any benefit from the state.'

Because of the illogical rules for assessing whether sponsors can meet this income threshold, thousands of British families are being indefinitely separated. Could you face forced separation from your spouse or children because of rules like this?

If not, please do think about acting right now to help families like Carol's and Emma's. A coalition of groups called the Divided Families Campaign is holding a Day of Action on the 9th July to call on Theresa May to end the suffering her rules have caused.

* The Migrants Rights Network will be presenting its petition to 10 Downing Street. Add your name to the list of signatories calling on Theresa May to overturn these rules.

* Better still, let your MP know about the impact of the rules and invite them to attend Divided Families Day in parliament. (Sample letter : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/lobby-your-mp-sample-letter-below.html )

* Or, if you're nearby, why not join us outside the Home Office on the 9th July, at 4pm.

If you'd like to read more about the impact these rules are having on families, take a look at BritCits, Family Immigration Alliance, JCWI and MRN."

A note from the FIA - and upcoming events

A note from our colleagues/ collaborators at the Family Immigration Alliance ( familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com ).

We work shoulder-to-shoulder with the FIA. In my case, the FIA's mention in the Economist article 'Sons and lovers' ( http://www.economist.com/node/21556926 ), which was published around the time of the introduction of harsh new family division rules ( http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/introduction.html ) - led directly to me seeking Chris out and from then those early, key connections which brought me into the campaign.

I also recommend reading Chris's own experiences on family unity - the European way : http://www.jcwi.org.uk/blog/2013/02/07/family-unity-european-way

Additionally, the FIA is mentioned as one of a number of campaigning organisations in this excellent, succinct parliamentary note from August 2012 on the effects of the rules :http://www.scribd.com/doc/130036035/Changes-to-Immigration-Rules-for-Family-Members

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'Dear Supporters and Contributors,
It is approaching one year since the family immigration rules were introduced and media opportunities are emerging in the next couple of months to share your story with a wider and more influential audience.

    'Firstly, on or around Monday 10th June (TBC) the All Party Parliamentary Group on Migration will launch their report from their enquiry into the impact of the rules. Some of you submitted your stories directly to this enquiry, and the FIA submitted a review of cases received as evidence. We are appealing for interested people who would be prepared to share their experiences potentially with a Sunday newspaper to give a human side to the findings of the report. If you are interested, please reply (Chris's address: familyimmigrationalliance at gmail dot com) and I shall get the ball rolling.
    'The second opportunity is a public meeting being set up by the Hackney Refugee and Migrant Support Group on Wednesday 26th June. If you or anyone you know are separated by the family immigration rules, are from Hackney or East London, please get in touch.
    'Finally, the anniversary itself on Tuesday 9th July will generate a lot of public attention, with plans for a parliamentary meeting and a protest being formulated. There will be more media interest here too and anyone prepared to speak to the media about their situation will be highly sought after, so please put your name forward if your are willing and able to.

'In the time since the the rules entered into force the number of people who have joined these Facebook groups, Britcits or otherwise contributed their stories has really grown, and established many groups and individuals in their campaign against the rules under the banner of the ‘Divided Families campaign’. These are huge opportunities to make the your situation count for something more than the separation and tragedy these rules have forced so many people into, so please be brave and speak out!

'As always, I’d welcome any updates from you in your personal struggles with the UKBA and the new rules. Please do get in touch if you’d like to post.
'Many thanks,

Chris Mead
Twitter: https://twitter.com/The_FIA
familyimmigrationalliance.wordpress.com
facebook.com/pages/Family-Immigration-Alliance/159420480835447

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Most importantly, as Chris says, three dates are coming up :
- The launch of the parliamentary report on the effects of the rules - tentatively scheduled for early June. (Background : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/appg-roundup.html - http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/todays-links-jcwi-on-all-party.html )
- A public meeting in Hackney on the effects of the rules. (I hope to attend also).
- The anniversary of the rules on 9th July, for which events are in the planning stage.

Hope to see some of you there!