Les and Becky - update

We first heard from Les and Becky here : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/les-and-becky-my-wife-is-eminently.html

They have updated their story here :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/147868191/Becky-Les-BritCits-Update

Excerpts :

'We faced what was to be our last Christmas together in Scotland (and possibly the foreseeable future) as best we could. Our friends – our true friends – and Becky’s family were incredibly supportive, as well as shocked, dismayed, angry and incredulous at what had befallen us and what was to come. Some friends of Becky’s invited us to their home for Christmas dinner. Wonderful food, selfless generosity, great company (and not a little malt whisky) provided a momentary cushion against the looming reality of our enforced separation...

'... The tears were never far away. Truth be told they’ve flowed almost constantly since last years sudden thump of realisation that this day would eventually have to be faced.

'... My last sight of Becky was of her passing through airport security, placing personal items into the boxes provided. I hoped to catch her eye one final time but she didn’t look back. She later told me that she couldn’t do it.

'... And so to today. Becky is lodged temporarily with her parents in Battleground, WA, distracting herself from the loneliness with endless job search. We speak on Skype as often as we can, exchange emails and comments on Facebook. It’s never the same of course. She can’t afford to visit, and besides, could we go through the trauma of separation all over again? Because that’s what it would be like, so thank goodness for the world-wide-web, despite it’s obvious limitations in conducting a full and meaningful marriage.

'... Prior to her leaving we decided that the only real prospect of us being reunited in the near future was to initiate the US immigration process so that, all being well, I could join her there. Becky may be American but her heart was here. She was settled; she loved Scotland and had found her “place” in the World and she had much to offer this country by way of talents and skills. I in turn, have no desire to move to the States (but for the fact that it’s where my Wife is now exiled). We have to realistic though. As things stand, the chances of me being able to secure a job that meets the infamous earnings requirement when I can’t even get one at Minimum Wage seem so unlikely that we felt there was no alternative but for me to uproot from all that I know. Anyway, why should I care to stay in a country that wants neither my wife (as a foreigner) nor me (as “dole scum”, despite working full time with CAB for no financial reward)?

'... Once I’m gone, that possibility leaves with me, but however much resentment I feel towards this land, there will always be something of me that remains behind and can never be fully sundered from the island of its birth. That “thing” is a person. A beautiful little person by the name of Holly Rowan. You will never be far from my thoughts. I may have left you, but you will never leave me.'

Rowan

Les and Becky

“My wife is eminently employable, and would be a genuine asset to this country, yet we have to face choices no one should ever have to consider in a so-called "civilised" country – or any country for that matter!”

Les is a British citizen, married to Becky, an American and an academic theologian with a PhD.

Les and Becky met in mid-2008, a couple of years after she arrived in Scotland to study for her doctorate. They quickly realised they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together and spent every spare moment in each other's company, as lovers do. They clicked in a way neither had with anyone before. Les and Becky are best friends, lovers and partners.

At the end of 2010, they moved in together and eventually married in February 2012. Becky submitted her PhD in July (ironically a matter of days before the new rules came into place).

Originally, Becky had intended to submit her thesis six months earlier, but due to more work being
required on the content, she had her student visa extended to allow for this, until November 2012.

Indeed, in hindsight, had Les and Becky been made aware of the new rules (which were brought in so
suddenly!), they could and would have applied for a spouse visa under the old rules.

However, even though Les works as an adviser with the Citizen's Advice Bureau, they missed the fact that these changes had taken place – something to do with a distinct lack of publicity around the issue perhaps!

Les, apart from one or two freelance commissions and relentless job hunting, has failed to secure fresh fulltime employment – the status of the economy notwithstanding, Les can’t help but feel that, in a way, it is his fault they are in this situation. If only he had a job paying £18,600, if only they had applied for a spouse visa earlier, if only, if only...

However, life doesn’t flow in consistent and convenient ways – especially in times of austerity – something the government must be aware of when setting a bizarre threshold and requiring cash savings out of the reach of so many people.

Becky was offered a fantastic opportunity by Prudential; however, due to delays on the part of the Home Office in providing a letter indicating Becky was allowed to work in the UK, she lost that opportunity.

Les continues to do all he can to get regular high-paid employment. Becky is doing the same, but in many ways it seems pointless, given the way employers are responding to the new rules which are creating insurmountable barriers for people like Becky.

Yes, Les and Becky could move to the USA, as there the income requirement is much more reasonable, at 125% of the poverty level. However, Les has a daughter who lives in the UK, and moving to the USA would inherently damage any prospects of a relationship between father and daughter, so Les must abandon his wife or risk never having a meaningful relationship with his kin.

(Doing a PhD requires monk-like focus and inevitably it is impossible to keep up with ever-changing immigration rules. As we have pointed out previously, there have been no fewer than 97 changes to immigration laws since 1994).

A good article on doing a PhD : http://www.openculture.com/2012/09/the_illustrated_guide_to_a_phd-redux.html ('Imagine a circle that contains all of human knowledge...')