Total number of spouse visas processed and refused by selected nationalities, 2016

Author : Steve

A while back I made this Freedom of Information request in response to an online discussion, as I was curious about numbers of rates of refusals for a balanced selection of different nationalities, including some of the most common countries for foreign spouses. The text of the request is here :

I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.

1. Total number of spouse visa applications processed for the following nationalities from January 1 2016 to 31 December 2016 : 
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United States

2. Total number of refusals for spouse visa applications processed for the following nationalities from January 1 2016 to 31 December 2016 : 
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, United States

This was for a whole year, to even out anomalies such as local holidays. The response is in (see link above) and includes data per quarter, with information about applications made, processed, refused, withdrawn, and lapsed.

The table below shows the numbers of refusals divided by the number of applications over the whole year, followed by a percentage of refusals/applications. Note this comes with a few caveats, e.g. withdrawals and lapses are included in the total so don't assume that every visa not refused was processed; however the numbers for withdrawals and lapses are very low and wouldn't make much difference to the overall figures even if excluded. Note also that an application made in 2015 or 2016 may not be processed until 2016 or 2017.

These are included without comment as there is likely more than one reason for the differences. However the results are enlightening and seem to match the lived experience of both BritCits members and members of other online support groups and forums.

Country Refused/Total = Percentage (2016)
Japan 17/272 = 6.3%
Argentina 4/42 = 9.6%
Australia 93/881 = 10.6%
SouthAfrica 99/834 = 11.9%
Russia 70/582 = 12.0%
Canada 73/517 = 14.1%
USA 371/2544 = 14.6%
Brazil 76/480 = 15.8%
Mexico 28/175 = 16.0%
China 222/1071 = 20.7%
Israel 19/87 = 21.8%
Thailand 242/1094 = 22.1%
Turkey 176/787 = 22.4%
Egypt 102/338 = 30.2%
India 1236/3888 = 31.8%
Pakistan 3032/7472 = 40.6%
Nigeria 555/1131 = 49.1%

Note to the reader : You can make your own FOI request at whatdotheyknow.com, and I think an FOI request is something everybody should do at least once in their lives.

Divided families in the news

Sources :Torquay Herald Express, Burton Mail, Cornish Guardian

The extent of the effect of family division rules is highlighted by these recent news stories, which have been covered in the local press. It would be good for national media and national politicians to join the dots to see how widespread these stories are - thousands upon thousands of families affected or divided.

My own experience, after 2 1/2 years of campaigning and working with divided families, is that the local news media does a very good job of picking up on the stories of those affected - which can then be relayed to the national media or by campaigning MPs, as some of the stories on this blog attest. I'd suggest to anyone affected that approaching the local newspaper or local radio station is a very effective way of getting your story out there and building momentum for your campaign.

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Torquay Herald Express : Brixham family 'could be torn apart by immigration rules'

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Family-torn-apart-immigration-rules/story-24204122-detail/story.html

'Andrew Wade, 42, has been married to his wife Kingdao, a Thai national, for five years and has three children with her. But he fears his family could be devastated by bureaucracy and immigration rules as her visa to stay in the UK is soon to run out.'

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Burton Mail : Family ripped apart by laws campaigns to reunite children with their father

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/8203-IMMIGRATION-Family-ripped-apart-laws/story-24261731-detail/story.html

'Her husband, Omer, should be there with her and their two daughters, but, instead, he is stuck in one of the most dangerous places in the world, almost 3,000 miles away.'

Related - Christine and Ziad : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/ziad
Nusrin and Shafik : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/shafik
Posts on divided families and the situation in Syria : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/syria

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Cornish Guardian : Polzeath family faces being torn apart due to immigration battle

http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Polzeath-family-faces-torn-apart-immigration/story-23055529-detail/story.html

... "The rules need to be readdressed by Theresa May and the Home Office," she said. "The disproportionately high financial requirements serve only to filter out the rich from the poor and put a price on love and happiness.'


More stories of divided families : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/stories

Immigration rules could tear dad away from two kids

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/immigration-rules-could-tear-dad-3513194

'A distraught couple face being split up by immigration chiefs ... just weeks before their second child is born.

'Lyndsey Burke and her long-term boyfriend Tugrul Keseli, both 29, are heartbroken after the Home Office turned down his plea for a visa extension.

'Tugrul – known to friends as Tom – missed the birth of their daughter Alara three years ago after being refused permission to come to Scotland from his native Turkey.

'He was later able to travel here on a holiday visa and the couple have been living together in Linwood since 2011.

'However, the latest ruling means Tugrul could be deported before their second daughter, who is due to be born on May 23, arrives.

'Lyndsey told the Paisley Daily Express: “We’re just numbers on a sheet of paper to the people who made this decision.'


Please sign Lyndsey and Tom's petition :
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/upper-tribunal-stop-putting-a-price-tag-on-love-and-rights-to-be-a-family-in-the-uk 
 
Previously :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/stop-putting-price-tag-on-love-and.html

Linwood Couple: Let Us Stay Together

http://www.heart.co.uk/scotland/news/local/linwood-couple-let-us-stay-together/

' A Renfrewshire couple are facing the prospect of being split up by the Home Office, weeks before their second child is due.

'Lyndsey Burke and Tugrul Keseli, who're both 29, live in Linwood with their 3-year-old daughter Alara and have been together since 2008. Tugrul, known as Tom, is Turkish, and is fighting to stay in Scotland.

'Lyndsey said: ''To bring this to your door three weeks before you're due to give birth I think is just cruel. They absolutely know every detail, they know everything that's going on. Just absolutely devastating.''

Lyndsey and Tom's petition :
https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/upper-tribunal-stop-putting-a-price-tag-on-love-and-rights-to-be-a-family-in-the-uk

 

Previously :
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/stop-putting-price-tag-on-love-and.html

Stop putting a price tag on love and rights to be a family in the UK

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/upper-tribunal-stop-putting-a-price-tag-on-love-and-rights-to-be-a-family-in-the-uk

Lyndsey and Tom's campaign to keep their family together. Please do sign their petition.

Lyndsey writes :

'For my family, changing these rules would mean that Tom is able to stay here in the UK to provide both financially and emotionally for his family, and to be a full time dad to our three-year old daughter Alara.

'Our second daughter could arrive any day and instead of embracing the joy of our family becoming four of us, we spend everyday on countdown to the Home Office's decision to make him leave and return to Turkey.

'Please sign this and help us to keep our family together and to help change the rules so other families don't suffer as we are.'

Spotted on Facebook

Hayley:
Ecstatic doesn't even come close to how I am feeling right now, today we found out our long awaited news, MY HUBBY can finally come to the UK, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS :))))))))) All the blood, sweat, tears and hard work has finally paid off for us at last.

Hayley's story : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/hayley-mehmet-we-wont-ever-give-up-we.html

More good stories : http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/a%20good%20day

Hayley & Mehmet

“We won’t ever give up, we will win, we will be together”

Hayley is a British citizen. Mehmet, her husband is Turkish. So for reasons only due to accident of birth, this married couple has seen each other for one week since their wedding in September 2012.

They expect to have seen each other for a total of two weeks by the time of their first anniversary.

Hayley lives in South Wales, where finding a job in her line of work, paying over £18,600 is very difficult. And so Hayley works two jobs. One as a selfemployed beauty therapist, and the other as an administrator. So she works from 9am to 3pm in the office job, and 4pm to 9pm running her own business. That’s twelve hours. Every working day, and often, Saturdays as well.

She has been doing this since March 2012 because rules for proving income as a self-employed person in love with a non-EEA citizen are anything but simple.

Hayley has never worked this hard. She is extremely tired and has no life outside of work. Because of the rules as they were; because of the July 2012 rules making it even more difficult.

Hayley recalls the change in her life, after returning from their lovely wedding in Turkey with family and friends bearing witness, when she started to gather everything they needed for the spouse visa, only to realise after many many late nights pouring over the UKBA website that because she was self-employed, they could not actually apply until April 2013, to allow for the relevant tax year to end.

She was absolutely devastated reading this and realising that they had a long wait before they could even apply. So they both cracked on, working hard, sitting it out, battling on.

Mehmet’s spouse visa is in process. However, she is very worried reading of people being refused even where they meet the income requirement. This couple has been working hard, saving up for their future together and they have borne the time apart, anticipating they will be together before long.

Hayley considered sharing her story only after receiving a response to the visa application, but often a burden shared is a burden halved..and so she decided to share with BritCits and somehow ease the enormous burden of stress they are under.

She is alone, she is lonely. Although she was welcomed in Istanbul in January 2013, where she went for a week to support her husband through the English exam, that’s the last time she saw him. Though they Skype regularly and speak over the phone several times a day, it’s just not the same.

For this couple time is also more precious with Hayley being in her 40s. Hayley lost a child 17 years ago, leading to a failed marriage..and years before she was granted this second chance at happiness. The couple want kids, but are being forced to postpone it because of these rules. We only hope it won’t be too late. Keeping a married couple apart is bad enough, but the government interfering on a couple’s decision to have kids is untenable.

Hayley just wants the chance to be happy, live with her husband, wake up to him every morning and come home to him every night. Is that really too much to ask for? They don’t want to claim benefits, just both work hard and be together like ‘a normal’ married couple.

They found the visa application process laborious – whichever way it goes, and we hope the result is positive, it has aged Hayley ten years. However, the couple love each other; there is nothing they wouldn’t do for the other...they just want to be together like all couples do.

Dee and Ozan

'He has supported me and my son through everything we have been through... He would die to be with us'.

Dee, a British citizen, met her future husband, Ozan, in May 2010.

Ozan was working in a hotel as a lifeguard. Dee quickly realised that he was a natural protector, for her and her young son from a previous relationship. Dee's son instantly hit it off with Ozan.  Dee and Ozan's friendship developed to the stage that Ozan invited Dee to visit his home city, Istanbul. Over the next few months, Dee travelled back and forth between the UK and Turkey, their relationship deepening over many months.

In July 2011, Dee needed an emergency operation - a terrifying, sudden prospect. Every day, Ozan sat with her on Skype, providing support and helping to get her through this very difficult time in her life. During the hours and days they spent together, Ozan helped to guide her recovery. InEventually, he asked Dee to marry him.

Once Dee's recovery was complete, she was on her way to Turkey to marry the man of her dreams. It was a beautiful wedding. In Dee's words, 'He has supported me and my son through everything we have been through'.

Now, the new family had to make a decision - where to live. Initially, they decided that Ozan was to apply for a visitor's visa to the UK, in order to decide if he could really be happy there. Unfortunately, devastatingly, Ozan's application was rejected - 'You have nothing to go back to', in the bureaucratic mindset of authority.

Ozan's mother has cancer - Ozan most certainly does have a life and a family in Turkey, but his priority is his life partner, and his new family, as it should be.

Very quickly after hearing the news of the visitor visa rejection, Dee made a happy discovery. She was pregnant with Ozan's child.

As soon as she had news of her pregnancy, Dee had the foresight to make inquiries with lawyers as to the best course of action. They advised that Ozan should not appeal the visitor visa rejection, but should instead apply for a different kind of visa - a spousal visa.

Dee started to gather all the requirements and documentation that are necessary for a spousal visa application. She was able to build up the funds for the application. Ozan sat his English language test, and passed first time. They were nearly there.

Unknown to the family, and with very little warning, in June 2012 strict new immigration guidelines were announced. There was never a debate in the House of Commons on these new rules; and yet they were to be implemented only one month later, in July 2012, giving very little opportunity for anyone, even experts in the field, to react.

Dee was having a difficult pregnancy - which she had to endure, alone, apart from her husband. She was spending time in hospital. On 14th July, she received a letter stating that she did not meet the income requirement, but that she may have a case under the right to family life, guaranteed to all European citizens.

(Editor's note: Dee earns £16,300 per annum, which is above the 'living wage'; she expects that her family income would be much higher if Ozan were here, working and supporting the family - clearly they would be in a more stable situation, and therefore less likely to have to claim benefits at any point in the future. The government claims that the measures introduced reduce the benefits burden on the taxpayer. Dee's example disproves that; a family together, with two earners, is far less likely to have to claim benefits - now or at any time in the future - than a partner who is effectively forced to be a single mother, supporting a family by herself). 

But the lawyer Dee employed made mistakes in her application - mis-spellings, an incorrect date of birth, and so on - careless errors that should never have happened. Dee spent more time, more effort, correcting these errors; at a very difficult time in a woman's life.

Even after correcting these mistakes, the application was refused. There is zero room in the rules for any discretion - even though median incomes vary considerably across the country; even though many people live frugally and for various reasons do not require a big income to live off; even though forcing a family apart is in fact more likely to push people onto benefits. Even though forcing a family apart is, in itself, morally wrong.

Dee has a baby daughter, who cannot be with her own father. Dee's daughter talks to the TV, to the computer screen, as if it is her own father - because she sees her Dad on Skype. Much like the family in this video - Skype Daddy : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKrCUaKB4KM .

Dee's son has a hard time too; he just doesn't understand why he can't be with the man he considers a father-figure, as a family.

Dee has no support except from extended family; she is working to support two children, and dealing with another upcoming operation, all by herself.

Ozan would die to be with, and to support, his family; it just doesn't make sense.

Dee is very very angry that her family has been divided through the unthinking nature, and application, of these rules.

Alexis and Miad

Alexis and Miad are a couple divided by the UK's immigration rules. This is their story, in their own words :

'I MET MIAD in 2005, through shared interests online. We became good friends.

In 2007 we decided we wanted to become a couple. Miad is from Iran and I am Scottish. We were desperate to meet; so, in August 2008. after one year of being in an online relationship, I travelled 4000 miles to meet this man who I had fallen in love with.

I travelled with my two children (who at the time were 5 and 7) to Iran for a month. Miad didn't have a passport at that time and was studying at university (the Iranian government doesn't give males a passport until they have completed national service), so for us to meet I had to travel there.

We all loved every second of it. None of us wanted to come home! My son cried when we had to leave.

And while I was in Iran, Miad and I became engaged!

In June 2009 I returned, this time for three weeks. I travelled alone.

By now, Miad had left university and was working. In May, he had been called up for military service. We had planned to get married while I was there - but the Iranian officials didn't make it easy. I was told that after marriage, I would automatically become an Iranian citizen - meaning that I would effectively forfeit my British passport as Iran doesn't recognise dual nationality. I didn't like this idea, so instead we opted for a temporary marriage.

This was a possible solution because it is illegal to have a boyfriend/girlfriend in Iran (crazy in our society, I know)! So to prevent ourselves from getting in trouble with the authorities undertook a 'temporary marriage' for fifty years. We went through an Islamic ceremony, paid fees, and exchanged rings. I also had to convert to become a Muslim.

The temporary marriage thing was another step of commitment for us at the time. I returned home and in November 2010, my children and I returned to Iran to visit for a month. Miad's 20 month service would be up in January and then, we could think of a way for us to be together.

We had planned for Miad to join me in the UK. I have two children who have lives in the UK, as well as their father being in the UK, and I would not have them separated from their father. My children come first! So, we planned for Miad to join me in the UK when his national service ended.

At the time, I was studying full time. For Miad to join me in the UK on a spouse visa, I would need to leave college. I didn't want to give up my studies!  So, after some discussion we decided that the next step would be for Miad to study in the UK and come here as a student.

It took a while to collect the required funds for the visa and for the college fees - in fact we needed nearly £4000 in fees, and also he need to have £7200 in the bank for 28 days to show that he could support himself financially. It's hard to do that in a country such as Iran! But, with effort, he got everything he needed together. Furthermore he had to apply at the British embassy in Turkey (as there was no embassy in Irain) - more time, more money!

In June 2012, Miad travelled from Iran to Turkey and applied for his student visa. I travelled to Turkey for a few days to support him. Ten days after I returned to the UK - he received his refusal letter!

Why was he refused? Because the bank he deposited his money in was suddenly, through no fault of his, added to a blacklist! In May, he had been informed that the UK government accepted the bank he used, but suddenly it was blacklisted, wasting time, money and effort.

Miad complained to the visa consultant who had been helping him (provided by the UK college). The consultant apologised over and over and said he would refund his visa fee.  The visa adviser said Miad could make another application - instead of going back to Iran, he could simple send the money directly to the college. Miad asked if this was allowed. The consultant told him that yes, this was allowed. So listening to his 'expert' advice, he re-applied. And, surprise surprise, he was refused again.  Miad was hopping mad! Again,  he given a meek apology and a feeble excuse that it had been fine for other students. This visa consultant again refunded his visa fee - but by this time Miad was again out of pocket from living in Turkey!

Why was Miad using this useless man's services? Because he had been told by the college that, if Miad didn't use him and his application was refused, he wouldn't get his college fees refunded!

Miad went back to Iran in August. He had to get the money back from the college which he put in an approved bank and waited until he could, go for a second time, to Turkey - in September - and apply for a third time.

Thankfully the application was now successful!
 
But, in the meantime, the family migration rules had changed. Miad arrived in the UK in October and started college straight away. His student visa expires in August.

In January I had to give up college. I was never able to complete my course, which would have helped me with a better job, a better career, a better future - for all of us. Because of these rules I need to find a job now to support him. I am not worried about finding a job. I am worried because it's hard to find one that gives me £18,600 - especially as I've had to give up my studies!

We've been told we can try apply outside the immigration rules, under Article 8. I am not so optimistic.

I am on medication for anxiety and depression. I'm scared about what will happen if we have to be separated again. What will happen if he has to leave our family - his family?

The threat of state-enforced separation is hanging over us.

We feel we have waited all this time to be together - and soon it will be snatched away.

It's not fair. It's not right.'

More stories like this : 
http://britcits.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/stories

Nicola

“Just when my son and I have found a wonderful man to give us the family life we so desire, UKBA persists in snatching away our chance at happiness..”

British citizen Nicola met her husband Tarik, in 2008 while visiting her parent’s holiday home in Turkey.

After returning home they exchanged emails, phone calls and chatted online. In early 2009, they began to speak more frequently as their feelings developed from just friends to something more.

They made arrangements to meet in Turkey in May 2009, where they spent two weeks together. Nicola, Tarik and Nicola’s six year old son, MJ, were inseparable. It just felt right.

Since then they have been in a long term relationship, with Nicola and MJ going to visit Tarik as often as possible. Tarik also came to the UK in June 2009 where he combined work with a visit to Nicola and MJ. He stayed in the UK for less than eight days –  well within the visa limit.

Nicola is somewhat an entrepreneur. In October 2010 she opened a barber shop, making it more difficult to travel. So they applied for Tarik to come visit them in April 2011 to coincide with MJ’s school holidays, in order to all be able to spend more time together. However, the application was refused!

UKBA deduced that Tarik was trying to deceive them, because he had not mentioned visiting Nicola during his 2009 visit. They assumed he had not met his business contact (even though he had). UKBA assumed because Tarik on his initial application said he was divorced then on the next one said he was single, meant he was trying to deceive them. UKBA threatened them with paragraph 320 (7A), mentioning any future applications could be refused under 320(7B) which could attract an automatic refusal of up to 10 years.

Despite this, Nicola and Tarik re-applied and addressed the assumptions UKBA had made. However the application was automatically refused under 320(7B) with no reasons given for the decision. UKBA stated that as he had previously been refused by failing to provide information, any future applications would automatically be refused for the same reason until 26/02/2019. Nicola felt like Tarik was being treated like a criminal.

In July 2012 they heard that the rules had changed and that financially, Nicola would no longer qualify to have her foreign spouse living with her. A few months later, Nicola found out she was pregnant.

Nicola and Tarik are ecstatically happy to be expecting their daughter. They got married in September 2012 with all her family travelling to Turkey from Scotland. It was a wonderful time, despite the stress of knowing that they would continue to be apart. They decided as a family to live in the UK to save any upheaval to MJ's life and education. Nicola continues to try and build her business while being a single parent to her son.

They were hoping Tarik could join them for the baby scan and return in April for the birth. However, the family visit visa was refused. UKBA said they did not believe Tarik’s bank statement was accurate. They also did not believe that Tarik would leave the UK. It was also noted that as Tarik had the previous refusal under 320(7B), any future applications would also be automatically refused for the same reason.

Nicola is bemused. She has planned her daughter to receive her first immunisation and then taking her to Turkey to meet her grandparents. She doesn’t understand how UKBA can make their own judgement and assume what their intentions are.

Which brings us to where we are now.

Nicola’s pregnancy is tainted with stress. She will need to take maternity leave, she will need to find someone to replace her to run the business while she is not working and she needs to be a single mum to her son. With her husband by her side, the burden would be shared and halved.

Tarik and MJ have built a great bond despite the distance. MJ has been asking since the wedding, "When is Tarik coming?" "Can we put the Christmas tree up as a family this year" (last year they
flew to Turkey on Christmas day).

After the visit visa was refused telling MJ was heartbreaking. The ten year old was crying and sobbing, and not understanding why he could not be with his stepdad, like the other kids at school.

MJ rubs Nicola’s tummy telling his baby sister that it will all be ok when she comes. A ten year old child should not have to experience this worry and confusion. Just as he has found this family life he so desires, his stepfather is not allowed to be part of his daily life.

MJ was let down by his biological father. Now when both he and his mother have a wonderful man in their lives, who wants to take care of them, they are denied the right to that family life.

Janice

“I have to fulfil my duty to look after my mother in her 70s, and my 12-year-old son, so I have no choice but to fight for my partner to come to the UK. In the meantime I go out to see him as often as I can - nearly 20 times in 5 years!"

Janice is a British citizen and has been in a relationship with her partner, Erdogan, who happens to be Turkish, since 2007.

In February 2008, Erdogan was removed from his place of work without any prior warning by Norfolk Immigration, who admitted their letters to Erdogan had not been received.

Erdogan came to England on a marriage visa in December 2005. Nineteen months later, his wife walked out on him, leaving him to run the business (a kebab and pizza shop) they had started together. On several occasions Erdogan tried to contact her to discuss terms of the divorce, including issues relating to the shop they jointly owned. She however avoided engaging in such discussions.

Erdogan finally contacted a solicitor to begin proceedings, but the appointment was delayed because the solicitor fell ill, with the next appointment being for two days after Erdogan was suddenly and forcibly removed from the UK.

Janice spoke with the officer who arrested Erdogan at around 7.30 pm to ask why Erdogan had been treated in this way, without any warning? The officer advised that Erdogan had not responded to letters from UKBA advising him that his visa had been revoked, but the officer finally admitted that she was aware he hadn’t received the letters as they had been returned to them, unopened. The officer said that their understanding was that the UKBA was not able to locate Erdogan to send letters to him; however, Erdogan worked in the same shop every day and, indeed, the UKBA were able to locate him when it came to arresting him!

Erdogan was removed cruelly, losing money on the marital home he had been paying the mortgage on, and on the business he had worked long and hard hours for. He wasn’t even allowed to go to his house, his home, to get his clothes. He wasn’t allowed to sort out his finances. He was just spirited away.

Erdogan was even denied legal representation.

Janice met Erdogan before he was deported; the well-groomed and well presented man she knew looked like he had been living on the streets all his life. He was a broken man, having lost everything he had worked for, his business, his pride and his respect within the Turkish community, along with the possibility of losing the people he loved and who loved him.

Since his removal nearly five years ago, Janice and Erdogan have been trying to get his divorce finalised, so that they can marry and start a life together as a family. Unfortunately, Erdogan’s estranged wife was determined to make things difficult, but finally, in 2010, the Decree Absolute came through.

Janice considered moving to Turkey, but with kids here herself, including a 12-year-old who she won’t be able to take overseas, and a mother in her 70s that Janice looks after, it’s not possible if Janice wants to fulfil her other roles of mother and daughter. So they have no choice but to fight for Erdogan to come here.

In the meantime, Janice goes out to Turkey as often as she can; in the last five years, she has gone there to be with Erdogan nearly 20 times.

Sarah

“As a result he missed the birth of his first-born child.”

Sarah is a British citizen from Bradford.

Sarah met her husband in the UK, and they lived together as a family in England for 18 months before his visa expired. They should qualify for the right to live together under the Zambrano ruling but delays on the part of UKBA are keeping this family in limbo.

Sarah has two kids from a previous relationship, and a child with her husband (this is her first marriage) who she is trying to sponsor to move to the UK from Turkey, so their family can be together.

Her two eldest kids call her husband dad, even though he is not their birth father. That is how close this family is.

Sarah does not satisfy the £18,600 income threshold. She is in receipt of benefits, including income support and child tax credit. However, this will change when her husband joins her, as once he is working (there is already a job lined up), Sarah will cease to be eligible for benefits which are means tested (although she will continue to receive tax credits in respect of the children).

Sarah relocated to Turkey with her family and eventually decided to move back to the UK for her children’s education. They applied for a visitor's visa for her husband, so that he could be here for their child’s birth, but the visa was refused on the grounds that because his family was in England they thought that he may not return to Turkey.

As a result he missed the birth of his first-born child.

It has not been an easy time for Sarah, what with having to give birth alone, raise not one but three kids alone, and then have a faulty toaster set their house on fire.

Sarah, her husband and the three children stay in touch using MSN, a webcam and Web chat every day. They have applied for a spouse visa for him.

However, under the new rules, they may as well just donate more money to the British government which seems intent on tearing apart this family rather than understanding that being with her husband is what would be best for Sarah and her three children.