A GLIMMER of hope has emerged in the visa battle facing a Kenyan couple fighting to bring their young sons to Angus.
With the clock ticking down on a 28-day appeal deadline, UK Border Agency officials have told Joseph and Christabel Lumbasi they will re-examine the case of the couple whose dream of a family life together in Forfar has been dashed following the refusal of visas for their boys.
The pledge comes amidst a growing support for the couple, both on-line and from individuals including a Fife woman who Joseph came to call his “international mother” when he first arrived in Scotland three years ago to study at St Andrews University.
Last week, the Lumbasis had to break their promise to Lance (6) and Leslie (4) that they would be bringing them home to Restenneth Drive in Forfar when immigration officials refused to sign the required documentation because of a dispute over bank account levels which are part of the residency requirements.
Angus MP Mike Weir has taken on the couple’s case and is pursuing the authorities in a bid to resolve what he had described as a “ludicrous” situation.
The Border Agency stance has also been condemned by local councillors who say the young couple are hard-working and an “asset” to the area.
Yesterday, Phil Taylor, the regional director of the UK Border Agency in Scotland and Northern Ireland, said an issue with the Lumbasis application concerned the documents which were presented in support of their case.
“The rules for those applying for visas for family members are clear and apply to everyone fairly,” Mr Taylor said.
“In this case, there were a number of issues with the applications, along with problems with the documents supplied by the family, which were photocopies and not originals.
“We are happy to look again at any application where the correct documents are subsequently supplied to us.”
Joseph’s former housemother at the Gannochy Halls in St Andrews said she was “outraged” at the situation facing her friend.
“I could not believe it when I read what had happened to such a gentle man,” said Glenda Clarke, from Fife.
“I know he would have worked his socks off to get the money to bring his family here—that is all he lived for.
“When students arrive here from abroad, no matter how old they are, you need a friendly face and a friendly voice if you are far away from home and that is what I tried to give Joseph.
“He managed to get himself a job, he did anything he could to get extra money for his wife and family and even at Christmas he could not afford to go home.”
She added, “He is a good man, very quiet by nature and I was just so shocked to learn about this situation.
“Good people come here and they want to work here because they like Scotland and the Scottish people but it seems the Border Agency pursue the wrong people too often and I know this will not be nice time for Joseph.”
-The Courier-UK
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