ann and craig - migrants' rights...
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![Page 1: Ann and Craig - Migrants' Rights Scotlandmigrantsrightsscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Ann-and … · considered. They are currently living with Craig’s parents. Ann](https://reader034.vdocument.in/reader034/viewer/2022051914/6005a38a2b9e294c947b032e/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Ann(PuiLing)andCraig“Asacitizenofthiscountry,Ididnotexpectsucharawdeal.Ihadgoodintentionsgoingoverseastowork.Ileftwithmywife,neverthinkingshe’dnotbeallowedbackintothecountrytosettlewithme.”CraigisaScotsmanfromtheHighlands.AnnisayoungChinesewomanwhohasrelativesintheNorthbutherlifewasinHongKong.Ononeofhervisitshere,AnnmetCraigandoversixyearsago,theygotmarriedinInverness.Theyhadn’tplannedtostayinScotlandasCraighadsecuredateachingjobinHongKong.TheyleftrightaftertheweddingtostarttheirlivestogetherandAnncontinuedinheremploymentthere.Earlyin2012,CraigandAnndecidedtoreturntoScotland,notrealizingtheimmigrationconditionswereintheprocessofchange.TheEnglishlanguagetestwasalreadyarequirementsoAnnmadesureshetookit,assheneededtotakeitinthecountryoforigin.Shepassed.Thecouplegaveuptheirapartment,soldtheirthingsandbothlefttheirjobs,hopingtostartafreshinScotland,perhapsevenstartafamily.SinceAnnandCraiggotbackinOctober2012,theirliveshavebeenanightmare.AsaBritishcitizen,Craighadhadnoideahisrelationshipwouldbeundersuchscrutiny,thathismarriagewouldbejudgedsoseverelyjudged.Hishopetoreturn‘home’hasputtheirlivesinaprecariousposition.Craighasnotbeenabletofindwork.Heistrainingtobeahazardoussubstanceslorrydriverasitistheonlythinghecanfind,butheisnotguaranteedwork.Inanyevent,heisunlikelytoreachtherequired£18,600minimumincometosatisfytheUKBorderAgencywhenapplyingforAnn’svisatoremainhere.Ann’spotentialtoearnisnotevenconsidered.TheyarecurrentlylivingwithCraig’sparents.AnnandCraigfaceastressful,uncertainfewmonthsahead.In2013,shewillhavetoleavewhenhercurrentvisaexpires.TherearenoeasysolutionsforAnn,exceptinUKBAterms,familyseparation.Inacivilizedcountry,theycanhavenoexpectationofaprivate,familylifeanytimesoon.IFYOUAREALSOAFFECTEDBYUKHOMEOFFICEFAMILYIMMIGRATIONPOLICY,GETINTOUCHWITHUSTOINCLUDEYOURCASEINOURPORTFOLIOTOTHEFAMILYMIGRATIONINQUIRYATTHEWESTMINSTERPARLIAMENT.Emailinfo@migrantsrightsscotland.org.ukorseewww.migrantsrightsscotland.org.uk.