A Ukrainian-born woman, who has two British-born children under four, says she fears being deported to her native country due to issues with her UK visa application.
Nadiya McWhirter, who is married to UK citizen Corry and has two children with him, began the official process to settle in the UK in 2012. But the mum-of-two, who lives in Carlisle, has been informed by the immigration authorities that she has not provided sufficient evidence to support her application.
Mrs McWhirter told the News & Star: “I asked in the letter I sent, what kind of evidence do you want? I’ve sent everything they’ve asked. It’s discrimination. I’ve not come into the country to steal and stuff.
“It breaks your heart that before Christmas they give you the news you have to go back to Ukraine. Ukraine is now fighting Russia. I’m not letting the Home Office or anybody ruin my life. It’s not fair.”
Mrs McWhirter has passed the necessary Life in the UK test to remain in the UK and is at a loss as to why her application has not been approved.
Her husband said that he was concerned the authorities had not looked at her application properly.
Mr McWhirter pointed out that the couple had been living in Carlisle for two and a half years and as part of his wife’s application, they had sent all their bills to the immigration authorities. In addition, they had provided his and the two children’s passports. He added that the authorities still had his wife’s passport.
The couple married in September this year. They have two children together, Holly Jane, three, and two-year-old Reece William.
A Home Office spokesman said that each UK visa application is “considered on their individual merits, including any exceptional circumstances”.