A Dorset teacher is gearing up for an immigration fight to bring his Chinese wife of 10 years to the UK, after her visa application was twice rejected.
Peter Boon is living in Bridport with daughters Emily, five, and seven-year-old Annie, while their mother Julie is in China.
The couple own property in China where Mr Boon was teaching but when work dried up, they decided to return to the UK temporarily so he could improve his employment prospects by taking a Masters degree in teaching English as a foreign language. After that, the family intend to return to China to live.
Mrs Boon was advised by the British Embassy to apply for a long-term family visitor visa which would allow her to stay in the UK for a year. But her initial application was rejected because officials said she had not provided enough supporting documentation and the second was turned down because she did not declare she had no Chinese dependents.
Mr Boon told the Bridport News: “My kids miss their mum so much. They keep asking when mummy is going to join us. They don’t understand why she can’t be here.
“Julie hates being separated. I send her 30 photos a day of the girls, so she can see everything that they’re doing. We just want to be together.”
He is now living with his mother and preparing for a court battle to bring his wife to the UK but it may be the end of the year before the hearing takes place.
“I should be out working to provide for my family but I’ve suddenly become a single father and I’m needed at home,” added Mr Boon.
“We have the money saved up to pay for my Masters – Julie and I were only planning on putting into the economy while we are here.”