A British man suffering from terminal cancer has been prevented from living with his Thai-born wife due to immigration rules.
Norman Robbins met Wilawan Rodpathom online four years ago and they married in Bangkok in 2012. However, Mrs Robins cannot apply for a UK visa for five years because of changes to the immigration regulations made in 2012.
Mr Robbins, from Gainsborough, Lincs, is being treated for incurable bone cancer multiple maloma and has not seen his wife since December last year. Due to his monthly treatment and the high cost of travel insurance because of his illness, he is unable to fly to Thailand to see her.
The couple speak daily via Skype but Mrs Robbins is unable to find work in Thailand to pay for visits to the UK.
Mr Robbins told the Gainsborough Standard: “We’re man and wife, we just want to live together. We fell in love and we want to be together.
“My poor wife is trying to find work but there is no work in Thailand. She is trying to get money so she can come here. I can’t work and I have to have treatment every month.
“We still need to prove we have been together for five years. Nothing has progressed. I need to prove I can support my wife but I can’t work because of the cancer.”
He is now considering moving back to his family home in North Yorkshire, in order to save money to send to his wife so she can visit him in the UK.
Mr Robbins has also been raising money for other cancer sufferers by taking part in the Macmillan Cancer Support Brave the Shave charity event. The local event raised around £200 in funds for the charity, which provides advice and support to cancer sufferers.