Woman facing deportation after a mix-up with her visa

Jessica Austin who is a citizen of Namibia has been living in the UK since February of 2002.  She is married to a British citizen and they have a young daughter.   After applying for her visa renewal late last year she has been told that her application was rejected and she would have to return to Namibia.  Immigration officials claim the application to renew the visa was submitted late.

Austin said "We've lost everything because of this - it's so frustrating and worrying.  I got a letter to say my application had been refused and I would have to leave the country, even though we have a two-year-old baby who is a British citizen.  We've provided everything required to prove the application wasn't late and was paid for, but the Home Office have just gone quiet and have never given me a reason why this is happening."

Austin's lawyer said "I've made the strongest, most comprehensive representations that I can to the Home Office and phoned them again as recently as last week, but they insist that the lady is in this country illegally.

"They're firm that she has no status in this country and has to return to her country of origin - I regret this very much but it's my responsibility to advise her of the Home Office interpretation of the law," he said.

Austin spoke of the trauma that the visa mix-up has caused for her family: "After my application was refused I could have been prosecuted for working illegally, so I had to leave my job at Lifeways in Glasgow because they had no choice but to let me go."  Shortly after Austin in her family lost the house that they were living in and were forced into a homeless shelter. 

www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk