Urgent advice for pregnant lady pls!

[vicster]

Hello, I am British and my husband is Nigerian. My husband was turned down (in North Cyprus where we were both living) for a spouse visa in September. I immediately returned to the UK to organise his appeal and find us accommodation and adequate evidence for all the points he failed on. I have now completed this and submitted the appeal.

I received the AIT 11 Notice of Pending Appeal stating that the British High Commission, North Nicosia has until 24th Feb 2010 to review their original decision. I have been told by the AIT helpline that these deadlines for overseas embassies are very rarely adhered to and cannot be enforced so the likelihood of an answer before 24th Feb is very small.

My problem is that I am due to give birth to our first child on 7th Feb and am obviously rather keen (understatement of the year!) that my husband is by my side. I wrote to the Duty Immigration Judge to request that the appeal be expedited (with proof of my due date from my GP) but this request was denied without any reason being given. I was flabbergasted - particularly as the example given on the AIT website for compassionate reasons for expediting appeals is "if you are due to start a college course".

I have been in touch with my MPs caseworker and have asked her to write a letter to the AIT asking why my request for expedition was turned down and I have also asked her to write a letter to the BHC, North Nicosia, asking that they make their decision quickly.

Does anyone know of any other cases or like mine where requests for expedition have been turned down? Apart from using my MP, is there anything else I could be doing? Also, if all else fails can we apply for a tourist visa for my husband to come and be with me when I give birth even though he has an ongoing spouse visa appeal?

Any help or advice would be very gratefully received!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for reading this.
Vicster

[Obie]

If you have sorted all the areas he was disqualified on, then the quickest way to get things done is to reapply.

The process you are undertaking at present, might be successful, but it could take up to a year, which will not be ideal in your situation.

If you were to apply for a visitors visa, i suspect it might be refused on the bases that your partner will not return, as he has a settlement agenda or intention.

You best bet is to reapply, and point out the areas you were previously rejected on, and the evidence you have that those areas have been addressed.

Best of luck.