Between a Rock and Hard Place

[irlundee]

Hi all,

Here is my sorry scenario.

I'm a UK citizen and passport holder. I was born and raised in the UK but moved to Canada in my teens. I've just been accepted for a post-graduate degree in the UK BUT I'm finding that it's next to impossible for me to bring my Canadian wife. Why?

1.) I can't bring her on a tourist visa, it's only 6 months in a 12 month period (my degree is 12 months) so she'd have to leave and wouldn't get to return for the duration of my programme.
2.) I can't sponsor her to come to the UK because I don't have the 18K a year, I was a student for the last several years and will continue to be one if I go back to the UK.

Catch 22. Very bad system, a net that's cast so wide, it harms educated professionals. Professionals who would add to the UK economy if the graduate and settle.

I've been wracking my brain to find a solution. I even spent $30 on a helpline with UK authorities (why they charge? you never pay for this stuff in Canada!) and they were quite blunt about the process. Tourist visas can't be extended/don't even apply for a given visa if you don't meet the requirements/ UK could give a flying toss about your situation, even though your a citizen.

The silly thing is, I am a British passport holder, I can apply for citizenship for both kids, but my wife would be left to stay alone in Canada? I was born and raised in the UK then left to Canada, it makes me feel more loyal to Canada than the UK which acts like it couldn't care less about my situation.

Anyway, thought i'd share, if someone has ideas.

PS - she has passports of two nations that do not require a visa for the UK, so wondering if she can allocate two trips, one on each.

[vinny]

Consider studying in Germany instead?

Does wife have UK Ancestry?

[Amber]

Do you have any relatives in the UK who receive a disability benefit? E.g, grandparent receiving Attendance Allowance?

[irlundee]

Thanks for replying guys.

Germany sounds cool (smile) but I've been accepted to a programme I really like in the UK / being from the UK originally is comfort zone / looking forward to proper scones again.

My only relative is my Mum but she is over 60 and still working.

My wife has no UK ancestry, she's originally from Dominica (commonwealth) and has a passport for Dominica and Canada, both of which do not require a visa for a 6 month visit to the UK.

PS - Just realised my kids don't need to apply for citizenship, they are automatically citizens and I can apply for their passports. Sadly, just my wife's situation to navigate. It's unfortunate you can't simply write to immigration and ask for a 12 month visa instead of a 6 month visit, given the circumstances. A husband with a British passport, 2 children with British passports, and a mother with a Canadian passport who needs to hang around for 12 months instead of 6 because of her husband's 1 yr post-grad degree (I have acceptance letters etc.). System is asinine. There is no room for extenuating circumstances or compassion. I mean, how horrible it would be if I graduated, then paid good taxes to the Queen and settled back in the UK again (sarcasm).

Thanks again.

[CR001]

Believe me, we do understand your frustrations, most of us have also had to jump through the many immigration hoops of HO.

Unfortunately, it is the years of abuse of the system by some migrants that has made it very difficult for genuine, honest migrants etc.

[Amber]

Have you been offered any kind of stipend/bursary or scholarship for the degree programme?

[irlundee]

A took a test which granted me a 20% discount. Still looking into more options. Will apply for grants etc. Too

[noajthan]

Believe me, we do understand your frustrations, most of us have also had to jump through the many immigration hoops of HO.

Unfortunately, it is the years of abuse of the system by some migrants that has made it very difficult for genuine, honest migrants etc.

Its nothing personal, this visa policy tears many types of families apart:
http://www.migrationobservatory.ox.ac.u ... tion-polic