Hi, I want my mother to come and visit me from Zimbabwe, but her visa was declined on the grounds that my husband and I did not provide evidence that we are related to her, so our promise to look after her [i.e provide somewhere to stay etc] is invalid. Even though she also had provided travellers cheques, we also sent in a load of documents to do with our mortgage, 5 /6 bank statements, our passport copies, my business documents, she also provided her bank statements, title deeds for 3 properties, payslips, etc, my siblings' birth certificates, her marriage certificate etc. My husband and I both have very good jobs and are purchasing our second home at the moment, so obviously we can afford a few hundred pounds to have her over for a month.
The visa people, said another reason is that with the situation in Zim, there is no proof that she will return as she didnt prove any family ties in Zimbabwe?? What about the kids' birth certificates? and her marriage cert. arent those family ties?
Another thing, 2 of my siblings aged between 7 - 12 have been here twice, issued with 6month visas. They are considered minors, why would they have given them visas to visit us if we are strangers? And if my mother's intention was to stay here, wouldn't she have just let the kids stay when they came last christmas and easter? They both came and returned.
My mum, is my step mum, so there's no way I can prove that we are related. When I was little, I lived with my dad and my step mum, he disappeared and I've always lived with my step mum, even when she got married later when I was 10ish. She was never married to my dad, so I cant prove anything. She used to have documents from solicitors [custody] ages ago, but can't find anything although its possible to ask the high court, if you know the case number [but we dont] and she only has 28 days to appeal. The only thing she has at the moment is an old passport, where I was endorsed when I was little, so I could travel with her on holiday. This was the system back then as kids didnt have their own passports, they had to be endorsed in their parent/ guardian's ppt.
Another thing, my mum told me that in Zimbabwe immigration officers were stealing documents used to support applications and selling them to other prospective applicants. When they returned her ppt, they only returned a few documents, between my hubby and I we sent over 50 documents, and I am worried that they might be sold to someone or something, seeing as they didnt return them, why are they keeping them?
When we called to request them the guy was really rude, and he said, they dont return photocopies, but funny how they returned other photocopies. The documents they claim my mum didnt supply [family ties] - they are keeping hold of them - god knows why.
We were going to appeal on our own as it seems straight fwd but i called around for legal assistance but they charge £1000 + other fees, which i think is ridiculous, i think its preying on someone else's misfortune.
I am not sure if I should send the appeal or get someone involved, if I do, I would prefer someone to recommend a known person. I have decided we do the appeal here in England as I would rather not send document to Zimbabwe again. If they refuse the visa, I really will consider moving countries because I need to see my family, i want them to visit me too.
Also - has anyone been in a similar situation, and how did you resolve it.
Just to add - my mother had an air ticket at the time of applying, which we have had to contact BA to cancel because she was due to fly out in 2 weeks.
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