"Falklands veteran defiant after Australian wife denied leave to stay in the UK" A FALKLANDS veteran faces having to leave the country he defended for more than two decades to be with his Australian wife, after she was refused UK residency. Retired Sergeant Brian Johnson, a former Royal Engineer, is furious after the UK Border Agency refused Kellie-Anne, his wife of 12 years, permission to stay beyond her six-month tourist visa, which expires tomorrow (Friday, June 7). Mrs Johnson said: “On Saturday morning I’ll wake up as an illegal immigrant. It’s ridiculous.” Against legal advice, the couple are refusing to leave the UK and have asked their MP, Roberta Blackman-Woods, to take up their case. Having married and set up home in Australia in 2000, the couple returned to Mr Johnson’s home village of Esh Winning, County Durham, last December to be close to Mr Johnson’s ailing father, Alf, who died two months later. When they called the British authorities in Canberra early last year, they were told the length of their marriage meant Mrs Johnson would be granted UK residency. However, unknown to them, the rules changed last July, so that families must be able to support themselves. Despite having always worked previously, Mr Johnson has been unable to find a job and his wife, a personal trainer, is barred from working on her tourist visa. They spent their savings relocating and dealing with Mr Johnson’s father’s death. Mr Johnson, 61, said: “All we want is the chance to make a life here.” His wife, 41, said: “We’ve been married 12 years. We’ve proved that we’ve got a stable relationship. “I’m not a trouble maker or a bad person. I want to work and contribute to my household and society. “I’m really scared about a knock at the door telling me I have to leave.” Dr Blackman-Woods has made enquiries with the UKBA and is pushing for a quick response. A UKBA spokeswoman said: “Those choosing to establish their family life here should be able to support themselves financially and not be a burden on the taxpayer. “Each case is considered on its individual merits and in line with the immigration rule.” The couple met in 1998 when Mr Johnson was the driver and his future wife a tourist on a “fairytale castles” coach trip – a job he took at the last minute after a colleague fell ill. (c) thenorthernecho.co.uk
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:19:18 +0000