An online petition, calling for a holiday Visa application for the future son-in-law of Islander Sue Grant to be reconsidered, is gathering pace.
Sue’s daughter, Rebecca, and her fiance, Kevin – who is in the middle of studying a Post Grad in Telecommunications at Beijing University – had planned a two week trip to the UK over Christmas to spend time with the family.
After booking flights (a requirement for the Visa application), hotels etc, and sending mountains of paperwork, including copies of the passports of people Kevin – who is originally from Côte d’Ivoire – will be staying with, along with proof of £3,500 in his bank account etc, his Visitor Visa was rejected.
Unjust rejection
The justification given for the rejection was,
“I am not satisfied that you have sufficient funds to cover your costs in the UK without working or accessing public funds”
This, despite what appears to be the fact that Kevin has a life in China, where he has had to learn to speak Chinese and English, has his education and living expenses fully-funded by his family and has himself several thousand pounds in his bank account for the holiday.
The petition
The petition explains the position in full,
So today after weeks of waiting and excited planning for a family Christmas Her Majesty’s Government has refused to allow our future Son in Law a visa to visit it us for 13 days on the Isle of Wight.
We had booked a four night visit to London for them as their Christmas present so that Rebecca could show Kevin London and as many of the attractions as possible.
Kevin is currently studying at Beijing university He is studying a Post Grad in Telecommunications. His entire course is in Chinese so he has to write and speak Chinese he is also fluent in English and obviously French as he is from Côte d’Ivoire a West African country.
He doesn’t work as he is a full time student, but his family support him totally paying all his fees living expenses etc. They can afford to do this. Something very few families in the UK could afford to do this for their offspring. Our young can travel the world with a backpack and very little else.
Kevin and Rebecca had to book and pay for flights before applying for the visa and then pay for the visa and submit proof of the London stay plus I had to send copies of my Passport, Bank statement and current DBS as proof of ID plus a letter inviting Kevin to stay.
All the money they have paid out for Visa application medical insurance and flights which is approx. £2,000 is now lost. Their flights were cheap non-refundable ones.
Because the refusal states:
“I am not satisfied that you are a genuine visitor and will leave the UK at the end of your visit.
“I am not satisfied that you have sufficient funds to cover your costs in the UK without working or accessing public funds”
This visa was for a holiday visit so we could as a family meet Kevin and to be able to celebrate Christmas together.
Kevin had over £3,500 in his bank account if that isn’t sufficient for a 13 day stay in the UK how come all these backpackers get in. Is this because he is African? I might add he is a Catholic so not on the terror suspect type religion list either.
Please sign this petition so Kevin can get his holiday it’s totally unfair and disgusting he’s been ripped off, fobbed off AND lost his savings just by trying to have a holiday that lasts JUST half of a week.
