icBerkshire, UK
Jan 12 2007
Disabled man refuses care
Jan 12 2007
By Antony Quarrell Maidenhead Reporter
AN ARMENIAN woman – who acts as the carer for her disabled English
husband – was set to fly home after a plea to the Home Office to let
her stay failed.
Svetlana Ackrill, 50, was due to fly back to her native Armenia as
the Express went to press yesterday (Thursday January 11), leaving
behind husband Keith, who is 61 and paralysed down one side. He is
refusing care.
Mrs Ackrill has accepted the offer of a one-way ticket to Armenia
from the Home Office. She and Keith, of St Chad’s Road, have faced
years of problems over her visa application.
The couple, who met over the internet, wed in Armenia on Christmas
Day 2003. Svetlana was making preparations to come to Britain when
Keith, who previously suffered a stroke, became ill.
She put her application for a spouse’s visa on hold in order to rush
to England on a visitor’s visa to care for her new husband.
However, the Home Office has insisted that Svetlana must return to
Armenia and apply for a spouse’s visa there.
The couple had hoped Svetlana, who acts as her husband’s carer, could
apply for the visa from England so she could continue to look after
Keith.
Of her acceptance of the ticket home from the Home Office, Svetlana
told the Express: "I have no choice."
She said that she will phone Keith every day and hopes that her visa
can be sorted out quickly and that she can be reunited with her
husband by February 5.
Keith – who says that he previously had 28 carers a week – said he is
refusing to apply for any other care until his wife returns.
He said the Home Office is ‘just being awkward’ and slammed: "There’s
no compassion at all from the Home Office."
Keith said that he hopes to survive as best he can until the visa is
sorted and said: "I shall just sit here quietly."
He added: "The government has taken my wife away."
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "We do not comment on
individual cases. All applicants for further leave to remain are
treated on a case-by-case basis taking into account the circumstances
of the applicant including where appropriate any compassionate
circumstances."
She added: "The government is determined to protect the UK’s
immigration system from abuse and in order for an applicant to be set
up as a spouse they must have valid UK entry clearance."
The spokeswoman explained that applicants who do not have this must
return to their home country and apply for entry clearance in the
correct order.