A mother planning to visit her in-laws in Wales with her British husband and baby has had her tourist visa refused by the UK Home Office, which said it did not believe she would leave the UK when the visa expired.
Jonathan Davies, originally from Pontypool but now living in Indonesia, his wife Rini and their daughter Ayana were due to visit Jonathan's parents, Paul and Pat Davies, for a holiday so Ayana could see her grandparents. Paul and Pat had decorated their spare bedroom and bought a cot for baby Ayana in anticipation of the visit.
However, the Home Office denied Rini, who is Indonesian, permission to enter the UK despite her husband and their four-month-old daughter both holding British passports.
Family's plans dashed
Grandad Paul said the Home Office claimed it did not believe Rini would leave the UK at the expiry of the tourist visa, despite the family fully intending to return to Indonesia, which his son has made his home. Paul, a veteran who served in the Welsh Regiment, said there is no danger his 46-year-old son and the family would want to stay, adding: "Jonathan hates Pontypool."
The 79-year-old said he was shocked to learn that daughter-in-law Rini, 32, had been denied a tourist visa and is fearful of the long-term implications. "They planned to come home for a holiday visit but have refused my daughter-in-law a tourist visa," he said. "Me and my wife have decorated a room for them to come home for Christmas and went as far as buying a cot. This is like a punch in the guts."
Financial evidence overlooked
He said his daughter-in-law had been told a visa was denied due to her having only £700 in her bank account, but said officials had not taken into account the more than £11,000 in her husband's account. "He's the breadwinner," said Paul of his son, who lived in New Zealand for 20 years. "They never looked at how much money he's got."
Paul said his son and his wife were on the verge of buying plane tickets when they learned Rini would not be allowed to enter the UK with her husband and daughter. "Why would you split a baby and her mother when they are just coming for a holiday? Jonathan never expected them to deny Rini a holiday visa. How can they say to someone, 'I don't think you'll go back'? It's like saying we will not give you a bus pass as we don't think you will catch a bus. I'm just flabbergasted by it. I'm willing to buy a return ticket for her."
MP contacted for help
The family has contacted Torfaen Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds for assistance, having been told there is no appeal of the decision and fearing a visa refusal could harm any future applications by Rini. Mr Thomas-Symonds' office confirmed it is in contact with the family "to get the appropriate information and permissions to take this up with the Home Office".
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "It's our longstanding policy not to comment on individual cases. All visa applications are carefully considered on their individual merits, in line with the immigration rules and based on the information and evidence provided by the applicant."
