Support
Joseph and Christabel to bring their little boys home to Scotland
Joseph
Lumbasi and his wife Christabel have lived and worked in Forfar
in Scotland for many years. Joseph was recruited a few years ago to work in Scotland through the Fresh Talent scheme to bring people here as essential workers where we did not have the skills in Scotland. They are hard working tax payers
and good people. Joseph is a volunteer and a Director of children's
charity Eighteen And Under and for the past 2 years he has
been a valued paid worker with Izzys Promise in Dundee. He
works at supporting survivors of sexual abuse, ritual abuse
and trafficking of women and children.
Joseph and Christabel have the legal right to enter the UK
and to work here. In January, they went to Kenya prepared
to bring their 2 sons aged 4 and 6 back to Scotland with them.
They have been separated a long time but they now have the
funds and a home prepared for their boys. Yesterday, the UK
immigration refused entry to the UK to the 6 year old boy
because Josephs back account had dipped below £4000
(for 1 day on the day before his pay day). £4000 is
the amount that migrants must keep in their bank accounts
at all times.
Joseph had to apply for a new visa in December and that changed
his status and the rules which now means that we are no longer
allowed to offer to be his sponsors, even though he still
works for us and nothing else has changed. Any of us would
put up whatever funds are needed but this is not allowed!
The damage to this family and to these children in keeping
them apart not to mention how he is expected to bring one
child and leave the other, is unimaginable. it defies belief
that our UK immigration laws permit this.
Joseph and Christabel have now to leave their children in Kenya and come back to Scotland without them because the children were refused a visa They are appealing and MPs and the community are fighting for them. They are caught in a Catch 22 with the immigration laws which have changed. Though they have been in the country for over 3 years, they are being treated as though they have only been here a year.
Please help us fight against this injustice and contact your
MP to highlight this case. it must affect others too. Joseph
and Christabel are due to fly back to Scotland on 11th February,
please help them to bring their family home with them. We
are not asking for money just your time and interest. We ask
only that you let your MP know about this immediately! We
don't want to have to start a press campaign and expose this
family in any way we just want them to be together.
Please also leave messages of support below.
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