Fundraising campaign launched to help Wellesbourne man who has been threatened with deportation to stay in England where he has lived and worked since 2007

The wife of a Wellesbourne man who has been threatened with deportation over issues with his application to stay in England has set up a fundraising page to help keep the family together.
Sid with his wife Becky and their children Tyler, nine, and two-year-old AmieSid with his wife Becky and their children Tyler, nine, and two-year-old Amie
Sid with his wife Becky and their children Tyler, nine, and two-year-old Amie

Yesterday, The Courier reported how Sidat (Sid) Touray, who has worked and lived in England since 2007 and has two children with his wife Becky, has been told by The Home Office that due to issues with his latest visa application he must return to The Gambia where he was born.But Becky has now set up a crowdfunding page on the JustGiving website to raise money for the immigration health surcharge of £1,000 which, due to loss of income because of Coronavirus affecting Sid's employment, the couple were struggling to pay on top of the £2,400 they had already spent during the application process.

Becky has said: "As many of you may have seen today Sidat is facing deportation from the UK.

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"After being denied an indefinite visa costing us £2,400, the home office are now asking us to make a payment of £1000 for an NHS surcharge which we simply can't afford.

"We are hoping to raise the money to be able to complete the application for him to be able to stay in the UK and with his family."

Up until April last year Sid had applied for limited leave to remain in England every 30 months.

But his most recent application - which was this time for him to be allowed to stay in the UK indefinitely - was declined due to complicated issues over him being able to prove he had not left the country for a period of time longer than 180 days since he has been living here.

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This application, the process for which Sid says was delayed due to Coronavirus, cost him about £2,400.

Sid, who before the Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns was able to work both as a forklift driver at a warehouse and as a home care worker, is now faced with a loss of income while Becky only works for 18 hours a week as a nursery carer while looking after her children the rest of the time.

The family, like many others in these times, are struggling to make ends meet and Sid was not able to pay an immigration health surcharge of £1,000 he had been asked to to successfully apply for limited leave to remain again.

He has now received a letter from the Home Office stating that, due to the lack of payment, this application is invalid.

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The letter says: "You must make arrangements to leave the country when able to do so or submit an appropriate application for leave to remain and pay the relevant fee.

"Persons who require, but do not have or no longer have, leave to enter or remain are liable to removal from the United Kingdom under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (as amended by the Immigration Act 2014)."

The letter tells Sid how "his life will become increasingly more difficult" if he decides to stay and lists the consequences of staying in the UK for Sid which can include a fine of up to £5,000 or imprisonment for up to six months.

Other issues are that he will not be able to work and that his UK driving licence, which he needs to be able to drive to work, would be invalid.

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Sid moved from The Gambia to the UK in 2007 and met Becky in 2010 when he was living and working in Birmingham.

They moved to Harbury in 2014 and then lived in Sydenham before moving to Wellesbourne in 2018.

Sid said that during this time he has always worked full time to provide for his family and does not claim benefits.

He said: "It's distressing, I couldn't sleep last night.

"I worry that people think about me in a different way.

"I have never been in financial difficulty but to be asked for this extra money for my application is just too much at this time."

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Sid has sought legal advice and has contacted Kenilworth and Southam MP Jeremy Wright about his plight.

Mr Wright has responded saying he is sorry for the situation Sid and his family are in and that he will make an urgent enquiry to

UK Visas and Immigration on their behalf.

To make a donation click here.

Any donations to push the total past the £1,000 target will go towards the legal fees the family are paying as part of the application.

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